Press Releases
STATEMENTS FROM THE HAWAII DELEGATION ON PRESIDENT OBAMA’S BUDGET
Washington, D.C. - Today, following President Obama's release of his fiscal year 2016 budget that prioritizes the middle class, Hawaii's Congressional delegation released the following statements: Senator Mazie K. Hirono: "Many of the priorities laid out in the President's budget reflect a commitment to stand on the side of middle class families, with key investments in research and innovation, early and higher education, national security, military construction, veterans and infrastructure. T… Continue Reading
January 29, 2015
HIRONO OPPOSES KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE, CALLS FOR RENEWED FOCUS ON OUR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FUTURE
Washington, DC - Senator Mazie K. Hirono, member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released the following statement after her vote against the Keystone XL Pipeline, which is expected to be vetoed by the President. "We must commit to a long-term national strategy to address our dependence on fossil fuels and make sustainable energy practices a top priority. The development of tar sands takes us in the wrong direction. Climate change and our reliance on fossil fuels are not o… Continue Reading
January 29, 2015
HIRONO, SENATE & HOUSE DEMOCRATS, CHAMPION INITIATIVE TO EXPAND ACCESS TO EARLY EDUCATION
Washington, DC - Today, as she continues to lay out the markers for the 114th Congress, Senator Mazie K. Hirono introduced the Providing Resources Early for Kids (PRE-K) Act, legislation to expand access to high-quality early learning programs for children from birth to age five. The PRE-K Act helps more kids arrive at kindergarten ready to succeed by establishing a federal-state partnerships that incentivizes states to both improve the quality of state preschool programs and expand to serve mo… Continue Reading
January 28, 2015
HIRONO CONTINUES TO PUSH FOR STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF HAWAII WITH DEFENSE SECRETARY-NOMINEE ASHTON CARTER
Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on Seapower and member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement following her meeting this afternoon with Ashton Carter, President Obama's nominee for Secretary of Defense: "This afternoon I had a productive meeting with Ashton Carter, the President's nominee to be the next Secretary of Defense. His wealth of experience and institutional kn… Continue Reading
January 27, 2015
HIRONO CALLS FOR CLEAN DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS BILL
Washington, D.C. - Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono took to the Senate floor to urge the House and Senate to come together to pass a clean appropriations bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Earlier in the 114th Congress, the Republican controlled House passed a bill that would irresponsibly risk shutting down the Department of Homeland Security to score political points over the President's immigration actions. Funding for the Department of Homeland Security is set to expire on Feb… Continue Reading
January 22, 2015
SENATOR HIRONO ANNOUNCES CLASS OF 2019 NOMINEES TO U.S. SERVICE ACADEMIES
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono today announced her nomination list of 32 students to the U.S. military service academies for the Class of 2019. The students' applications are now being considered by the four academies for final selections. The four military service academies are: the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. "Inspired by the many generations of Hawaii men and women who have answered the call to … Continue Reading
January 22, 2015
ON 42ND ANNIVERSARY OF ROE V. WADE, HIRONO CHALLENGES CONGRESS TO END ATTACK ON WOMEN’S HEALTH CARE RIGHTS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement today to recognize the 42nd anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision: "As a college student at the University of Hawaii, I wrote my first political letter to Hawaii's Congressional delegation asking for their position on a woman's right to choose. At the time, abortion was illegal in nearly every state and Hawaii was considering, and eventually passed, one of the nation's first laws to partially legalize it… Continue Reading
January 21, 2015
HIRONO FIGHTS FOR VETERANS STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN ADVANCING CLAY HUNT ACT
Washington, D.C. - Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono joined a unanimous, bipartisan vote in the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee to advance 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. Committee approval moves the bill, which passed the House 403-0 on January 12, one step closer to becoming law. If approved by the full Senate, the bill will go to President Ob… Continue Reading
January 20, 2015
SENATOR HIRONO APPLAUDS PRESIDENT OBAMA’S MIDDLE CLASS AGENDA IN STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) issued the following statement commending President Obama's State of the Union address: "In his State of the Union address tonight, the President made it clear he is on the side of the middle class, and I'm proud to stand with him on the side of working families. I will support the President's efforts that strengthen our economy and grow the middle class. "I'm reminded tonight of a homeless high school student I met in Hawaii named Victoria… Continue Reading
January 16, 2015
HIRONO SPEAKS OUT FOR AMERICAN JOBS & SHIPBUILDERS, FIGHTS AGAINST AMENDMENT THAT DISMANTLES JONES ACT
Washington, D.C. -Today Senator Mazie K. Hirono took to the Senate floor to speak in opposition to an amendment that would dismantle the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, commonly known as the Jones Act. The Jones Act requires maritime vessels engaged in shipping goods between U.S. ports to be built in the United States, at least 75 percent owned by United States citizens, and operated by United States citizens. As an island state, Hawaii depends on the reliability offered by American shippers and g… Continue Reading
January 15, 2015
HIRONO, HELLER, MENG FIGHT TO ENSURE FILIPINO VETERANS RECEIVE EARNED BENEFITS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Dean Heller (R-NV) joined with Congresswoman Grace Meng in introducing the Filipino Veterans Promise Act, a bipartisan bill that would help all Filipino World War II veterans receive benefits that they earned for their service to the United States. These veterans fought alongside Americans, but were denied veterans' benefits because they weren't included on rosters that the United States later used to establish service. "We have heard t… Continue Reading
January 08, 2015
SENATOR HIRONO NAMED TO LEADERSHIP ROLE ON SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono has been named the ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on Seapower. The assignment places Senator Hirono in position to oversee matters directly relating to the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. "I am proud to serve as the ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee on Seapower. There exists a strong relationship between Hawaii and the Navy and Marine Corps. Hawaii's role is further enhanced as we continue our nation's rebalanc… Continue Reading
January 06, 2015
SENATOR HIRONO CHAMPIONS NEED FOR COMMUNITY BANKING EXPERIENCE ON FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono today applauded the announcement that President Obama will nominate former Bank of Hawaii Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Allan Landon to serve as a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. "Our nation's economic policy should be focused on growing strong local economies that support local businesses, middle class families and vibrant communities," said Senator Hirono. "Allan Landon's experience as a community banker and hi… Continue Reading
December 13, 2014
SENATOR HIRONO STANDS UP FOR MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Tonight the Senate voted on a 1,600 page bill that funds nearly every policy area and government program through September 30, 2015. Senator Mazie K. Hirono joined a number of her colleagues in voting against this proposal, which passed on a vote of 56 to 40. Senator Hirono joined 39 of her colleagues including Senators Carl Levin (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jon Tester (D-MT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Al Franken (D-MN), Elizabeth … Continue Reading
December 12, 2014
SENATOR HIRONO SECURES KEY MEASURES FOR HAWAII IN DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Armed Services and the Veterans' Affairs committees, today voted to pass the Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The defense bill includes important provisions for Hawaii including providing for construction and upgrades to military facilities, supporting the health and education of our troops and their families, enhancing our national security focus on the Asia-Pacific, supporting Hawaii's military-connec… Continue Reading
December 12, 2014
SENATOR HIRONO TO EXPAND SENATE REACH NEXT YEAR, SERVING ON 5 COMMITTEES COVERING BROAD RANGE OF HAWAII PRIORITIES
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono today announced she will continue her work on the Senate Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs during the 114th Congress. In addition, Senator Hirono has been assigned to three new committees; the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. "I look forward to building on our work to support our servicemembers, … Continue Reading
December 10, 2014
SENATOR HIRONO LEADS JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HEARING ON IMMIGRATION EXECUTIVE ORDER, WHICH PROMOTES ECONOMIC GROWTH AND FAMILY UNITY
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono today presided over a full Senate Judiciary Committee hearing examining President Obama's executive order that will bring 5 million undocumented people in our country out of the shadows, including an estimated 7,000 individuals in Hawaii. The committee hearing highlighted the executive order's impact on families, businesses, and American workers. "This is not just some abstract discussion about legal theory. It is about real people and real families. I… Continue Reading
December 09, 2014
SENATOR HIRONO VOTES TO APPROVE HARRIS FOR PACOM COMMANDER IN COMMITTEE, URGES SWIFT ACTION BY THE FULL SENATE
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Senate Armed Services Committee voted to advance the nomination of Admiral Harry B. Harris, Jr. to the post of Commander of the United States Pacific Command. Senator Mazie K. Hirono voted in favor of Admiral Harris's nomination, which now goes to the full Senate. "During my conversations with Admiral Harris, we both agreed on the importance of our country's strategic rebalance to the Pacific and the vital role Hawaii plays in our national security," said Senator H… Continue Reading
December 03, 2014
SENATOR HIRONO STATEMENT ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES AND NEXTERA ENERGY TO COMBINE
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono today released the following statement on the announcement by Hawaiian Electric Industries and NextEra Energy. "Today's announcement is profound and historic for Hawaii. Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HEI) is well established in this community and the decision to combine with NextEra Energy, Inc. and spin off ASB Hawaii deserves careful scrutiny on behalf of Hawaii consumers and residents. I look forward to meeting with HEI and NextEra leaders to … Continue Reading
December 02, 2014
SENATOR HIRONO VOTES TO CONFIRM HAWAII NATIVE NANI COLORETTI AS DEPUTY SECRETARY OF HUD
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono today voted to confirm Nani A. Coloretti to the position of Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Senate confirmed Coloretti's nomination by a vote of 68-28. "Congratulations to Nani on her confirmation as Deputy Secretary of HUD. We are proud that Nani, who grew up in Hawaii, is now the highest ranking Filipina-American in the administration," said Senator Hirono. "HUD Secretary Castro told me that Nani's… Continue Reading
