Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Army today announced plans to reduce its end-strength by 40,000 soldiers over the next two years.  According to the plans released by the Army, Schofield Barracks will shrink by 1,214 soldiers—from 15,687 soldiers to 14,473 soldiers—and Fort Shafter will shrink by 229 soldiers—from 2,233...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Dean Heller (R-NV) introduced the bipartisan All Students Count Amendment to the Every Child Achieves Act (ECAA). The Hirono-Heller amendment would better highlight the needs of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students by requiring school districts with more than 1,000...

HONOLULU – This afternoon, Senator Mazie K. Hirono was joined by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald and Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez at a Disabled Veterans Employment Roundtable at the Oahu Veterans Center in Honolulu to discuss issues key to Hawaii veterans. The two Obama administration cabinet members...

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson announced substantial changes to immigrant detention practices regarding families, a positive response to calls by Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a fierce advocate for ensuring that family unity remains the guiding principle of our immigration system, to change our...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono celebrated the 43rd Anniversary of the passage of the Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, commonly known as Title IX. “Forty-three years later, the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity Education Act, or Title IX, continues to open the door of opportunity and level the...

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Senator Mazie K. Hirono today voted to oppose the Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). She joined Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Senator Jack Reed and colleagues in pushing for a responsible, bipartisan way to end the sequester. President Obama has issued a veto threat on this...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Hawaii Congressional Delegation praised the Department of Interior’s award of nearly $3 million in Japanese American Confinement Site grants, including two projects in Hawaii. These grants will support projects that will preserve confinement sites across Hawaii and tell the stories of Japanese Americans who...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono demanded an explanation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on their proposal to take funds from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund (FVEC) to pay for cost overruns at the mismanaged Denver VA project.   In a letter to VA Secretary Robert McDonald, which was also...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono and Senator Brian Schatz announced their recommendation to the White House of three Hawaii residents for consideration to fill the open U.S. District Court Judgeship for the District of Hawaii following Chief Judge Susan Oki Mollway’s transition to a senior judge on November 6, 2015. The...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday on the Senate floor, Senator Mazie K. Hirono shared the heartbreaking story of Talia Williams, a five year old girl who died after months of abuse at the hands of her father and stepmother, to introduce “Talia’s Law” as an amendment to this year’s National Defense Authorization Act. From...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) today announced the introduction of legislation awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to Filipino Veterans of World War II. They were joined in this effort by Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Dean Heller (R-NV), Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), Senator Brian...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This morning, Senator Mazie K. Hirono welcomed Hawaii businesses to Capitol Hill for the second annual Hawaii on the Hill Policy Summit. More than 50 representatives from businesses across Hawaii attended the Hawaii on the Hill Policy summit held in the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center for policy discussions with officials from...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Senator Mazie K. Hirono will welcome Hawaii businesses to the U.S. Capitol for the second annual Hawaii on the Hill. Hawaii on the Hill is hosted by Chamber of Commerce Hawaii and consists of the Hawaii on the Hill Policy Summit and Taste of Hawaii on Capitol Hill reception. In 2014, 50 Hawaii businesses...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that it will take a significant new step towards the expansion of its preclearance program to Japan’s Narita International Airport which currently offers direct flights to Honolulu International...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Late last week, the United States Senate passed Senator Mazie K. Hirono’s bipartisan resolution recognizing May as Asian Pacific American (APA) Heritage Month. “Over the course of this month, I’ve met dynamic Asian American and Pacific Islander leaders who continue to build upon the achievements and...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Senator Mazie K. Hirono opposed trade promotion authority legislation, also known as “fast track” authority, which was passed by the U.S. Senate 62-37: “This was an important vote on an important issue. Congress should set strong, enforceable guidelines that ensure trade deals include strong labor,...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Senator Mazie K. Hirono is introducing a package of legislation that continues her ongoing work to prioritize making sure our veterans and their families can access the benefits and care they’ve earned:  “Each Memorial Day, we recognize the brave men and women who sacrificed for our freedom....

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This month, Senator Mazie K. Hirono, the first Asian American woman elected to the U.S. Senate, introduced a bipartisan resolution recognizing May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. “Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is a celebration of the contributions and progress made by the Asian American and Pacific...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after her appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors: “The outstanding men and women who comprise the Cadet Wing at the U.S. Air Force Academy represent some of our nation’s best and...

WASHINGTON , D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, voted today in committee to oppose the Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) as a statement of principle against Washington’s sequester budget gimmicks: “Today I reluctantly voted against the National Defense...