Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono today filed her first four amendments to the immigration reform bill currently being considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The four measures, long sought by Hawaii leaders, would reunite Filipino World War II veterans with their families, make it easier for foreign tourists to visit the islands,...

Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono hailed Senate passage today of the Marketplace Fairness Act, legislation that would help level the playing field for Hawaii small businesses. Last month, Hirono took to the Senate floor to urge her colleagues to pass the legislation, arguing the bill would help local merchants compete with online retailers...

Washington, D.C. - Senator Hirono thanked Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus today for trying to find ways to avoid furloughing civilian workers at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and other naval facilities across the country. Hirono also spoke with General James Amos, the current Commandant of the Marine Corps, and Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the Chief of...

Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono today presided over the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing for the nomination of Raymond Chen as United States Circuit Judge for the Federal Circuit. Chen currently serves as the Deputy General Counsel for Intellectual Property Law and Solicitor at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. If confirmed, Chen...

Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono joined her female Senate colleagues at the White House tonight for a dinner hosted by President Obama.  All 20 women Senators were invited to the bipartisan dinner. Hirono talked to the President about immigration reform and the military's rebalance to the Pacific. She also thanked the President for...

Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono today took to the Senate floor to urge her colleagues to pass the Marketplace Fairness Act, legislation that would help level the playing field for Hawaii small businesses. Hirono, a cosponsor of the legislation, argued the bill would help local merchants compete with online retailers operating on the...

Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono celebrated Earth Day by commending Hawaii families, local businesses and the military who are helping to make the state more food and energy self-reliant in ways that honor and protect our natural resources and environment. As the most fossil fuel dependent state in the nation, Hawaii’s families and...

Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K Hirono participated in the Senate Judiciary Committee’s first hearing on the immigration reform bill that was introduced this week, arguing the bill as written does not do enough to reunite families. The bill eliminates family immigration categories that allow immigrants to call their adult siblings or adult...

Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement after Hawaii teachers overwhelmingly ratified a new four-year contract that strengthens Hawaii’s chance of keeping $75 million in federal education funding through the U.S. Department of Education’s Race to the Top reform initiative. “The contract...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Senator Brian Schatz, Representative Colleen Hanabusa, and Representative Tulsi Gabbard commended the Senate confirmation today of Derrick Kahala Watson, President Obama’s nominee to the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii. Watson has served since 2007 as Assistant United States...

Washington, D.C. - Honolulu Civil Beat reports today how the immigration bill introduced this week includes key provisions from Senator Mazie K. Hirono’s VISIT USA Act, a bill she introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would make it easier for foreign tourists to visit and spend money in the United States. Hirono has been a...

Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement after the Senate failed to adopt bipartisan measures that would have closed a number of background check loopholes and fought gun trafficking: “I’m very disappointed that - even in the wake of the Newtown tragedy - basic improvements to our background check...

Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement today reacting to the bipartisan immigration bill unveiled by the Senate Gang of Eight. “I appreciate the Gang of Eight’s hard work over many months to move us closer to achieving comprehensive immigration reform. I look forward to reviewing the details of the...

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- It was another busy legislative week for Senator Mazie Hirono in Washington.   Check out five things you may have missed from Senator Hirono’s week: 1)     WATCH: Hawaii News Now profiles Senator Hirono’s conversation with Admiral Samuel Locklear, PACOM Commander, about the escalating...

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Senator Mazie Hirono unveiled new bipartisan legislation that would cut government red tape that makes it more difficult for tourists from Hong Kong to come to Hawaii. Republican Senator Orrin Hatch (UT) is the lead Republican sponsor of the bill in the Senate. “This bipartisan legislation is one example of how just a...

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- After President Obama released a budget this afternoon that prioritizes creating jobs by investing in transportation infrastructure, early childhood education, and pursuing a clean energy future, Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement: The President’s budget has a number of provisions that would help...

Washington, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono hosted Dr. Genshitsu Sen, the fifteenth generation Urasenke Grand Tea Master of Japan, as he performed a centuries-old tea ceremony for world peace. Senator Inouye had intended to host the ceremony before he passed away late last year, and today’s event honored the late Senator. “Nothing could...

Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono questioned Admiral Samuel J. Locklear III, Commander of the United States Pacific Command, about China’s engagement in the ramping up of tensions from North Korea during a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “Do you foresee some action on part of the Chinese either publicly or...

On Friday, Senator Hirono wrapped up a week-long tour where she explained to Hawaii residents how her Senate work on national security issues and immigration reform impacts them. Below reads Army media coverage of her visit to Oahu’s Schofield Barracks: By Sgt. Matthew Ryan, 25th Infantry...

Honolulu – Senator Mazie K. Hirono visited Hale Kula Elementary School, which recently was awarded a $26.6 million federal grant from the Department of Defense for facility improvements to address overcrowding. Hale Kula, a public school located on Oahu’s Schofield Barracks Army Installation, serves a student population comprised of 98%...