Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on the air strikes in Syria. “Bashar al-Assad has again used chemical weapons against his own people. This is another atrocity and breach of international law, and the international community must hold...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) voted against the confirmation of Andrew Wheeler to serve as the Deputy Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Mr. Wheeler, a coal industry lobbyist who denies the existence of climate change, was confirmed by the Senate on a 53-45 vote. “At a time when the current EPA administrator is under...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) urged her colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee to support Jill Otake’s nomination to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii in a Committee markup today. Ms. Otake’s nomination was approved by the Committee unanimously, and will now be considered by the full Senate. From...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) introduced former Hawaii Attorney General Mark Bennett during today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to consider his nomination to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. From Senator Hirono’s remarks: “Mark has led a distinguished career both in private practice and in...

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and four of her colleagues called on U.S. Department of Interior Deputy Inspector General Mary Kendall to conduct an investigation into potential alterations to a scientific report titled “Sea Level Rise and Storm Surge Projections for the National Park Service” by...

HONOLULU- Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on the passing of Senator Daniel K. Akaka: “Senator Daniel Kahikina Akaka embodied the Aloha Spirit. He dedicated his life to serving the people of Hawaii as an educator, and in the U.S. Army, state government, the U.S. House, and the U.S. Senate. In Congress, Senator...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono visited Hale Makua on Maui to highlight her work to allow the facility to continue to serve as a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provider. Following the VA’s decision to terminate a provider agreement that had been in place since 2013, Senator Hirono facilitated discussions that culminated in Hale Makua being...

KAHULUI – Senator Mazie K. Hirono visited four Maui small businesses who participate in Hawaii on the Hill, Senator Hirono and the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii’s annual state showcase in Washington, D.C. Senator Hirono visited Uncle Louie Sausage Inc., Maui Fruit Jewels, Maui Crisps, and Maui Brewing Company.  “Our small...

HONOLULU –  Senator Mazie K. Hirono emphasized the importance of continuing federal funding for Impact Aid that supports the education of federally-impacted students at the Hawaii Department of Education’s Transition Centers Best Practices Conference. School transition centers provide peer and educator support to students entering...

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) issued the following statement after President Donald Trump fired Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin and nominated Rear Admiral Ronny Jackson to replace him. “The chaos continues in the White House with the continuous shuffling of cabinet secretaries – the latest...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono met with staff and residents at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo to discuss the impact that her recently passed legislation, the State Veterans Home Adult Day Health Care Improvement Act, will have on the facility’s ability to continue adult day health care services for...

HILO –  Senator Mazie K. Hirono received the Rose Award of Excellence from the Zonta Club of Hilo at a ceremony today. Presented every two years, the Award honors women who have “made a significant impact on the lives of others.” “I thank the Zonta Club of Hilo for the Rose Award, and for being a hands-on organization....

KAHULUI –  Senator Mazie K. Hirono encouraged students to continue to advocate for safer schools and an end to gun violence at the Concert for Our Lives Maui. “This is a movement that will inspire a generation,” Senator Hirono said. “Activists from across the country and around the world came together today to...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono issued the following statement following her vote in favor of the Omnibus Spending Bill for FY2018: “This bill reflects priorities that are very different from the President’s. In many ways – and particularly on education, affordable housing, health care, and clean energy – it...

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), the Ranking Member and Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, called on the Supreme Court to make an audio recording of oral arguments in the highly-anticipated Trump v. Hawaii case available immediately after arguments conclude...

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced $3.7 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding for eight Hawaii projects that fight invasive species and protect Hawaii’s agriculture industry. “Invasive pests continue to threaten the livelihood of Hawaii farmers and future of our agriculture...

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) received 100% scores from two leading environmental advocacy groups—the League of Conservation Voters and the Defenders of Wildlife for her work in the Senate to stand up for environmental protections and fight the Trump administration’s efforts to open public lands for...

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  The U.S. Senate unanimously passed S. 899, a bill authored by Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) to ensure veterans with a disability rating of 30% or higher who are hired by the VA in critical medical positions can access additional paid sick leave during their first year...

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) issuance of an Order to Mokulele Airlines to provide unsubsidized Essential Air Service (EAS) to Kalaupapa: “Congress created the Essential Air Service Program to serve...

WASHINGTON, D.C.–Senator Mazie K. Hirono reiterated her commitment to supporting Hawaii’s public schools and fighting against Betsy DeVos and the Trump administration’s efforts to undermine public education during National Public Schools Week. “Our nation’s public schools are foundational to the success of millions of...