Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement today reaffirming her support for comprehensive immigration reform and expressing her outrage with the recent situation where unaccompanied children have been detained near the southern U.S. Border. Hirono urged her colleagues and Homeland Security Secretary Jeh...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Armed Services Committees, released the following statement on data revealed today showing Honolulu’s Spark M. Matsunaga VA Medical Center has the longest average wait time – 145 days – in the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono applauded today’s announcement by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will begin accepting renewal requests for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program for undocumented immigrant children. “I commend the Department of...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono and her colleagues on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee released the Ensuring Veterans Access to Care Act today to improve administration and increase accountability at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in order to quickly expand access to medical care for veterans. The Senate...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono applauded today’s new proposal by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to cut carbon-dioxide emissions from U.S. power plants by 30 percent by 2030. “Today’s announcement by the EPA is a significant, historic development in the global fight against climate change,”...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono issued the following statement congratulating David Lassner on his appointment by the University of Hawaii (UH) Board of Regents to be the 15th president of the UH system.“I have no doubt David’s experience and relationships will serve him well as President of the University of...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Armed Services and the Veterans’ Affairs committees, released the following statement on today’s resignation of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric Shinseki. “General Eric Shinseki’s patriotism and dedication to this nation is...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono voted today to pass a bipartisan water infrastructure bill - the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (WRRDA) - that includes a number of key provisions for Hawaii. The legislation heads to President Obama for his signature. A member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono announced more than $15 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation for Honolulu International Airport improvements. These grants will fund the improvement of the intra-terminal shuttle stations within the Overseas Terminal Building and the replacement of a metal roof canopy covering passenger...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono applauded today’s announcement that Hawaii will host the 2016 International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress, a major international event that brings together a wide range of stakeholders to tackle environmental and conservation challenges. Beginning with the...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Senator Mazie K. Hirono introduced the National Guard Leadership Act, legislation to provide the Chief of the National Guard Bureau (NGB) with greater input into the selection of senior leadership for the Army National Guard and Air National Guard. Currently, the NGB’s internal recommendation process is...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono applauded yesterday’s announcement by the National Park Service that Honouliuli Internment Camp has been identified for potential inclusion as a National Historic Site or National Monument into the National Park System. The study that led to this announcement, the Honouliuli Internment Camp...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono announced the release of more than $3.1 million from the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for Hawaii environmental research, education and ocean management efforts. Funds will support the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System, University of Hawaii Marine Option Program, Pacific...

Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono today voted to confirm Pamela Hamamoto to serve as U.S. Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva with the rank of Ambassador. Hamamoto is a Punahou School graduate and has served in numerous executive roles in financial and educational institutions. Hamamoto was confirmed by voice vote....

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono issued the following statement congratulating Hawaii State Senate Education Committee chairwoman, Jill Tokuda, on receiving a ‘Champion for Charters’ award this evening. “Access to education can make all the difference in the lives of our keiki,” said Senator...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) today to introduce the Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act, which would allow those with outstanding student loan debt to refinance at the lower interest rates currently offered to new borrowers. Many borrowers with outstanding student loans have...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Representative Tulsi Gabbard and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced $1 million to help combat the coffee berry borer that has been ravaging Hawaii Island coffee farms for almost four years.The funding will be distributed through the Integrated Pest Management...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono today applauded President Obama's nomination of Hawaii-raised Debra Wada to be Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs at the Department of Defense: “I commend President Obama for nominating Debra Wada to serve as Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement to mark the first day of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, which is an opportunity to recognize the contributions and achievements of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). “Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is a celebration of the contributions...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) announced the release of an additional $3.576 million to keep Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard modernization moving forward. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), who succeeded Senator Daniel K. Inouye as chairman of the powerful Defense Appropriations...