Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono is one of 46 “women who are changing the world” featured in TIME Magazine’s FIRSTS series. The project is available online, as a book, and will also be featured in the September 18, 2017 issue of TIME, available on newsstands today. From Senator Hirono’s feature: “Women are...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) today announced that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has launched a Global Entry pilot program with Japan. The pilot program allows up to 1,500 Japanese citizens as determined by the Government of Japan and CBP, who have received a promotional code to apply for Global Entry. The Global...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on the Trump administration’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program: “After months of empty rhetoric to the contrary, the President took the cruel and unnecessary step to eliminate DACA – exposing more than 800,000 young...

HONOLULU –Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released the following statement on William Bradford’s resignation as Director of the Department of Energy’s Office of Indian Energy after media reports exposed bigoted and misogynistic comments Bradford made online: “I...

HONOLULU –Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin, and Clare Hanusz from the Hawaii Coalition for Civil Rights today spoke out on the importance of protecting Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients as the President threatens to take action that could end the program. Ten Republican state attorneys...

HILO – Senator Mazie K. Hirono today met with Bay Clinic staff to discuss how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has impacted Hawaii Island community health centers (CHCs) and the patients they serve through the ACA’s expansion of federal funding for CHCs and Medicaid.  “The ACA’s Medicaid expansion has covered more...

HONOLULU –Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on the Hawaii State Legislature’s announcement of a bill to fund the Honolulu rail project: “Today’s announcement is critical for the completion of the rail project, and I appreciate what has been a difficult decision for the State Legislature. As a...

HONOLULU - Senator Mazie K. Hirono today announced that University of Hawaii Maui College (UHMC) will receive $999,239 to improve diversity in computer science education for secondary schools in Hawaii. “Supporting a strong, diverse computer science education for our youth is critical to ensuring that Hawaii’s students have the tools...

HONOLULU – Senator Mazie K. Hirono today highlighted the importance of federal partnerships and investments in minority-owned small businesses at the third annual Native Hawaiian Organizations Association (NHOA) Business Summit Conference. “Small businesses have a unique perspective on not only growing their business, but growing...

HONOLULU - Senator Mazie K. Hirono today announced that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded $646,886 in grant funding to restore the Kawaihae watershed in West Hawaii. Kawaihae is considered to be one of the state’s most degraded watersheds.   “Protecting and restoring our forested watersheds is...

HONOLULU – Senator Mazie K. Hirono today met with Kalihi-Palama Health Center leadership and staff to tour the center’s new facility and discuss how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has benefited Hawaii’s community health centers (CHCs) and their patients. Today’s meeting coincides with National Health Center Week, celebrating...

HONOLULU – Senator Mazie K. Hirono addressed veterans and their family members at the Eighth Annual Na Koa Wounded Warrior Regatta reception. During the reception, the Senator reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring that our veterans and their loved ones receive the recognition and benefits they deserve. “Our wounded warriors and their...

HONOLULU –Senator Mazie K. Hirono today encouraged KUPU interns to continue their good work, serving their communities through conservation. KUPU, an AmeriCorps program, provides young people with service learning and educational opportunities through maintaining and preserving Hawaii’s natural resources. “KUPU’s work...

HONOLULU –Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) wrote to Attorney General Jeff Sessions urging him to create an interagency task force to address the tragic increase in hate crimes that has stricken the United States. The recent outburst of violent racism and domestic terrorist activity by white supremacist...

HONOLULU – Senator Mazie K. Hirono today spoke with Filipino World War II veterans and their spouses, widows and family members at the World War II Filipino-American Veterans, Hawaii Chapter meeting at Hale Halea in Kalihi. Her remarks focused on the sacrifice and commitment of our Filipino World War II veterans and the importance of...

HONOLULU – Senator Mazie K. Hirono, the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee, reaffirmed her commitment to supporting Hawaii’s shipyard workforce at today’s Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard Apprenticeship Program graduation ceremony. “Given what’s going on in the world today, the work...

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. The Keeping Our Commitment to Ending Veteran Homelessness Act would renew seven U.S....

Washington, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) today announced that the Manoa Heritage Center and East-West Center will receive more than $200,000 from the National Endowment of the Humanities to support activities that enhance the understanding of Native Hawaiian and East Asian history and culture. “Programs like the Manoa...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) today announced that programs on Hawaii Island will receive $1 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture grant funding to support the purchasing of fruits and vegetables by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants. “Affordable, nutritious food is one of the...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced today that the National Science Foundation has awarded $1,099,959 to the University of Hawaii (UH) to support the advancement of women and minorities in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields at its seven community colleges. “Developing a...