Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C.– The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee heard testimony in support of S. 683, Senator Mazie K. Hirono’s bipartisan Keeping Our Commitment to Disabled Veterans Act. Sen. Hirono’s bill would extend an expiring requirement under law that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provide...

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services and Ranking Member of the Seapower Subcommittee, secured key priorities that encourage renewable energy investment, and support America’s strategic interests in the Indo-Asia-Pacific in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year...

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on the arrest of a Hawaii soldier with alleged ties to ISIL:  “During my meeting earlier today with the nominee to serve as our next FBI director, I reiterated my ongoing concern about homegrown extremism and lone wolf style attacks.  “Although we are...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, pressed Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Nominee Christopher Wray on his commitment to supporting the independent investigation into Russian interference with the 2016 election and fighting hate crimes. Senator Hirono will have further opportunity...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced today that the University of Hawaii’s Sea Grant College Program (Hawaii Sea Grant) will receive over $1 million in federal funding to support ongoing coastal and marine research, extension, and outreach projects in Hawaii. Administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) today announced $22,357,301 million in funding for affordable housing and community development programs through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funding is comprised of allocations from the following programs: Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), HOME...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and six other Senators demanded answers from the Trump Administration today on a new office created to focus on publicizing information about crimes committed by immigrants. In a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security John F. Kelly, the Senators asked for answers about the purpose for...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) introduced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Veterans’ Preference Protection Act to extend equitable federal employment rights to veterans. The bill would close a loophole in current law that leaves over...

Washington, D.C.- Yesterday, U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senate Republicans revealed their “mean, ugly” version of Trumpcare. U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) delivered the Weekly Democratic Address, emphasizing that Senate Democrats are going to do “whatever we can” to fight Trumpcare and reiterating that...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono introduced the Patsy T. Mink Gender Equity in Education Act (GEEA) (S.1421), which provides additional resources for schools, school districts, states, and institutions of higher education to fully implement the Patsy Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act (commonly referred to as “Title...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- In an exclusive interview with KITV Island News’ Paula Akana, Senator Mazie Hirono announced a positive change in her ongoing battle with kidney cancer and discussed the fights ahead in Washington. Because her cancer is less aggressive than originally thought, she will undergo surgery next week to remove the lesion on her...

WASINGTON, D.C.- United States Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Americans living with serious and chronic diseases, survivors, and advocates to highlight how Trumpcare undermines protections for Americans living with pre-existing conditions. Ian Lock, a survivor of Osteosarcoma...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono took to the Senate floor today to oppose the version of Trumpcare being written in secret by Senate Republicans. From Senator Hirono’s remarks:                  “Right now 13 of our male colleagues are sequestered away somewhere, plotting how to...

Washington, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee, heard from Navy leadership on the Navy’s shipbuilding plan and operational needs, including the goal of increasing submarines and major surface combatant force levels from the previously projected need of 308...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Brian Schatz, and Representatives Colleen Hanabusa and Tulsi Gabbard introduced legislation to reinstate Medicaid coverage for Freely Associated States (FAS) citizens living in the United States. The Covering our FAS Allies (COFA) Act would restore Medicaid coverage, known in Hawaii as Med-QUEST, for...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – At today’s Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) questioned U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke on the Trump Administration’s proposed budget cuts, particularly its devastating 84 percent cut to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a popular...

WASINGTON, D.C.- United States Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) today sent a letter to Stefan Passantino, Designated Agency Ethics Official (DAEO) at the White House, requesting clarification on White House senior advisor Steve Bannon's compliance with...

WASINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono and the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii celebrated the success of nearly 70 participating Hawaii businesses at the Fourth Annual Taste of Hawaii on Capitol Hill this evening. Attendees were greeted with fresh orchid lei, and learned about an array of Hawaii businesses representing technology, agriculture, and...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono and the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii today welcomed nearly 75 members of Hawaii’s business community to Capitol Hill for the Fourth Annual Hawaii on the Hill Policy Summit. Business leaders representing diverse industries – including manufacturing, health care, transportation, and others –...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono spoke before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee opposing S.1275, which would completely eliminate federal Native Hawaiian housing programs, while preserving federal housing programs for other Native communities. Native Hawaiian community advocates attended the hearing, but were not invited by the Indian...