Press Releases
Hirono Stands Up For Climate Action, Votes Down Republican Efforts To Undermine Obama Climate Plans
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, voted today against two resolutions to overturn standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency as part of President Obama's Climate Action Plan to reduce pollution that harms public health and contributes to climate change. President Obama announced his intention to veto both resolutions. "President Obama has taken important steps to clean our air and help reduce the harmful e… Continue Reading
November 16, 2015
Hirono, Honda Praise Awarding Of Presidential Medal Of Freedom To Civil Rights Leader Minoru Yasui
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono and Representative Mike Honda (D-CA) commended President Obama's announcement that Minoru Yasui, who protested the illegal incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, will be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. "Minoru Yasui stood up for what was right at a time of injustice toward Japanese Americans," said Senator Hirono. "I am proud to have worked with so many passionate advocates in support of this nomination.… Continue Reading
November 12, 2015
Hirono to Host Federal Grants Webinar
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER: http://bit.ly/1kg9jL8 HONOLULU - Senator Mazie K. Hirono will host a federal grants webinar in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Individuals and nonprofit organizations interested in learning about federal funding opportunities for their respective arts, culture or linguistics programs are invited to join the free webinar on Tuesday, November 17, from 9:00 to 10:… Continue Reading
November 10, 2015
Hirono Secures Hawaii Priorities In Defense Authorization, Military Construction & VA Funding Bill
Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Veterans' Affairs Committees, today voted in support of both the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (VA) Appropriations Act. The Military Construction and VA Appropriations Act includes important provisions for Hawaii including funding for $444 million in Hawaii military construction projects, an increase in funding for veterans' health care, and a provision authored by Se… Continue Reading
November 05, 2015
Hirono Fights To Ensure Social Security Increase For Seniors & Veterans
Senator Mazie K. Hirono joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and a coalition of 15 other U.S. Senators to introduce the SAVE Benefits Act, legislation that would provide Social Security beneficiaries with a modest Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) starting in 2016. For only the third time in more than 40 years, seniors will not receive a COLA increase in 2016. "In Hawaii, one out of four seniors relies on Social Security as their only source of income," said Senator Hirono. "Many Hawaii senior… Continue Reading
October 30, 2015
Hirono: Congress Needs To Hear More On Broader Strategy To Defeat ISIL & Stabilize Syria
Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on the Obama Administration's announcement of additional military commitments in the Middle East: "Congress and the American people need to hear more details from the Administration about how the deployment of a team of approximately 50 Special Operations Forces to Syria and other additional resources being provided to our regional partners fit into a broader strategy to defeat ISIL and stabilize Syria. "The President's latest decision, … Continue Reading
October 30, 2015
Hirono Supports Bipartisan Budget Agreement
Senator Mazie K. Hirono voted early this morning to support a two-year budget agreement that removes caps put in place by the Budget Control Act for two years and keeps the country from defaulting on its debt. The measure overwhelmingly passed the Senate 64-35. "This bipartisan measure is a reasonable compromise that protects our seniors, keeps our economy on track, and takes a number of manufactured crises off the table for two years," said Senator Hirono. "By removing harmful sequester caps o… Continue Reading
October 29, 2015
Hirono, Gabbard, Schatz Announce New Valuation Method for Locally Grown Coffee
Today, the Hawai?i Congressional Delegation praised the announcement that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will provide a green bean pricing valuation for Hawaii-grown coffee starting in January 2016. Currently, Hawaii coffee "farm gate value" is based on parchment rather than green bean. Green bean coffee valuation will more accurately reflect market values and make reporting easier for growers. "This change will increase the reported v… Continue Reading
October 27, 2015
Hirono Supports Landmark Cybersecurity Legislation
Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, voted to support the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act. The legislation overwhelmingly passed the Senate 74-21. After the vote, Senator Hirono released the following statement: "Embracing the promise and vulnerabilities of the Internet age requires a delicate balance between promoting security online and protecting users' privacy and Constitutional rights. The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act strikes tha… Continue Reading
October 20, 2015
Hirono Denounces Republican Attempt To Criminalize Immigrant Communities
Senator Mazie K. Hirono took to the Senate floor to oppose a Republican attempt to unfairly penalize hundreds of cities and local jurisdictions across the country by stripping them of key federal funding and preventing local law enforcement officials from using commonsense approaches to protect their communities. The measure failed 54-45. From Senator Hirono's remarks: "Instead of turning hardworking immigrants into bogeymen, we should be focusing on real solutions for violence in our communit… Continue Reading
October 08, 2015
Hirono, Honda Lead Bipartisan Resolution To Recognize Filipino American History Month
Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono and Congressman Mike Honda (D-Silicon Valley) introduced a bicameral and bipartisan resolution to recognize October 2015 as ''Filipino American History Month." Senator Hirono represents the only Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) majority state in the country, and Congressman Honda represents the only AAPI-majority district in the continental United States. "Recognizing Filipino American History Month in Congress is a testament to the countless contributions … Continue Reading
October 07, 2015
Hirono Calls For Responsible Solutions To Federal Budget
Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a Senate conferee to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), voted against the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act Conference Report today. While it passed the Senate 70-22, President Obama has vowed to veto the bill because of its use of the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) fund as a budget gimmick to fund the Department of Defense without addressing sequestration. "While the NDAA includes many provisi… Continue Reading
September 29, 2015
Hawaii Congressional Delegation Statements On Department Of Interior Native Hawaiian Rulemaking Process
Today, the Department of the Interior released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding "Procedures for Reestablishing a Government-to-Government Relationship with the Native Hawaiian Community." This Proposed Rule is a culmination of years of work by the Hawaii Congressional Delegation, the Native Hawaiian community, the State of Hawaii, and the Obama administration to establish an avenue for a reorganized Native Hawaiian government to reestablish a government-to-government relationship with t… Continue Reading
September 25, 2015
Senate Passes Hirono Provisions To Renew Veterans Programs
The United States Senate unanimously passed S. 2082, which extends a number of crucial health and benefit programs for veterans that are scheduled to expire on September 30. The legislation includes provisions authored by Senator Mazie K. Hirono to renew and extend seven programs that provide outreach and services to homeless veterans, and keep the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office in Manila, Philippines open for business. "The Senate's unanimous action is a key step to ensuri… Continue Reading
September 24, 2015
Hirono: Keeping Government Open Should Not Be Tied To Women’s Health
After voting to reject a Republican ploy to tie the budget to defunding Planned Parenthood, Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement: "Keeping the federal government open for business is one of Congress' core responsibilities. So is ensuring that the least fortunate among us have access to basic necessities. Yet for the second time in the past three years, we are on the precipice of an unnecessary and preventable government shutdown-this time over an ideological crusade that has… Continue Reading
September 24, 2015
Hirono: Pope Francis Calls For Compassion
Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on Pope Francis' address to Congress: "Pope Francis' address to a joint meeting of Congress was a reminder to us, the American people, that our country was founded as a place where families can fulfill their dreams if we fight for the common good. "His call for compassion, to follow the Golden Rule, and his acknowledgement that we are a nation of immigrants, while also acknowledging the injustices suffered by the first peoples of this co… Continue Reading
September 21, 2015
Schatz, Hirono, Gabbard Call for Continued Funding For Preschool Programs In Hawaii
Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai'i) and U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) issued statements calling for continued funding for the Preschool Development Grants Program. "Too many children in Hawaii will enter kindergarten without having the benefit of a preschool education," said Senator Brian Schatz. "As a result, these children will miss out on the preparation they need to be ready for school and for lifelong success. The Preschool Developme… Continue Reading
September 19, 2015
Hirono & Boozman Introduce Legislation To Keep Veterans Housing Programs Alive
Senators Mazie K. Hirono and John Boozman (R-AR), members of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, introduced legislation Thursday to authorize federal homeless veteran programs for the next fiscal year. The Keeping Our Commitment to Ending Veteran Homelessness Act would reauthorize seven Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Labor programs for the next fiscal year. Without Senators Hirono and Boozman's action, authorization for critical programs that provide outreach and servi… Continue Reading
September 17, 2015
Hawaii Congressional Delegation Announces $2.1 Million to Assist Homeless Veterans in Hawaii
Today, the Hawai'i Congressional Delegation announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded $2,118,174 in two grants under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program to help curb veterans' homelessness in Hawaii. "As we address the serious issue of homelessness, it is imperative that we keep our commitment to helping our service members and families in need," said U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii). "Partnerships between the federal government and n… Continue Reading
September 16, 2015
VA, Veterans Groups Voice Support For Hirono Bills Aimed At Improving Veterans Care
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the American Legion, and many veteran service organizations expressed their support for three of Senator Mazie K. Hirono's bills to improve VA healthcare and benefits at Wednesday's Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing. Senator Hirono also called for the funding of critical VA programs for the next fiscal year. "We owe it to our brave men and women in uniform who put their lives on the line for our country that the V… Continue Reading
