Press Releases
Hirono Secures Wide-Ranging Measures For Hawaii In Defense Authorization
Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services and Ranking Member of the Seapower Subcommittee, voted to approve the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17), sending the bill to the full Senate for consideration. The NDAA is a comprehensive bill passed annually that sets policy and funding levels for the Department of Defense (DoD) and the national security programs of the Department of Energy. The Armed Services Committee approved the N… Continue Reading
May 12, 2016
Hirono Supports Key Hawaii Projects In Energy And Water Appropriations Bill
After fighting poison-pill amendments on the Senate floor, Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power, today voted to support the Fiscal Year 2017 Energy and Water Appropriations Act, which funds the activities of the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The bill includes provisions advocated by Senator Hirono for Hawaii harbors and renewable energy investments. The wide-ranging legislation allocat… Continue Reading
May 10, 2016
Hirono: President’s Decision To Visit Hiroshima Memorial Shows Commitment To Nuclear-Free Future
Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement after President Obama announced that he will visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial later this month, becoming the first sitting United States President to visit: "I commend President Obama's decision to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, which serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating cost of nuclear warfare, especially on civilian communities. When I last visited the memorial, students from a Hawaii elementary school asked me to pre… Continue Reading
May 10, 2016
Hirono, Meng Bill To Strike Term “Oriental” From Federal Law Headed To President
The U.S. Senate late last night unanimously passed Senator Mazie K. Hirono and Representative Grace Meng's (D-NY) bill to remove offensive terms such as "Oriental" from federal law. H.R.4238 was approved by the House 376-0, and will now go to President Obama to be signed into law. "Updating derogatory references in federal law is long overdue," said Senator Hirono. "Our country's diversity makes us strong, so it is imperative that this language is changed as soon as possible. It's fitting that … Continue Reading
May 06, 2016
Hirono Hails Implementation Of Program To Reunite Filipino World War II Veterans With Their Children
HONOLULU - Senator Mazie K. Hirono today announced that certain family members of Filipino World War II veterans can finally apply to come to the United States to be reunited with their aging Filipino veteran family members who are U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent Residents under a program announced by the Obama Administration last year. Applications will begin to be accepted next month. "President Obama has taken an important action for Filipino WWII veterans who have been waiting patiently fo… Continue Reading
May 04, 2016
Hirono Marks National Small Business Week With Visits To Family Run Businesses
HONOLULU- Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, today toured Hawaii Candy, Inc., Island Princess, and Menehune Mac, Hawaii businesses set to participate in the upcoming Hawaii on the Hill, Hawaii's state showcase in our nation's capital. This week is National Small Business Week, an opportunity to highlight the successes within the business community. "During National Small Business week, we celebrate Hawaii's small businesses, which e… Continue Reading
May 02, 2016
Hirono, Ige, Public Health, and Emergency Response Experts Raise Awareness, Call for Funding To Fight Zika
Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Governor David Ige, Hawaii Director of Health Dr. Virginia Pressler, State Administrator of Emergency Management Vern Miyagi, Healthcare Association of Hawaii emergency responders, and Dr. Elliot Parks, CEO of Hawaii Biotech today called for increased public awareness and additional federal resources to prepare for and fight the Zika virus in Hawaii and across the country. Senator Hirono and Governor Ige also got a firsthand look at Hawaii Biotech's work to develop a Zik… Continue Reading
April 28, 2016
Hirono: We Must Act Now To Prevent Widespread U.S. Zika Outbreak
Senators Mazie K. Hirono took to the Senate floor today to raise awareness of the Zika virus and call for expediently funding President Obama's funding request to fight Zika. To date in Hawaii, there are seven confirmed cases of Zika and one case of an infant born with microcephaly, a serious birth defect directly linked to Zika. Senator Hirono is an original cosponsor of legislation that would fund the President's request. From Senator Hirono's remarks: "Hawaii knows firsthand the impact of … Continue Reading
April 26, 2016
Hirono Fights To Confirm Hawaii’s Clare Connors To Federal Bench
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono today took to the Senate floor to call for unanimous consent to confirm Hawaii's Clare Connors and other judicial nominees from courts across the country who have been waiting months, and in some cases over a year, for a floor vote. In yet another showing of Senate Republicans' refusal to do their job and hold confirmation votes on qualified judicial nominees, Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) blocked Senator Hirono's request. Senator Hirono also called on … Continue Reading
April 22, 2016
Hirono Introduces Legislation To Fund Fight Against Zika
Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Bill Nelson (D-FL) introduced legislation to fully fund President Obama's $1.9 billion funding request to fight the Zika virus. The measure is also co-sponsored by Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL), Al Franken (D-MN), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jack Reed (D-RI), Harry Reid (D-NV), Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). "In Hawaii, the threat of the Zika virus remains a major public health concern, especially as we approach the summer… Continue Reading
April 20, 2016
Energy Bill Includes Hirono Amendments To Expand Energy Workforce Programs, Strike Derogatory Language In Federal Law
Senator Mazie K. Hirono voted today in support of S. 2012, the Energy Policy Modernization Act, wide-ranging legislation that prioritizes innovation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy investments. If enacted, the Energy Policy Modernization Act would be the most comprehensive update to federal energy law since 2007, and includes several amendments authored by Senator Hirono. S. 2012 overwhelmingly passed the Senate 85-12. "Since Congress last passed a comprehensive energy bill in 2007, we… Continue Reading
April 19, 2016
Hirono Measure To Give Disabled Veterans Additional Paid Leave Passed By Senate
Senator Mazie K. Hirono voted today in support of H.R. 636, a bill to renew and reform the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and U.S. aviation law through September 30, 2017. The FAA Reauthorization Act, which passed the Senate 95-3, includes a bipartisan measure authored by Senator Hirono and Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), which puts veterans hired by the FAA and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on par with other veterans working for the federal government in receiving sick leave f… Continue Reading
April 12, 2016
On Equal Pay Day, Hirono Leads Measure To End Gender Barriers In STEM Careers
Senator Mazie K. Hirono today marked Equal Pay Day by introducing the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Opportunities Act, legislation that would improve inclusion of women, minorities, and people with disabilities in STEM careers. Equal Pay Day marks the day in 2016 when, on average, women's wages catch up to what men earned in 2015. "It's unacceptable that we are more than 100 days into 2016, but women's salaries are only now catching up with what men made last year," said Sen… Continue Reading
April 06, 2016
Agreement Reached To Include Taiwan In Global Entry Program
Senator Mazie K. Hirono hailed an agreement reached this week between the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) on behalf of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Taiwan to facilitate its membership in U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Global Entry Program, which will allow for expedited customs clearance for Taiwanese citizens visiting the United States and vice versa. In the absence of formal diplomatic relations, … Continue Reading
April 02, 2016
Hirono, Hawaii Advocates Warn Kupuna Of Tax Fraud
With the federal tax filing deadline less than three weeks away, advocates joined Senator Mazie K. Hirono today to urge Hawaii seniors to be aware of tax-related scams, such as con artists pretending to be Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents by phone. Senator Hirono, along with representatives from the IRS, AARP Foundation Tax Aide program, and the Taxpayer Advocate Service shared this important message at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii. … Continue Reading
March 24, 2016
Maui Sugar Workers To Receive Federal Job Training, Placement & Income Assistance
Senator Mazie K. Hirono hailed U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Tom Perez's decision to approve the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 142's request for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and Alternative TAA for Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company workers displaced by the cessation of sugar production. "As nearly 700 HC&S employees complete Hawaii's final sugar harvest and consider their next steps, they now have access to federal funding for employment placement … Continue Reading
March 23, 2016
Hirono Introduces Fix To Maintain Medicare Access To Vital Medical Equipment
Senators Mazie K. Hirono, Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), and John Thune (R-SD) introduced the Patient Access to Durable Medical Equipment Act, legislation that would provide durable medical equipment (DME) providers and patients in certain parts of the country with relief from harmful payment policies. DME providers help connect patients with medically necessary equipment like wheelchairs, hospital beds, and oxygen. This bipartisan legislation would extend the current payment phase-in period of six mon… Continue Reading
March 18, 2016
Hirono, Takai Unveil Proposal To Increase Coral Reef Conservation
Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Representative Mark Takai (D-HI) introduced the Coral Reef Sustainability Through Innovation Act, legislation that would jumpstart research related to coral reef conservation. "In the past two years, Hawaii's coral reefs have experienced two serious coral bleaching events, and with rising ocean temperatures, we can expect these events to become more commonplace," said Senator Hirono. "There is much to be learned about mitigation and the long term effects of co… Continue Reading
March 18, 2016
Hirono Urges Labor Secretary To Quickly Review And Approve ILWU Petition For Maui Sugar Worker Assistance
Senator Mazie K. Hirono urged U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Tom Perez to expedite review and approval of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 142's request for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and Alternative TAA for Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company workers displaced by the cessation of sugar production. "Maui's last sugar harvest is already underway, and obtaining the assistance that affected Maui families deserve in a timely manner will require coord… Continue Reading
March 17, 2016
Hirono, Maloney Mark Women’s History Month By Increasing Opportunity For Women & Minorities In STEM
Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) today introduced the Women and Minorities in STEM Booster Act, legislation that would provide support to increase the number of women and minorities entering science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. "Approximately half of the U.S. population and workforce is made up of women, but women make up just over a quarter of the STEM workforce," said Senator Hirono. "As we honor female pioneers during Women's Histo… Continue Reading
