Press Releases

HONOLULU – Senator Mazie K. Hirono encouraged organizers and program leaders of the Patsy T. Mink Center for Business and Leadership (MCBL) Girls’ Summit to continue their work empowering young women to pursue leadership roles. Each year, the Girls’ Summit connects over 300 high school students with mentors, and holds...

LOWER PUNA – Senator Mazie K. Hirono continued her advocacy for Hawaii Island communities affected by ongoing volcanic activity during a visit to Puna today. Senator Hirono met with affected residents, volunteers, and business owners in visits to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Recovery Center, World Central Kitchen,...

HONOLULU – Senator Mazie K. Hirono joined hundreds of activists at the Hawaii State Capitol today to protest the Trump administration’s family separation and detention policies. The Honolulu Families Belong Together rally was one of over 700 held across the country. “Today, people are coming together all across the country to say...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Hawaii Congressional Delegation in a letter to Undersecretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Bill Northey urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide the maximum assistance possible to Hawaii farmers impacted by the ongoing volcanic activity on Hawaii Island. “Hawaii is unlike...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono successfully included a provision in the 2018 Senate Farm Bill that would allow volcano-impacted farmers to retroactively apply for coverage under the Non-insured Crop Assistance Program (NAP). The bipartisan Farm Bill, which sets policy and funding levels for agriculture and...

WASHINGTON, D.C.— The U.S. Senate unanimously passed S. 2245, a bipartisan bill authored by Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) to extend trade and investor visas to New Zealand citizens to increase international business between the United States and New Zealand.  The passage of the Knowledgeable Innovators and...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed the nomination of former Commander of U.S. Pacific Command Admiral Harry Harris (Ret.) to serve as the next U.S. Ambassador to South Korea. Earlier this month, Senator Hirono introduced Admiral Harris at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Representative Matt Cartwright (D-Penn.), Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.), House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-Va.), and House...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono pressed the Robert Wilkie, President Trump’s nominee to serve as the next Secretary of Veterans Affairs, for a commitment to expand VA care options for Hawaii residents living on Neighbor Islands and in rural communities. Senator Hirono secured a commitment from the nominee to work with her to...

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) welcomed President Trump’s decision to amend the federal disaster declaration for the City and County of Honolulu and Kauai County to include Individual Assistance for those affected by the flooding event in April, as well as the release of $500,000 from the U.S. Department of...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision on Janus v. AFSCME Council 31. “America’s public sector workers teach and nurture our children, keep us safe, and care for our families. As union members, they are empowered through collective action to fight for...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) released the following statement on the Supreme Court ruling upholding the President’s Muslim ban in Trump v. Hawaii:  “Today is a dark day for our country. Every time our country has singled out a minority group for discriminatory treatment, we have been proven...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement to mark the fifth anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision to destroy key provisions of the Voting Rights Act in Shelby County v. Holder, and today’s ruling to further restrict voting rights in Abbot v. Perez. “Since Shelby...

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), introduced the Action for Dental Health Act of 2018, a bill that would reauthorize initiatives that increase access to oral health treatment and prevention services, particularly for underserved communities.  “Children and families in...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) introduced the bicameral Patsy T. Mink and Louise M. Slaughter Gender Equity in Education Act, legislation to provide additional resources for schools, school districts, states, and institutions of higher education to fully implement the Patsy Mink Equal Opportunity in...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono met with Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) nominee, current Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Robert Wilkie today. The meeting occurred ahead of Undersecretary Wilkie’s Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee confirmation hearing on June 27. Following the meeting, Senator...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono voted for the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed the Senate 85-10 today. The NDAA will now be considered by a bicameral conference committee to resolve differences between the Senate and House versions of the bill.  As a member of the Senate Armed Services...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) issued the following statement following President Trump’s decision to amend the federal disaster declaration for Hawaii Island to include Individual Assistance for residents and households affected by the ongoing Kilauea eruption. The approval of Individual Assistance makes...

WASHINGTON – Today, Hawaii’s Congressional Delegation urged President Donald Trump to act swiftly on Governor David Ige’s request for individual assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for Hawaii Island residents whose homes have been lost or damaged due to the ongoing Kilauea Volcano eruptions. FEMA’s...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono introduced Admiral (Ret.) Harry Harris during today’s Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on his nomination to serve as U.S. Ambassador to South Korea. Admiral Harris previously served as the Commander of U.S. Pacific Command and the U.S. Pacific Fleet. From Senator Hirono’s...