Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono, the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee, received an update on several programs to modernize Marine Corps ground combat and tactical vehicles. Senator Hirono called for continued innovation and testing of technology to support Marines in Hawaii and around the world. This...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono and the Hawaii Congressional Delegation urged U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly to stop the deportation of Hawaii Island resident Andres Magana Ortiz. Mr. Magana Ortiz, a well-respected coffee farmer on Hawaii Island, faces deportation after living in the United States for nearly 30...

Washington, D.C. – Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) led a group of 37 Senators calling on appropriators to continue strong support for the federal Pell Grant program in Fiscal Year 2018. As the largest source of federal grant aid for undergraduate students in the United States, the Pell...

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Senator Hirono today announced that Hawaii has received $4.2 million in AmeriCorps funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency for volunteering and service programs. “This federal funding will support educational opportunities for students, increase environmental...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement after President Trump announced his decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement: “President Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement is irresponsible, hasty, and short-sighted. In Hawaii we understand why...

WASHINGTON, D.C.–  Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced today that the University of Hawaii will receive over $350,000 in grant funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support the training and recruitment of future science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) teachers. This announcement is part of the...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced today that Kahului Airport and Hilo International Airport will receive over $10 million in federal funding from the Federal Aviation Administration to enhance airport operations and runway safety. “Ensuring safe and secure air travel is critical to sustaining Hawaii’s...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) led a bipartisan group of 28 Senators urging robust funding for the Supporting Services for Veteran Families (SSVF), Grant and Per Diem (GPD), and Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) programs for Fiscal Year 2018. These important...

WASHINGTON, D.C.– After the release of President Donald Trump’s budget request, Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) introduced the Keeping Our Commitment to Essential Air Service (EAS) Act to prevent proposed budget cuts to air service for over 170 small community airports nationwide by reauthorizing program...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- The U.S. Senate today passed a bipartisan resolution lead by Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) to recognize May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The resolution celebrates the contributions of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. “We...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) today rolled out her plan to promote women and minorities pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions and careers. “Supporting a diverse STEM workforce is critical to ensuring that Hawaii workers can compete in today’s global economy,”...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on the Fourth Circuit Court’s ruling against President Trump’s Muslim Ban: “The ruling today by the Fourth Circuit follows earlier decisions like that of Judge Watson in Hawaii in striking a blow against...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee, which oversees Navy and Marine Corps programs, questioned shipbuilding industry witnesses today on the importance of readiness, prioritizing fleet maintenance, and workforce development when discussing increasing the number of ships in the...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Representative Colleen Hanabusa (D-Hawaii) introduced the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act today, a bicameral bill that would expedite the visa process for children of Filipino World War II veterans. “When called to serve, Filipino World War II veterans fought and sacrificed...

The Pell Grant Preservation & Expansion Act helps students offset the rising costs of college by permanently indexing Pell Grants to inflation, increasing its purchasing power Bill also makes Pell Grant funding mandatory, providing students with security of stability of program Nearly eight million students currently receive Pell...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono condemned the President’s budget, and highlighted its devastating impact on Hawaii families. “President Trump’s budget is dangerous for Hawaii families,” said Senator Hirono. “It dismantles Medicaid, breaks his promise not to cut Social Security, eliminates Native Hawaiian...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), members of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, today introduced the Veterans To Enhance Studies Through (TEST) Accessibility Act to help returning veterans transition into civilian life. Under current law, veterans are required to use a full month...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) wrote to the Director of the Office of Government Ethics (OGE), requesting information about the ethics rules that Stephen Bannon, President Trump's Chief Strategist and Senior Counselor, is required to...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on the appointment of former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate the Russia/Trump matter: “The appointment of a special counsel is a victory for the American people who have demanded the truth about Russia’s goal to undermine our...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement: “During a routine pre-operative physical for my eye surgery, my doctor discovered an abnormality on my chest x-ray. After a series of follow up tests, I have been diagnosed with kidney cancer that is also present in my seventh rib. “My treatment is being...