Press Releases
HIRONO & TAKAI TO TRAVEL TO ALABAMA FOR 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF BLOODY SUNDAY
Washington, D.C. - This weekend, Senator Mazie K. Hirono and Congressman Mark Takai will travel to Alabama to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. On Saturday, Senator Hirono and Congressman Takai will join civil rights leaders, President Obama, and a bipartisan group of lawmakers in marching across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma. Senator Hirono and Congressman Takai plan to present flower lei to civil rights leaders commemorating the march, just as Rev. Abraham Akaka did for D… Continue Reading
March 03, 2015
HIRONO ON DHS FUNDING: WE’VE SPENT FAR TOO MUCH TIME PASSING A CLEAN DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDING BILL, NOW LET’S HAVE A SERIOUS DEBATE ABOUT IMMIGRATION REFORM
Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement after the House of Representatives approved the Senate's bipartisan bill fully funding the Department of Homeland Security through the remainder of the year, without extraneous immigration policy riders attached: "The House has spent far too much time on this manufactured crisis. It should not have taken this long to pass a clean, full-year funding bill for the agency charged with keeping our people and communities saf… Continue Reading
March 03, 2015
COONS, DURBIN, HIRONO TO INTRODUCE PATENT REFORM BILL TO PROTECT INNOVATION, CONFRONT ABUSE
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, will introduce legislation on Tuesday morning to strengthen America's patent system and target abusers. The STRONG Patents Act takes a series of focused, thoughtful steps to make the patent system work for individual inventors and research-intensive companies from every sector… Continue Reading
February 27, 2015
HIRONO LEADS BIPARTSIAN GROUP OF SENATORS IN RAISING AWARENESS OF HEART HEALTH
Washington, D.C.- This week, Senator Mazie K. Hirono led a bipartisan group of 17 Senators in introducing and passing a resolution to recognize the month of February as American Heart Month and Friday February 6, 2015 as National Wear Red Day. "In Hawaii and across the country, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. For women, the impact of heart disease is significant and more needs to be done to study heart disease in women and minorities," said Senator Hirono. … Continue Reading
February 27, 2015
HIRONO: IT’S SPEAKER BOEHNER’S RESPONSIBILITY TO END THIS MANUFACTURED CRISIS & SEND A CLEAN DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY BILL TO THE PRESIDENT
Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement after this morning's vote in the Senate for a clean bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security: "Despite the fact that the House has put us on the brink of shutting down the Department of Homeland Security, I'm hopeful after this morning's vote that Congress will send the President a clean bill to fund DHS. But now, it is in Speaker Boehner's hands. It is up to Speaker Boehner to end this manufactured crisis and p… Continue Reading
February 27, 2015
HIRONO: FAILED HOUSE VOTE THREATENS HOMELAND SECURITY OPERATIONS
Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement after the House's failure to pass a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security through a three week continuing resolution: "After this afternoon's stunning vote, the House has just a few hours to prevent a Department of Homeland Security shutdown. Speaker Boehner should bring the Senate's clean bill to the floor for a vote and fund DHS for the rest of the year. This has been a manufactured crisis and it's time for… Continue Reading
February 25, 2015
VIDEO: HIRONO: HOUSE & SENATE NEED TO SEND THE PRESIDENT A CLEAN DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDING BILL, THEN DEBATE IMMIGRATION REFORM
Washington, D.C. - Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono joined Jose Diaz-Balart on MSNBC's The Rundown to highlight her own immigration story and stress the importance of comprehensive immigration reform: "As an immigrant myself, my mother brought me to this country, escaping a terribly abusive marriage in Japan and she had a vision for a better future for her children and that is something that so many immigrants, millions of immigrants who came to this country and who are here now hope for also. S… Continue Reading
February 20, 2015
HAWAII DELEGATION ANNOUNCES $9.4 MILLION FOR CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES
Washington, D.C. -The Hawaii Congressional Delegation today announced that the Hawaii Department of Health will receive $9.43 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support programs for pregnant mothers and families with young children. "The steps we take to support our youngest keiki often create a foundation for success in school and in life," said Senator Mazie K. Hirono. "These grants will be paid back many times over as families who participate in home-visiting pr… Continue Reading
February 18, 2015
HIRONO, GABBARD, TAKAI: DESIGNATING HONOULIULI INTERNMENT CAMP AS NATIONAL MONUMENT IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN PROTECTING HONOULIULI & STORIES OF THOSE WHO WERE DETAINED
Washington, D.C. - Today Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Rep. Mark Takai commended President Barack Obama's designation of the Honouliuli Internment Camp site in Kunia, Oahu. "The detention of more than 1,000 innocent Hawaii civilians during World War II remains a dark chapter in Hawaii and our nation's history. The stories of those detained at Honouliuli and internment sites like it across the country are sobering reminders of how even leaders of the greatest nation on Earth ca… Continue Reading
February 18, 2015
SENATOR HIRONO STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF FORMER HAWAII STATE REPRESENTATIVE MELE CARROLL
HONOLULU - Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on the passing of former State Representative Diana "Mele" Carroll. Carroll represented Hawaii's 13th District (East Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe and Molokini) for five terms in the State House of Representatives. "I am saddened by the passing of Mele Carroll. Mele's dedicated career of public service is highlighted by her passionate involvement in key issues that embody her compassion and caring for the people of Hawaii. … Continue Reading
February 13, 2015
HAWAII DELEGATION ANNOUNCED MORE THAN $9 MILLION FOR PUBLIC HOUSING
Today, Hawai'i's congressional delegation announced the Hawai'i Public Housing Authority (HPHA) will receive a $9,036,788 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as part of its Capital Fund Program for Public Housing Agencies. "Having a safe and stable home is a basic necessity. However, 28,000 Hawaii residents are on wait lists for affordable housing," said Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii). "Every family in Hawaii deserves a place to call home and investing in fami… Continue Reading
February 12, 2015
HIRONO VOTES TO CONFIRM ASHTON CARTER TO BE NEXT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee's (SASC) Subcommittee on Seapower and member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement on the Senate vote to confirm Ashton Carter as the next Secretary of Defense: "Ashton Carter's wealth of experience and institutional knowledge will serve him well as he steps into his new role of Secretary of Defense. As a Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee… Continue Reading
February 12, 2015
HIRONO NAMED TO LEADERSHIP ROLE ON SENATE ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono has been named the Ranking Member on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee's Subcommittee on Water and Power. Senator Hirono will also serve on the Energy and Public Lands Subcommittees. "Hardworking middle class families, farmers, and small business deserve affordable energy and abundant clean water supplies. I look forward to working with Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), the subcommittee's new Chairman to find bipartisan solutions to meet the nee… Continue Reading
February 11, 2015
HIRONO STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT’S PROPOSAL FOR AUTHORIZATION TO USE MILITARY FORCE IN FIGHT AGAINST ISIL
Washington, D.C.-Senator Mazie Hirono, Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement on the President's Authorization of Military Force proposal, which was transmitted to Congress today: "Congress has a key role to play in the U.S. response to the horrific and fast-moving threat ISIL poses, and I would be troubled if the President did not seek authorization for the use of military force. As seen with the death of Kayla … Continue Reading
February 11, 2015
HAWAII DELEGATION INTRODUCES KEY IMPROVEMENTS TO NATIVE HAWAIIAN EDUCATION ACT
Washington, D.C. -The Hawaii Congressional Delegation today introduced a bipartisan bill that will extend and improve the Native Hawaiian Education Act, an existing program that has created educational opportunities for thousands of Native Hawaiian children and families. "Thousands of Native Hawaiian students have benefitted from the Native Hawaiian Education Act and over the past several years I have had the opportunity to hear many of their inspiring stories firsthand," said Senator Hirono. "… Continue Reading
February 10, 2015
HIRONO CALLS ON SPEAKER BOEHNER TO WORK WITH THE PRESIDENT ON NETANYAHU INVITATION
Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's planned speech to a joint session of Congress next month. "The U.S. Israel relationship is of such great importance that Congress has reaffirmed its bipartisan support of Israel time and again. "The question is not whether or not Members should attend Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech next month but whether we should adhere to the usual way that these invitations to addre… Continue Reading
February 05, 2015
HIRONO PRAISES UNPRECEDENTED HIGH RANKING OF HAWAII’S LANDSCAPE PROPOSAL, “ISLAND FORESTS AT RISK,” IN PRESIDENT OBAMA’S BUDGET
Washington, DC - Following the release of President Obama's budget earlier this week, Senator Mazie K. Hirono praised the unprecedented high ranking of Hawaii's Collaborative Landscape Proposal, "Island Forests at Risk," in the fiscal year 2016 budget. "It is great news for Hawaii that the 'Island Forests at Risk' Collaborative Landscape Proposal is included in the President's budget this year," said Senator Hirono. "This proposal will provide crucial protection of native species and their hab… Continue Reading
February 05, 2015
HIRONO CALLS FOR END TO POLITICAL GAMES, CONTINUES PUSH FOR CLEAN DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDING BILL
Washington, D.C. - Today Senator Mazie K. Hirono took to the Senate floor to continue to urge the House and Senate to come together to pass a clean appropriations bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security. From Senator Hirono's remarks: "We must fund DHS and resist the temptation to govern through manufactured crises and political games. Our national security is at stake. Surely my colleagues remember when DHS was created in a direct response to the terrorist attacks on September 11, … Continue Reading
February 03, 2015
HIRONO CONTINUES FIGHT FOR VETERANS STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, VOTES TO SEND CLAY HUNT ACT TO THE PRESIDENT’S DESK
Washington, D.C. - Today Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs and Armed Services Committees, voted to pass H.R. 203, the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act, which would improve access to mental health services and suicide prevention resources for American veterans. The bill, which passed the Senate with a strong bipartisan majority, now heads to the President's desk to become law. Senator Hirono released the following statement on the pass… Continue Reading
February 03, 2015
HIRONO CONTINUES PUSH FOR CLEAN DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS BILL
Washington, D.C. - Today Senator Mazie K. Hirono continued to call for the House and Senate to come together to pass a clean appropriations bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in a speech to the National Treasury Employees Union's (NTEU) annual Legislative Conference. The NTEU represents over 150,000 workers across 31 federal agencies, including Customs and Border protection agents from the Department of Homeland Security. In Hawaii, there are more than 400 NTEU represented fe… Continue Reading
