Press Releases

Washington, D.C.– This week, Senator Mazie K. Hirono led a bipartisan group of 17 Senators in introducing and passing a resolution to recognize the month of February as American Heart Month and Friday February 6, 2015 as National Wear Red Day.   “In Hawaii and across the country, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both...

Washington, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement after this morning’s vote in the Senate for a clean bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security: “Despite the fact that the House has put us on the brink of shutting down the Department of Homeland Security, I’m hopeful after this...

 Washington, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement after the House’s failure to pass a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security through a three week continuing resolution: “After this afternoon’s stunning vote, the House has just a few hours to prevent a Department of Homeland Security...

Washington, D.C. – Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono joined Jose Diaz-Balart on MSNBC’s The Rundown to highlight her own immigration story and stress the importance of comprehensive immigration reform: “As an immigrant myself, my mother brought me to this country, escaping a terribly abusive marriage in Japan and she had a...

Washington, D.C. –The Hawaii Congressional Delegation today announced that the Hawaii Department of Health will receive $9.43 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support programs for pregnant mothers and families with young children. “The steps we take to support our youngest keiki often create a foundation...

Washington, D.C. – Today Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Rep. Mark Takai commended President Barack Obama’s designation of the Honouliuli Internment Camp site in Kunia, Oahu. “The detention of more than 1,000 innocent Hawaii civilians during World War II remains a dark chapter in Hawaii and our nation’s...

HONOLULU – Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on the passing of former State Representative Diana “Mele” Carroll.  Carroll represented Hawaii’s 13th District (East Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe and Molokini) for five terms in the State House of Representatives. “I am saddened by the...

Today, Hawai‘i’s congressional delegation announced the Hawai‘i Public Housing Authority (HPHA) will receive a $9,036,788 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as part of its Capital Fund Program for Public Housing Agencies. “Having a safe and stable home is a basic necessity. However, 28,000...

Washington, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee’s (SASC) Subcommittee on Seapower and member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement on the Senate vote to confirm Ashton Carter as the next Secretary of Defense:   “Ashton...

Washington, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono has been named the Ranking Member on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Water and Power. Senator Hirono will also serve on the Energy and Public Lands Subcommittees. “Hardworking middle class families, farmers, and small business deserve affordable energy...

Washington, D.C.—Senator Mazie Hirono, Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement on the President’s Authorization of Military Force proposal, which was transmitted to Congress today: “Congress has a key role to play in the U.S. response to the horrific...

Washington, D.C. –The Hawaii Congressional Delegation today introduced a bipartisan bill that will extend and improve the Native Hawaiian Education Act, an existing program that has created educational opportunities for thousands of Native Hawaiian children and families. “Thousands of Native Hawaiian students have benefitted from the...

Washington, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned speech to a joint session of Congress next month.  “The U.S. Israel relationship is of such great importance that Congress has reaffirmed its bipartisan support of Israel time and...

Washington, DC – Following the release of President Obama’s budget earlier this week, Senator Mazie K. Hirono praised the unprecedented high ranking of Hawaii’s Collaborative Landscape Proposal, “Island Forests at Risk,”  in the fiscal year 2016 budget. “It is great news for Hawaii that the ‘Island...

Washington, D.C. – Today Senator Mazie K. Hirono took to the Senate floor to continue to urge the House and Senate to come together to pass a clean appropriations bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security.  From Senator Hirono’s remarks: “We must fund DHS and resist the temptation to govern through manufactured crises...

Washington, D.C. – Today Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs and Armed Services Committees, voted to pass H.R. 203, the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act, which would improve access to mental health services and suicide prevention resources for American veterans. The bill, which...

Washington, D.C. – Today Senator Mazie K. Hirono continued to call for the House and Senate to come together to pass a clean appropriations bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in a speech to the National Treasury Employees Union’s (NTEU) annual Legislative Conference. The NTEU represents over 150,000 workers across 31...

Washington, D.C. – Today, following President Obama’s release of his fiscal year 2016 budget that prioritizes the middle class, Hawaii’s Congressional delegation released the following statements: Senator Mazie K. Hirono: “Many of the priorities laid out in the President’s budget reflect a commitment to stand on the...

Washington, DC – Senator Mazie K. Hirono, member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released the following statement after her vote against the Keystone XL Pipeline, which is expected to be vetoed by the President.  “We must commit to a long-term national strategy to address our dependence on fossil fuels and...

Washington, DC – Today, as she continues to lay out the markers for the 114th Congress, Senator Mazie K. Hirono introduced the Providing Resources Early for Kids (PRE-K) Act, legislation to expand access to high-quality early learning programs for children from birth to age five. The PRE-K Act helps more kids arrive at kindergarten ready to...