Press Releases

HONOLULU– Last week, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that beneficiaries will receive a 2.8% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) increase for 2019, the highest increase since 2012. “Social Security is an earned benefit that provides a critical source of income for millions of individuals and families around the country,...

WASHINGTON, D.C.-  Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) released the following statement in solidarity with Unite Here Local 5 members striking at Marriott-operated hotels on Oahu and Maui: “I stand in solidarity with Hawaii’s hotel workers. Their collective action to go on strike is a powerful reminder that big corporations’...

WASHINGTON, D.C.-  Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) released the following statement in support of Hawaii U.S. Postal Service (USPS) workers’ rally to oppose the Trump administration’s efforts to privatize USPS: “To the more than 2,000 hardworking employees of the U.S. Postal Service in Hawaii, I stand in solidarity with...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) urged the new Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service Charles P. Rettig to reconsider the IRS’ plan to remove automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) from IRS offices with fewer than 100 employees, including the Honolulu IRS Office and...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) voted today for the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, which passed the Senate 93-6. The bill provides nearly $1.7 billion in disaster relief funds, and includes provisions authored by Senator Hirono which help ensure reliable air service to Kalaupapa, Molokai; close loopholes that leave...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) hailed an agreement reached between the United States and Australia to launch a pilot program allowing Australian citizens to apply for expedited customs clearance through U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Global Entry program. Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, voted to advance bills that would make the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) permanent, increase federal resources for programs that engage young people and veterans in conservation careers, and address the more than $12...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono led 14 Senators in urging the Department of the Interior (DOI) Inspector General Mary Kendall to investigate any political interference in scientific research or communications at the Department. “In April of this year news surfaced alleging political interference with a report by the National...

WASHINGTON, D.C.-  Senator Mazie K. Hirono today announced that the Synergistic Hawaii Agriculture Council (SHAC) will receive more than $483,000 in federal funding from the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) to assist farmers impacted by the volcanic activity on Hawaii Island.  “In July, I met with members of Hawaii...

“It took a lot of courage for Christine Blasey Ford to come forward to share her story of sexual assault by Brett Kavanaugh. Her story is very credible and I believe her. “As I said during the hearing, this is why the #MeToo movement is so important, because often in these situations, there is an environment where people see nothing,...

The Hawaii Congressional Delegation urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to utilize its existing authority to provide direct assistance to Hawaii farmers affected by recent natural disasters. “The dire situation that our farmers and producers are currently experiencing as a result of recent disasters cannot be...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced that the National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded more than $4.1 million to the University of Hawaii to promote diversity and improve engagement in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. The University of Hawaii will receive $3,824,364 through the Louis...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Saturday, the President signed S.899, the Veterans Providing Healthcare Transition Improvement Act. Introduced by Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and Jon Tester (D-Mont.), the new law ensures veterans with a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability rating of 30% or higher who are...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and John Boozman (R-Ark.), members of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, introduced legislation to renew a number of important federal homeless veteran programs for the next fiscal year through 2020. The bill, known as the Keeping Our Commitment to Ending Veteran Homelessness Act of...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution,forcefully outlined what’s at stake in the fight for the future of the Supreme Court and the threat Judge Brett Kavanaugh would pose to the constitutional rights of millions of Americans during her opening...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Brian Schatz, and Representatives Colleen Hanabusa and Tulsi Gabbard filed bicameral Congressional resolutions honoring the Honolulu Little League team, who won the 2018 Little League World Series. “Congratulations to each of the athletes on the Honolulu Little League team on becoming the 2018...

HONOLULU – Senator Mazie K. Hirono issued the following statement following statement on the passing of Senator John McCain: “We mourn the passing of a great American and human being, John McCain.  He fought many battles, met many extraordinary challenges, and faced the end with the courage he exemplified throughout his life. ...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- The U.S. House and Senate unanimously passed the Veterans Providing Healthcare Transition Improvement Act (S. 899), a bipartisan bill authored by Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) to ensure veterans with a disability rating of 30% or higher who are hired by the U.S. Department of...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono today announced that she will cancel her meeting with Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Senator Hirono delivered the following statement at the Senate Judiciary Committee this morning: “Mr. Chairman, I want to take a moment to react to yesterday’s news of the conviction of the President’s campaign...

WASHINGTON, D.C.-  Senator Mazie K. Hirono today announced that she will oppose the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to serve on the Supreme Court: “I will be voting no on Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court of the United States. “Donald Trump long ago announced his intention to nominate a judge off of a list...