Press Releases

HILO, HAWAII – Senator Mazie K. Hirono joined Superintendent of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Cindy Orlando to dedicate a new exhibit recounting the internment of Japanese Americans at the Kilauea Military Camp (KMC) during World War II. More than 100 Japanese Americans were imprisoned at KMC – the largest incarceration site in Hawaii...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and their Democratic women colleagues urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to pass the Dream Act before the Senate recesses in December. In the letter, the Senators emphasized the impact of President Trump’s decision to rescind the...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), along with a bipartisan group of Senators and advocates, today called on the Senate to pass the bipartisan Military Justice Improvement Act, which would establish an impartial, fair, and accountable military justice system to address the crisis of sexual assault. Since...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee, successfully secured provisions that will strengthen Hawaii’s security and economy in the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act that passed the Senate today. Senator Hirono also served as a member of the NDAA...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono today introduced the Military Domestic Violence Reporting Enhancement Act, legislation to close a dangerous loophole in the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) that enables convicted abusers to purchase firearms. Federal civilian law mandates that those convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- The U.S. Senate unanimously passed Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Orrin G. Hatch’s (R-Utah) State Veterans Home Adult Day Health Care Improvement Act, a bill to ensure that severely disabled veterans are able to receive adult day health care services at no cost to them by defining the program as a reimbursable treatment option...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement in recognition of Veterans Day: “Each Veterans Day, we are reminded of the bravery and commitment of the men and women who have served and are still serving our country. We honor our servicemembers, our veterans, and their families for their dedication and sacrifices...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.) and Representatives Gene Green (D-Texas) and Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.) introduced the Protecting Seniors through Immunization Act (or “Shingles Prevention Act”)—bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would eliminate Medicare Part D...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) introduced the Assault Weapons Ban of 2017, a bill to ban the sale, transfer, manufacture, and importation of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines. “Thoughts, prayers, and moments of silence will not curb the epidemic of mass...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono announced that the University of Hawaii will receive more than $1.7 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support agriculture and sustainability education programs. “As we work toward growing more of our food at home, this funding will support programs across the University of...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono and the Hawaii Congressional Delegation introduced the Sustainable Fishing Workforce Protection Act, legislation that would address concerns about the status of foreign workers in Hawaii’s longline fishing fleet. “This bill provides necessary protections for foreign fishermen and ensures the...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Steve Daines’ (R-Mont.) bill to make permanent the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Card program was signed into to law by the President. The law, which grants Americans and citizens from APEC nations access to fast-track processing lanes at Daniel K....

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono opposed plans to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas development to fulfill a mandate in the Republican tax and budget plan that the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee raise $1 billion in new revenue to pay for tax cuts to corporations and the wealthiest Americans...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) today announced that Taiwan has officially been added to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Global Entry program. This decision enables Taiwanese to apply for expedited customs clearance when visiting the United States. American citizens will also be extended similar benefits on...

Washington, D.C.—Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) led a Senate resolution recognizing October as Women’s Small Business Month, and encouraging minority women entrepreneurs. “National Women’s Small Business Month is an opportunity to celebrate women entrepreneurs in Hawaii, and recommit to...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) today hailed the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) decision to expand its PreCheck program to All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan’s largest airline. ANA operates three flights daily from Tokyo to Daniel K. Inouye Honolulu International Airport. TSA PreCheck allows...

20 Hawaii Veterans & Family Members Attend Capitol Ceremony  Ceremony Follows Years-Long Effort to Recognize Filipino World War II Veterans WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, and Congressional leaders presented the Congressional Gold Medal to Filipino World War II veterans. The presentation ceremony was...

Legislation Now Goes to President for Approval  Over 200 Hawaii Residents Currently Benefit from the Program WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. House of Representatives passed Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Steve Daines’ (R-Mont.) bill to make permanent the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Card Program. The bill,...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Brian Schatz, and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard announced that the Hawaiian Shores Community Association (HSCA) will receive nearly $3 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to improve its community drinking water system in Puna, Hawaii.  “Rural communities in...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono today voted against the Republican budget resolution for federal fiscal year 2018. The resolution passed on a 51-49 vote. While the budget resolution does not become law, it outlines the budget and tax priorities that Congress will pursue in the coming year. “This budget reflects Donald...