Press Releases
AFTER URGING FAA TO SPARE KALAELOA AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER FROM SEQUESTRATION CUTS, SENATOR HIRONO APPLAUDS AGENCY’S DECISION TO KEEP TOWER OPEN
Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono applauded the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) decision today to spare Kalaeloa Airport Air Traffic Control Tower on Oahu from the chopping block. After the FAA identified the tower as one that would be closed due to sequestration, Senator Hirono sent the agency a letter urging them to keep the tower open because of the vital role it plays to Coast Guard operations and air safety. "This is great news for Hawaii. Earlier this month, I made the ca… Continue Reading
March 21, 2013
HOUSE PASSES MEASURE CHAMPIONED BY SENATOR HIRONO TO RESTORE TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR SERVICE MEMBERS, LEGISLATION NOW AWAITS PRESIDENT’S SIGNATURE
Washington, D.C. - The House of Representatives approved legislation championed by Senator Mazie K. Hirono to protect tuition assistance for military service members from cuts. As a part of sequestration and budget constraints, the Marines, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard recently announced the suspension of military tuition assistance for students serving in the military. Hirono was an original cosponsor of the legislation that passed the Senate as a bipartisan amendment to the Consolidated an… Continue Reading
March 20, 2013
HIRONO COSPONSORED BILL TO REINSTATE TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR SERVICE MEMBERS PASSES SENATE, HEADS TO HOUSE FOR APPROVAL
Washington, D.C. - Today, the U.S. Senate approved legislation cosponsored by Senator Mazie K. Hirono to protect tuition assistance for military service members from cuts. As a part of sequestration and budget constraints, the Marines, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard recently announced the termination of military tuition assistance for new students. If passed by the House of Representatives, today's bipartisan amendment to the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act that funds the… Continue Reading
March 20, 2013
MAZIE K. HIRONO, SIX OTHER SENATORS URGE GANG OF EIGHT TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR FAMILIES TO BE REUNITED THROUGH IMMIGRATION REFORM
Washington, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (HI), Barbara Boxer (CA), Sherrod Brown (OH), Tom Harkin (IA), Brian Schatz (HI), Al Franken (MN), and Elizabeth Warren (MA) urged the Gang of Eight currently drafting immigration reform legislation to prioritize family reunification and clear the backlogs of family visas in a letter today. The senators specifically urged their colleagues to keep categories that allow for immigrants to call their brothers and sisters and adult children to … Continue Reading
March 19, 2013
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: NEW YORK TIMES, OTHER NATIONAL OUTLETS PROFILE SENATOR HIRONO'S JUDICIARY HEARING ON WOMEN, FAMILIES IN IMMIGRATION REFORM
The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Houston Chronicle and a number of others outlets profiled Senator Hirono's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on how immigration reform should address the needs of women and families. An immigrant herself, Hirono took the rare opportunity as a freshman senator to chair a full committee hearing and argued for reforms that reunify families, cut backlogs and provide basic protections for immigrants. You can watch video of Senator Hirono's opening stateme… Continue Reading
March 18, 2013
MAZIE K. HIRONO CHAIRS SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HEARING ON WOMEN, FAMILIES IN IMMIGRATION REFORM
Washington, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono chaired a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on how immigration reform should address the needs of women and families this afternoon. As an immigrant who came to this country with her family as a small child, Hirono made the case for reforms that offer basic protections to immigrants, cut backlogs and make the family immigration system stronger. "I know firsthand that immigration is a women's issue and a family issue," Hirono said in her opening state… Continue Reading
March 15, 2013
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: SENATOR MAZIE K. HIRONO DELIVERS FIRST SPEECH ON SENATE FLOOR TO DEFEND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY RESEARCH, CAPS OFF WHIRLWIND WEEK
Washington, D.C. - It was a history-making week for Senator Hirono as she took to the floor of the United States Senate for the first time since being sworn in, defending programs that develop alternative energy. Here's a link to video of the speech if you haven't seen it: http://youtu.be/CdWV6CYhick Also this week, the Senator advocated for reforms that would stop sexual assaults in the military, continued her decades-long advocacy for early childhood education for our keiki and was praised in… Continue Reading
March 14, 2013
ON SENATE FLOOR, SENATOR MAZIE K. HIRONO DEFENDS MILITARY EFFORTS TO DEVELOP ALTERNATIVE ENERGY, BLASTS LAST MINUTE EFFORT TO GUT FUNDING FOR MILITARY BIOFUEL INITIATIVES
Washington, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, took to the Senate floor for the first time since being sworn into the Senate to criticize a hastily offered measure that would strip funding for certain Department of Defense (DOD) alternative energy initiatives. The measure, a Republican amendment to the continuing resolution that funds the government, would strike funding for military biofuel programs, undermining our national security and maintainin… Continue Reading
March 13, 2013
SENATOR HIRONO LISTENS TO VICTIMS' STORIES, QUESTIONS MILITARY LEADERS DURING HEARINGS ON SEXUAL ASSAULT IN MILITARY
Washington, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono listened to victims' stories and questioned military leaders today during an Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel hearing on sexual assault in the military. Hearing witnesses included military leaders, victim advocates and former military victims of sexual assault. The Department of Defense estimates as many as 19,000 military sexual assaults occurred in 2011. Due to a broken system of enforcement, victims of assault are often unable to bring their… Continue Reading
March 13, 2013
SENATORS REID, HIRONO, MENENDEZ, BEGICH & SCHATZ WORK TO REUNITE FILIPINO WORLD WAR II VETS WITH THEIR FAMILIES
Washington, D.C. - Senators Harry Reid (D-NV), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Mark Begich (D-AK), and Brian Schatz (D-HI) are supporting legislation that would reunite Filipino World War II veterans with their families. Certain Filipino veterans of World War II were offered U.S. citizenship in recognition of their service; however their children were not. As a result, the veterans who came to the United States could only reunite with their children by filing a petition and waiting … Continue Reading
March 11, 2013
SENATOR MAZIE K. HIRONO INTRODUCES BILL TO IMPROVE & EXPAND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FOR KIDS IN HAWAII & ACROSS THE COUNTRY
Washington, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono today introduced the Providing Resources Early for Kids Act (PRE-K Act), legislation that strengthens early childhood education. The PRE-K Act creates a new federal-state partnership that incentivizes states to both improve the quality of state preschool programs and expand to serve more children in need. "Research shows that quality early education is foundational for success in school and in life. The PRE-K Act will help more kids enter school ready… Continue Reading
March 07, 2013
HAWAII DELEGATION ANNOUNCES $33.2 MILLION FOR HALE KULA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Senator Brian Schatz, Representative Colleen Hanabusa, and Representative Tulsi Gabbard announced today that Hale Kula Elementary School will receive $33.2 million for renovation and repairs. The U.S. Department of Defense today awarded $26.6 million in funding for the school while the Hawaii Department of Education has pledged to award the school an additional $6.6 million in matching funds. The federal funds come from a grant administered by the U.S… Continue Reading
March 07, 2013
SENATOR MAZIE K. HIRONO ATTENDS PRESIDENT OBAMA'S SIGNING OF STRENGTHENED VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT
Washington, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement after attending President Obama's signing of the strengthened Violence Against Women Act (VAWA): "As I watched the President sign this bill, I thought about the victims of domestic violence who will now be able to obtain justice and receive better services because of this strengthened law," said Hirono. "This reauthorization was long overdue. While the original VAWA, signed in 1994, has helped save countless lives, thi… Continue Reading
March 05, 2013
SENATOR MAZIE K. HIRONO INTRODUCES FIRST BILL AS SENATOR – LEGISLATION TO REUNIFY FILIPINO WORLD WAR II VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES
Washington, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono today introduced her first bill as a United States Senator - legislation that would reunite Filipino World War II veterans with their families. The long-overdue legislation, which has been the priority of Hawaii's congressional delegation for many years, could gain new life as the Senate drafts and marks up immigration reform legislation. This legislation underscores Hirono's immigration reform approach of bringing families together and assisting commu… Continue Reading
March 04, 2013
HAWAII DELEGATION MEETS IN WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Senator Brian Schatz, Representative Colleen Hanabusa, and Representative Tulsi Gabbard met this afternoon in Washington. The four discussed working together on upcoming legislation in their committee areas, the Akaka Bill and other important issues for the state and its economy. "Hawaii's delegation is small but our strength has always been our teamwork and ability to work together. Since starting this new Congress, each of us has been focused on del… Continue Reading
February 28, 2013
SENATOR MAZIE K. HIRONO STATEMENT ON TODAY’S SENATE SEQUESTRATION VOTES
Washington, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement today following the defeat of the compromise proposal to replace sequestration in the Senate: "Letting these arbitrary spending cuts go into place is no way to run a government. They are bad for our national security, bad for our economy and bad for jobs. The Obama Administration, military leaders, industry groups and economists from across the spectrum have shown that these cuts would slow our economy's recovery, hurt… Continue Reading
February 28, 2013
SENATOR MAZIE K. HIRONO COMMENDS THE LONG-OVERDUE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT
Washington, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono today released the following statement after the House of Representatives finally passed the strengthened Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) with overwhelming bipartisan support: "I am glad to see the House has finally reauthorized the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act that includes increased protections for women and families. Since it was first passed in 1994, VAWA has literally saved lives through public awareness, increased incident reporting a… Continue Reading
February 26, 2013
SENATOR MAZIE K. HIRONO JOINS SENATE COLLEAGUES IN VOTING TO CONFIRM PRESIDENT OBAMA'S SECRETARY OF DEFENSE NOMINEE
Washington, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on her vote today to confirm Secretary of Defense nominee Chuck Hagel: "Senator Hagel brings an impressive record of service and is a highly qualified choice to lead the Pentagon. Our country needs Senator Hagel's strong leadership immediately, as the Department of Defense faces the possibility of significant budget reductions that will affect military readiness at a ti… Continue Reading
February 22, 2013
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: SENATOR MAZIE K. HIRONO MEETS WITH PEOPLE ACROSS HAWAII DURING HER "BRINGING HAWAII'S VOICE TO WASHINGTON" LISTENING TOUR
Honolulu, HI - After spending her first month as a United States Senator in Washington, Senator Mazie K. Hirono embarked on a four day listening tour across Hawaii to hear how she can best bring Hawaii's voice to Washington. Hirono met with military leaders, veterans, working families, immigration advocates and people across the state in a number of meetings. Here's a quick run-down of the tour: Monday WATCH: Senator Hirono appeared on Hawaii's television morning shows to talk about the devast… Continue Reading
February 20, 2013
HAWAII DELEGATION ANNOUNCES $17 MILLION TO STATE FOR DISASTER RELIEF
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Senator Brian Schatz, and Representative Tulsi Gabbard announced today that Hawaii will receive $17 million for disaster relief. The funds come from a grant administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The grant will help the state repair roads and highways damaged by heavy rains causing flooding and landslides on Kauai and Maui in late February and early March 2012. Repair work will include emergency repairs to restore traffic flow, minimiz… Continue Reading
