Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and six other Senators demanded answers from the Trump Administration today on a new office created to focus on publicizing information about crimes committed by immigrants. In a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security John F. Kelly, the Senators asked for answers about the purpose for...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) introduced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Veterans’ Preference Protection Act to extend equitable federal employment rights to veterans. The bill would close a loophole in current law that leaves over...

Washington, D.C.- Yesterday, U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senate Republicans revealed their “mean, ugly” version of Trumpcare. U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) delivered the Weekly Democratic Address, emphasizing that Senate Democrats are going to do “whatever we can” to fight Trumpcare and reiterating that...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono introduced the Patsy T. Mink Gender Equity in Education Act (GEEA) (S.1421), which provides additional resources for schools, school districts, states, and institutions of higher education to fully implement the Patsy Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act (commonly referred to as “Title...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- In an exclusive interview with KITV Island News’ Paula Akana, Senator Mazie Hirono announced a positive change in her ongoing battle with kidney cancer and discussed the fights ahead in Washington. Because her cancer is less aggressive than originally thought, she will undergo surgery next week to remove the lesion on her...

WASINGTON, D.C.- United States Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Americans living with serious and chronic diseases, survivors, and advocates to highlight how Trumpcare undermines protections for Americans living with pre-existing conditions. Ian Lock, a survivor of Osteosarcoma...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono took to the Senate floor today to oppose the version of Trumpcare being written in secret by Senate Republicans. From Senator Hirono’s remarks:                  “Right now 13 of our male colleagues are sequestered away somewhere, plotting how to...

Washington, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee, heard from Navy leadership on the Navy’s shipbuilding plan and operational needs, including the goal of increasing submarines and major surface combatant force levels from the previously projected need of 308...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Brian Schatz, and Representatives Colleen Hanabusa and Tulsi Gabbard introduced legislation to reinstate Medicaid coverage for Freely Associated States (FAS) citizens living in the United States. The Covering our FAS Allies (COFA) Act would restore Medicaid coverage, known in Hawaii as Med-QUEST, for...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – At today’s Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) questioned U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke on the Trump Administration’s proposed budget cuts, particularly its devastating 84 percent cut to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a popular...

WASINGTON, D.C.- United States Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) today sent a letter to Stefan Passantino, Designated Agency Ethics Official (DAEO) at the White House, requesting clarification on White House senior advisor Steve Bannon's compliance with...

WASINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono and the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii celebrated the success of nearly 70 participating Hawaii businesses at the Fourth Annual Taste of Hawaii on Capitol Hill this evening. Attendees were greeted with fresh orchid lei, and learned about an array of Hawaii businesses representing technology, agriculture, and...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono and the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii today welcomed nearly 75 members of Hawaii’s business community to Capitol Hill for the Fourth Annual Hawaii on the Hill Policy Summit. Business leaders representing diverse industries – including manufacturing, health care, transportation, and others –...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono spoke before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee opposing S.1275, which would completely eliminate federal Native Hawaiian housing programs, while preserving federal housing programs for other Native communities. Native Hawaiian community advocates attended the hearing, but were not invited by the Indian...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on the Ninth Circuit Court’s ruling against President Trump’s Muslim Ban: “Court after court has seen this Muslim Ban for what it is: an illegal attack on a group of individuals singled out for their religion....

Washington, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) received a perfect score of 100 percent on the Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA) Congressional Scorecard for the second session of the 114th Congress. The Senator currently maintains a lifetime record of 100 percent. “Now more than ever, it is important that we remain united in...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono applauded the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to grant Andres Magana Ortiz a 30-day stay of deportation. This is a temporary reprieve as the Department of Homeland Security considers Mr. Magana Ortiz’s wife’s Petition for Alien Relative. “Today’s announcement is a...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono, the Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, questioned Acting National Park Service Director Michael Reynolds and U.S. Department of Interior Deputy Inspector General Mary Kendall on recent reports of sexual harassment and misconduct in the National Park...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Brian Schatz urged federal appropriators in a bipartisan letter to increase federal funding for the Impact Aid Program in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 budget. “Impact Aid funds a range of programs, including efforts to retain highly qualified teachers, adequate technology, facilities...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement on the nomination of Chris Wray to serve as the next Director of the FBI: “At a time when we have so many concerns about President Trump’s interference with the FBI’s investigation of his team’s ties with...