Press Releases

Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on the Ninth Circuit Court’s refusal to uphold President Trump’s executive order on immigration: “Tonight's ruling is a first step victory for the core values of our democracy and demonstrates why an independent judiciary is so important. For all the chaos created by this...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono and 14 Senate Democrats unveiled their “Five Fights for Federal Employees,” a proposal to protect current and retired government workers from ideologically motivated attacks from Republicans in Congress and the Trump administration. This resolution is a statement of principles that Senate Democrats intend to use...

Today on the Senate floor, Senator Mazie K. Hirono shared messages from two Hawaii educators opposed to the nomination of Betsy DeVos to serve as Secretary of Education. From Senator Hirono’s remarks: “It shouldn’t be asking too much to have an Education Secretary who will stand up for public schools and the millions of our...

Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Al Franken (D-Minn.) introduced the Mark Takai Atomic Veterans Healthcare Parity Act, legislation that Representative Takai introduced last Congress. This bill would provide important health care benefits to Atomic Veterans who were exposed to high levels of harmful radiation when assigned to clean up nuclear testing...

Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) led a bipartisan resolution designating February 2017 as American Heart Month, and Feb. 3, 2017 specifically as National Wear Red Day. “Heart disease kills three out of every ten people in Hawaii and one in three nationwide, including a significant number of women and...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono introduced a resolution honoring Fred Korematsu, who challenged the internment of Japanese Americans, for his work and advocacy of the civil rights and liberties of all people, and denouncing President Donald Trump’s executive order establishing a Muslim ban. “In the face of overwhelming prejudice and adversity,...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono today announced that she will oppose the nomination of Betsy DeVos to serve as Secretary of Education. From Senator Hirono’s remarks: “Why are we even debating the nomination of a person who clearly does not believe in our nation’s public schools? “We are going down the rabbit hole where up is down...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono continued to call for President Trump to rescind his immoral executive order on immigration, and raised concerns about several of his nominees today on MSNBC with Jacob Soboroff. From the segment: “Actions speak louder than words. We're not even through week two of the Trump presidency and already he has issued an...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court: “In his first two weeks as President, Donald Trump has demonstrated minimal tolerance for independent thinking and dissent. I am deeply concerned that his choice for the Supreme...

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairwoman Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) named Senator Mazie K. Hirono as the Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. “Since day one of his Presidency, Donald Trump has attacked the National Park...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, will oppose the nominations of Governor Rick Perry to serve as Secretary of Energy and Representative Ryan Zinke to serve as Secretary of the Interior. The Energy and Natural Resources Committee will vote on the nominations this morning. “The Trump...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono demanded that President Donald Trump rescind his executive order establishing a Muslim ban during a rally on the steps of the Supreme Court today. “Donald Trump can deny it all he wants, but we understand him loud and clear. This is a Muslim ban, and it’s deeply wrong,” Senator Hirono said. “If we...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono announced that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will pilot a one-time, one-week biometrics collection for immigration benefits on Maui from February 27 to March 3, 2017. “This decision will allow USCIS to provide services in an equitable manner to individuals on Maui and ease the financial burden faced by...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement: “It’s despicable that President Trump chose Holocaust Remembrance Day to issue yet another executive order that exploits fear of refugees and immigrants. This is wrong. I will continue to fight the President’s extreme, knee jerk...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono and a bipartisan group of seven Senators wrote to Secretary of Defense James Mattis to call for exempting Department of Navy shipyard civilian employees from the recent executive order signed by President Trump that freezes federal hiring. While the President’s executive order states that it does not apply to...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on the inauguration of President Donald Trump: “I attended today’s inauguration out of respect for our democracy, our institutions, and the peaceful transition of power, but remain deeply concerned about President Trump’s vision for America. I will resist any attempt the...

After voting in support of General John Kelly, President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Homeland Security, Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement: “General Kelly has testified before the Senate Armed Services numerous times as the commander of U.S. Southern Command. I believe he will provide candid, reasoned advice...

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-R.I.) announced that Senator Mazie K. Hirono will continue to serve as the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower in the 115th Congress. “Hawaii continues to be the center of America’s strategic interests in the...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced that she would vote against the nomination of Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) to serve as Attorney General. From Senator Hirono’s remarks: “Over the past two months, I’ve heard from hundreds of my constituents and a number of prominent civil rights...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono vowed to keep up the fight to protect Medicare and Medicaid after all but two Republican Senators voted against her amendment to prevent any changes to either program without a supermajority in the Senate. “During the campaign, President-elect Trump promised not to cut Medicare and Medicaid. Senate Republicans broke...