Press Releases

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%...

Honolulu – Senator Mazie K. Hirono hosted a roundtable discussion with community leaders about how comprehensive immigration reform could impact Hawaii. Among the 20 attendees included immigration law specialists, children’s advocates, philanthropic organizations and immigration justice activists. The meeting was the first of a series...

Washington, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono today announced her state staff, including formerSenator Inouye aide Alan Yamamoto as her State Director. “While my staff works directly for me -- they are working first and foremost for the people of Hawaii. This strong team will help me bring Hawaii’s voice to Washington as my eyes and...

In today’s New York Times, the paper’s editorial board highlights Senator Mazie K. Hirono’s fight to strengthen and preserve the family based immigration system and argues that immigration reform should aim to protect and unite families:   Mazie Hirono, Democrat of Hawaii, who led the hearing, spoke movingly of her own...

Washington, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono applauded the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) decision today to spare Kalaeloa Airport Air Traffic Control Tower on Oahu from the chopping block. After the FAA identified the tower as one that would be closed due to sequestration, Senator Hirono sent the agency a letter urging them to...

Washington, D.C. – The House of Representatives approved legislation championed by Senator Mazie K. Hirono to protect tuition assistance for military service members from cuts. As a part of sequestration and budget constraints, the Marines, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard recently announced the suspension of military tuition assistance for...

Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate approved legislation cosponsored by Senator Mazie K. Hirono to protect tuition assistance for military service members from cuts. As a part of sequestration and budget constraints, the Marines, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard recently announced the termination of military tuition assistance for new...

Washington, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (HI), Barbara Boxer (CA), Sherrod Brown (OH), Tom Harkin (IA), Brian Schatz (HI), Al Franken (MN), and Elizabeth Warren (MA) urged the Gang of Eight currently drafting immigration reform legislation to prioritize family reunification and clear the backlogs of family visas in a letter...

The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Houston Chronicle and a number of others outlets profiled Senator Hirono’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on how immigration reform should address the needs of women and families.   An immigrant herself, Hirono took the rare opportunity as a freshman senator to chair a full committee hearing...

Washington, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono chaired a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on how immigration reform should address the needs of women and families this afternoon. As an immigrant who came to this country with her family as a small child, Hirono made the case for reforms that offer basic protections to immigrants, cut backlogs...

Washington, D.C. - It was a history-making week for Senator Hirono as she took to the floor of the United States Senate for the first time since being sworn in, defending programs that develop alternative energy. Here’s a link to video of the speech if you haven’t seen it: http://youtu.be/CdWV6CYhick Also this week, the Senator...

Washington, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, took to the Senate floor for the first time since being sworn into the Senate to criticize a hastily offered measure that would strip funding for certain Department of Defense (DOD) alternative energy initiatives. The measure, a Republican amendment to the...

Washington, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono listened to victims’ stories and questioned military leaders today during an Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel hearing on sexual assault in the military. Hearing witnesses included military leaders, victim advocates and former military victims of sexual assault. The Department of Defense...

Washington, D.C. – Senators Harry Reid (D-NV), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Mark Begich (D-AK), and Brian Schatz (D-HI) are supporting legislation that would reunite Filipino World War II veterans with their families. Certain Filipino veterans of World War II were offered U.S. citizenship in recognition of their service;...

Washington, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono today introduced the Providing Resources Early for Kids Act (PRE-K Act), legislation that strengthens early childhood education. The PRE-K Act creates a new federal-state partnership that incentivizes states to both improve the quality of state preschool programs and expand to serve more children in...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Senator Brian Schatz, Representative Colleen Hanabusa, and Representative Tulsi Gabbard announced today that Hale Kula Elementary School will receive $33.2 million for renovation and repairs. The U.S. Department of Defense today awarded $26.6 million in funding for the school while the Hawaii...

Washington, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement after attending President Obama’s signing of the strengthened Violence Against Women Act (VAWA): “As I watched the President sign this bill, I thought about the victims of domestic violence who will now be able to obtain justice and receive better services...

Washington, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono today introduced her first bill as a United States Senator – legislation that would reunite Filipino World War II veterans with their families. The long-overdue legislation, which has been the priority of Hawaii’s congressional delegation for many years, could gain new life as the Senate...