Press Releases

Ahead of the Trump administration’s Fiscal Year 2019 budget proposal, Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) urged the President to fund the National Sea Grant College Program at no less than current levels. In a letter to President Trump, the Senators highlighted the important role Sea Grant Programs play in boosting...

Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) led a resolution recognizing Fred Korematsu for his opposition to the illegal incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II and work to advance civil rights. The resolution recognizes January 30 as “Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution” and...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after Victor Cha confirmed that he is no longer being considered to serve as the ambassador to South Korea: “One year into his presidency, Donald Trump has yet to nominate an ambassador to South Korea -- one of our closest allies in a...

 Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on the President’s State of the Union address:  “President Trump spent the last year pursuing policies that pit one group against another and attacking people who don’t agree with him. In his performance tonight, the President tried to show something...

Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Tom Udall (D-N.M.) today introduced legislation to enhance protections for national monuments against the Trump administration’s unprecedented attacks on public lands. The America’s Natural Treasures of Immeasurable Quality Unite, Inspire, and Together Improve the Economies of States (ANTIQUITIES) Act of...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono announced today that the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii will receive $300,000 from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program to assist victims of housing discrimination.   “In a state with such a high cost of living, Hawaii families...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) released the following statement on the continuing resolution: “There are battles worth fighting. “Protecting DREAMers, reauthorizing the Children’s Health Insurance Program, funding Community Health Centers, and providing parity between funding for defense and domestic priorities – without...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono announced that she will donate pay she receives during the government shutdown to Hawaii’s 14 Federally Qualified Community Health Centers. “Community Health Centers serve hundreds of thousands of Hawaii residents, including keiki who rely on the Children’s Health Insurance Program,” said Senator...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on the government shutdown: “Tonight, Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, and Donald Trump turned things upside down. They’ve spent the past year working behind closed doors to take away health care from millions of people and pass huge tax cuts for the richest people and corporations in our country...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Hirono today voted against S. 139, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Amendments Reauthorization. The bill passed the Senate on a 65-34 vote, sending the legislation to the President.   “Congress authorizes covert intelligence programs under FISA for a limited duration so that these programs...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a call with Secretary of Defense James Mattis, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) emphasized the importance of strong diplomatic efforts to resolve tensions with North Korea.    “Earlier today, I called Secretary of Defense Mattis to emphasize the urgency of resolving the situation with North Korea...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) took to the Senate floor today to provide an update on Saturday’s false emergency threat alert, and outlined steps she will take to get to the bottom of what occurred to make sure the mistake never happens again.   From Senator Hirono’s remarks:   “This incident...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following Saturday’s false emergency threat alert, Senator Mazie K. Hirono secured a commitment from Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen to improve communication between the federal government and states on emergency alerts, including verification of the information contained in alerts. In response to...

Senator Hirono announced that the State of Hawaii will receive $770,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to protect and improve Hawaii’s watersheds.       “Today’s investment recognizes Hawaii’s ongoing commitment to the protection and restoration of our forested watersheds, and will help enhance the...

The bipartisan Veterans E-Health & Telemedicine Support (VETS) Act, introduced by Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) unanimously passed the Senate. This legislation seeks to improve veterans’ access to health care services by expanding telehealth services – including mental health treatment - provided by the Department...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono applauded the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works’ approval of a resolution to allow the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to move forward with the solicitation of a lease for the future Leeward Oahu VA Outpatient Clinic. “I thank my colleagues on the Senate Committee on...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono applauded Canada’s approval of legislation to implement a 2015 agreement with the United States to expand U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) preclearance locations at airports in Canada. “Canada’s approval of the 2015 preclearance agreement strengthens our close bilateral ties...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono issued the following statement after opposing the continuing resolution: “I voted against the continuing resolution because it did not include programs that would actually help people such as the DREAM Act, a real reauthorization for the Children’s Health Insurance Program and Community...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Brian Schatz announced the nomination of well-respected, career prosecutor Jill Otake to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii. Ms. Otake was among those recommended by Senators Hirono and Schatz, and a merit-based Federal Judicial Selection Commission in 2015. “Ms....

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement following her vote against the Republican tax bill: “The Republican tax bill is a scam. After months of empty promises to the middle class, the President has been caught in another big fat lie. This bill will not help the middle class. It is nothing more than a...