Press Releases
Alaska-Hawaii Delegations Continue Tradition of Working Together For Native Peoples
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Mark Begich (D-AK), Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) today continued the long legacy of two states working together and working for their native populations. The Senators were joined by roughly 100 Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian business, policy, and community leaders to discuss a range of topics including ways to improve education in Native communities, and how to stimulate Native owned businesses. The roundtable was hosted… Continue Reading
May 31, 2013
“Hirono fights for migrant access to Medicaid”
HONOLULU - Senator Mazie K. Hirono met with Hawaii's health care providers at the Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Health Care Center yesterday and listened as Hawaii health care experts explained how Hirono's measure restoring Medicaid eligibility for COFA migrants would save the state millions each year. Earlier this month, Hirono persuaded her colleagues to include the measure and a number of others that help Hawaii in the immigration reform bill currently being debated on the Senate floor. … Continue Reading
May 22, 2013
SENATOR HIRONO VOTES AGAINST MEASURE THAT WOULD ENDANGER HAWAII'S SUGAR INDUSTRY, RISK 800 JOBS IN STATE
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement after voting against an amendment to the 2013 Farm Bill that would have killed off Hawaii's last sugar producer and risked 800 jobs in the state. The amendment failed the Senate on a bipartisan 45-54 vote. "This amendment was a raw deal for Hawaii and sugar producers across the country," said Hirono. "Much is said about supporting 'made in America' products, and this measure does the opposite. It would have virtually z… Continue Reading
May 21, 2013
SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ADOPTS HIRONO AMENDMENT THAT REUNIFIES FILIPINO WORLD WAR II VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- During today's Senate Judiciary Committee markup of immigration reform legislation, the committee adopted Senator Mazie K. Hirono's measure that would reunite Filipino World War II veterans with their families. The long-overdue measure has been the priority of Hawaii's congressional delegation for many years. The provision was the first bill Hirono introduced as a member of the United States Senate in March of this year. "Our nation can never fully repay the debt we owe the … Continue Reading
May 21, 2013
SENATOR MAZIE K. HIRONO VOTES FOR FINAL PASSAGE OF IMMIGRATION BILL IN SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- After many days of work on immigration reform as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement after voting for final passage of the Senate's immigration reform bill in committee: "I applaud Chairman Leahy, the Gang of Eight and my Judiciary Committee colleagues for their productive work and this transparent process. Both as a new Senator and a new member of the committee, it was an honor to work with my colleagues on th… Continue Reading
May 20, 2013
SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ADOPTS HIRONO MEASURES SUPPORTING DREAMERS, VICTIMS OF CHILD TRAFFICKING
WASHINGTON, DC - The Senate Judiciary Committee today approved three measures offered by Senator Mazie K. Hirono that support DREAM Act college students and help identify victims of child trafficking at the border. "These DREAMers were brought to our country through no fault of their own, and grew up in our schools and churches. They deserve the opportunity to earn a college degree, start a business and help contribute to our economy," Hirono said. "My measure makes DREAM Act students eligible … Continue Reading
May 20, 2013
OFFICIAL PHOTO FROM HIRONO'S WHITE HOUSE DINNER WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA, WOMEN SENATE COLLEAGUES
Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono joined her female Senate colleagues last month at the White House for a dinner hosted by President Obama. The first official photo released from the dinner was recently uploaded to the White House's flickr account.… Continue Reading
May 20, 2013
"HIRONO ATTACHED PROPOSALS THAT HELP HAWAII"
From the front page of yesterday's Honolulu Star-Advertiser: Hirono Attaches Proposals That Help Hawaii When Congress approved a sweeping welfare reform law in 1996, a small but important provision cost Hawaii millions of dollars a year. Pacific migrants who can travel freely to the United States from Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau were no longer eligible for federal benefits - such as Medicaid, the health insurance program for the poor - leaving states to pick up the cost. Hawai… Continue Reading
May 16, 2013
HIRONO JOINS COLLEAGUES TO UNVEIL BILL TO PREVENT & PROSECUTE SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN THE MILITARY
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono today joined Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), other Senate and House colleagues and survivors of sexual assault in the military in unveiling bipartisan legislation aimed at stopping and prosecuting sexual assaults in the military. Watch Hirono's full remarks here: http://youtu.be/S-rr1UyuAKg. "The brave women and men who serve should be protected when they sacrifice so much for their country. Instead, many are targeted and become victims of sexual a… Continue Reading
May 16, 2013
SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ADOPTS HIRONO AMENDMENT THAT COULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR HONG KONG TOURISTS TO VISIT HAWAII
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- During the third day of the Senate Judiciary Committee's markup of immigration reform legislation, the committee adopted Senator Mazie K. Hirono's measure that would cut government red tape that makes it more difficult for tourists from Hong Kong to come to Hawaii. The measure is identical to a bill Hirono introduced earlier this year with Republican Senator Orrin Hatch (UT). "This small change to the visa waiver system could have a big impact on Hawaii's economy," said Hiro… Continue Reading
May 15, 2013
WHAT PEOPLE IN HAWAII ARE SAYING ABOUT SENATOR HIRONO GETTING MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY FOR COMPACT MIGRANTS INCLUDED IN IMMIGRATION REFORM LEGISLATION
Here's what folks in Hawaii are saying about Mazie Hirono getting Medicaid eligibility for migrants from Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands included in immigration reform legislation: "The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Tuesday to reinstate eligibility by adopting an amendment from U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono. The Democrat from Hawaii says the move will save the state millions of dollars each year." (Associated Press) "Restoring their Medicaid eligibility would ease that financial b… Continue Reading
May 14, 2013
SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ADOPTS HIRONO MEASURES THAT WOULD SAVE HAWAII TAXPAYERS MILLIONS, BOOST HAWAII FISHING INDUSTRY
WASHINGTON, DC - The Senate Judiciary Committee today approved two measures offered by Senator Mazie K. Hirono that will save local taxpayers millions of dollars and help a critical Hawaii industry. The measures, long-sought by Hawaii leaders, would save the state of Hawaii millions of dollars each year by restoring Medicaid eligibility for workers from Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands and would fix rules that disproportionately impact Hawaii's fishing industry. "Both of these amendme… Continue Reading
May 13, 2013
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: NEW YORK TIMES HIGHLIGHTS HIRONO AMENDMENT THAT KEEPS FAMILIES TOGETHER AT THE BORDER
In Saturday's New York Times, the paper's editorial board praised an immigration measure drafted by Senator Mazie K. Hirono and adopted by the Senate Judiciary Committee that would stop families from being torn apart at the border: Some good amendments passed, including one from Mazie Hirono, Democrat of Hawaii, that requires border agents to ask people they detain about spouses and children, and to consider family unity and safety when holding or repatriating anyone. You can read the entire S… Continue Reading
May 09, 2013
DURING FIRST DAY OF IMMIGRATION REFORM MARK UP, SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ADOPTS HIRONO AMENDMENT THAT STOPS FAMILIES FROM BEING TORN APART AT THE BORDER
WASHINGTON, DC - During the first day of the Senate Judiciary Committee's markup of immigration reform legislation, the committee adopted two of Senator Mazie K. Hirono's measures that would protect families and strengthen our immigration system. "We are a nation of immigrants and we all have stories to tell," Hirono said at the start of the mark up (video link). "My story is of a very courageous mother who brought me and my two brothers to this country. I am an immigrant. She did this and rais… Continue Reading
May 09, 2013
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: "MAZIE HIRONO GETS PERSONAL"
Watch Senator Hirono's remarks from today's immigration mark-up that are featured in the Washington Post story below:http://youtu.be/OL9LZ6iVnL8 WASHINGTON POST: Mazie Hirono gets personal Among the 100 U.S. senators, there's just one who is a first-generation immigrant: Hawaii's Mazie Hirono (D), who was born in Japan and came to the U.S. with her mother when she was 8 years old. Hirono has spoken from a personal view during the immigration reform debate, noting that her mother brought her a… Continue Reading
May 08, 2013
HIRONO, WICKER, LOFGREN, SMITH INTRODUCE BILL TO CREATE A SCIENCE LAUREATE OF THE UNITED STATES
Washington, D.C. - Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Roger Wicker (R-MS), along with Representatives Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and House Science Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX), introduced bipartisan companion legislation in the Senate and House of Representatives today that promotes science education and celebrates scientific achievement by establishing an official Science Laureate of the United States. The Science Laureate would be a nationally renowned expert in their field who would travel around … Continue Reading
May 07, 2013
HIRONO FILES ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS TO IMMIGRATION BILL THAT REUNITE FAMILIES, PROVIDE IMMIGRANTS ACCESS TO SAFETY NETS, SUPPORT DREAM ACT STUDENTS
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Mazie K. Hirono filed a number of amendments this afternoon to the immigration reform bill currently being considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The amendments largely focus on setting immigrants up for success once they are here by supporting family unity and immigrants' access to key safety nets. "As an immigrant who came to this country as a young girl, I know how important it is to support immigrant families in order for them to succeed once they are here," … Continue Reading
May 07, 2013
HIRONO INTRODUCES CHANGES TO THE SENATE IMMIGRATION REFORM BILL THAT WOULD HAVE HUGE IMPACTS FOR HAWAII
Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono today filed her first four amendments to the immigration reform bill currently being considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The four measures, long sought by Hawaii leaders, would reunite Filipino World War II veterans with their families, make it easier for foreign tourists to visit the islands, and help the Hawaii fishing industry. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Hirono is in a key position to advocate for Hawaii in immigration … Continue Reading
May 06, 2013
SENATE PASSES HIRONO CO-SPONSORED LEGISLATION THAT LEVELS PLAYING FIELD FOR HAWAII SMALL BUSINESSES
Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono hailed Senate passage today of the Marketplace Fairness Act, legislation that would help level the playing field for Hawaii small businesses. Last month, Hirono took to the Senate floor to urge her colleagues to pass the legislation, arguing the bill would help local merchants compete with online retailers operating on the mainland. "Hawaii small businesses are engines of job creation and economic growth in the islands, but these businesses are unfairl… Continue Reading
April 25, 2013
AT ARMED SERVICES HEARING, SENATOR HIRONO COMMENDS NAVY SECRETARY FOR TRYING TO STOP FURLOUGHS AT PEARL HARBOR, ELSEWHERE
Washington, D.C. - Senator Hirono thanked Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus today for trying to find ways to avoid furloughing civilian workers at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and other naval facilities across the country. Hirono also spoke with General James Amos, the current Commandant of the Marine Corps, and Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the Chief of Naval Operations, during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing today. "Secretary Mabus, I want to thank you for doing everything you can to use … Continue Reading
