Press Releases

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...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on the one-year anniversary of the introduction of S.744, the Senate’s immigration reform bill: “One year ago, my Senate colleagues and I came together to introduce a comprehensive bill to address our broken immigration system, which we passed with overwhelming bipartisan...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono announced nearly $8.7 million in federal funds for job training, including skills assessments, job-search and resume help, long-term job-training programs and apprenticeships in Hawaii. The State of Hawaii’s Workforce Development Division operates One-Stop Centers on Oahu, Hawaii Island,...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Mike Lee (R-UT), Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced the bipartisan Subnational Visa Waiver Program Act, legislation that will create jobs by boosting foreign travel and tourism to the United States. The bill grants the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono announced more than $10.7 million in federal funds for Hawaii homelessness reduction programs. This investment is part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Continuum of Care Program, which supports programs including street outreach, client assessment and...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the Pell Grant Protection Act, legislation that preserves and expands access to Pell Grants. Congressman Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX), the Ranking Democrat on the House Subcommittee for Higher Education and Workforce Training,...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) on Thursday announced that Senator Mazie K. Hirono will become chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight, Federal Rights and Agency Action. The subcommittee was created at the beginning of the 113th Congress to provide oversight and review of agency rulemaking and...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono commended House Democrats for introducing a discharge petition to demand a vote on the bipartisan immigration bill passed by the Senate. “It’s been nearly a year since the Senate came together to pass a bipartisan immigration reform bill, a true compromise that will strengthen our economy and reduce the deficit....