Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – The Hawaii Congressional Delegation today announced that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) will allocate over $47 million in Title I, Part A Grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) in Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai, and Maui counties for school year (SY) 2015-2016. “Investing in our children’s education is...

Washington, D.C. – Senators Mazie K. Hirono, Lisa Murkowski, and Brian Schatz introduced legislation today that would exempt Hawaii, Alaska, and communities that rely on essential air service as subsidized by the U.S. Department of Transportation, from the increase in air travel fees included in the Bipartisan Budget Agreement of 2013....

Washington, D.C. – This weekend, Senator Mazie K. Hirono and Congressman Mark Takai will travel to Alabama to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. Selma On Saturday, Senator Hirono and Congressman Takai will join civil rights leaders, President Obama, and a bipartisan group of lawmakers in marching across the...

Washington, D.C. – This weekend, Senator Mazie K. Hirono and Congressman Mark Takai will travel to Alabama to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.  On Saturday, Senator Hirono and Congressman Takai will join civil rights leaders, President Obama, and a bipartisan group of lawmakers in marching across the Edmund Pettus...

Washington, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement after the House of Representatives approved the Senate’s bipartisan bill fully funding the Department of Homeland Security through the remainder of the year, without extraneous immigration policy riders attached:  “The House has spent far too much...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, will introduce legislation on Tuesday morning to strengthen America’s patent system and target abusers. The STRONG...

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...