Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Senator Brian Schatz, Representative Colleen Hanabusa, and Representative Tulsi Gabbard met this afternoon in Washington. The four discussed working together on upcoming legislation in their committee areas, the Akaka Bill and other important issues for the state and its...

Washington, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement today following the defeat of the compromise proposal to replace sequestration in the Senate: “Letting these arbitrary spending cuts go into place is no way to run a government. They are bad for our national security, bad for our economy and bad for jobs. The...

Washington, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono today released the following statement after the House of Representatives finally passed the strengthened Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) with overwhelming bipartisan support: “I am glad to see the House has finally reauthorized the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act that includes increased...

Washington, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on her vote today to confirm Secretary of Defense nominee Chuck Hagel: “Senator Hagel brings an impressive record of service and is a highly qualified choice to lead the Pentagon. Our country needs Senator...

Honolulu, HI – After spending her first month as a United States Senator in Washington, Senator Mazie K. Hirono embarked on a four day listening tour across Hawaii to hear how she can best bring Hawaii’s voice to Washington. Hirono met with military leaders, veterans, working families, immigration advocates and people across the state...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Senator Brian Schatz, and Representative Tulsi Gabbard announced today that Hawaii will receive $17 million for disaster relief. The funds come from a grant administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The grant will help the state repair roads and highways damaged by heavy rains causing...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), the first Japanese immigrant to serve in the Senate, has been named Senate Co-Chair of The Congressional Study Group on Japan (CSGJ), a bipartisan organization committed to promoting frank and candid dialogue between American lawmakers and their counterparts in Japan. Hirono joins Senator Lisa...

Washington, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, urged her colleagues to end their unprecedented filibuster of Secretary of Defense nominee Chuck Hagel in the following statement: “At a time when the nation lies on the brink of potentially devastating defense cuts and the Asia-Pacific region is...

Washington, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono today voted as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of Derrick Kahala Watson, President Obama’s nominee to the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii. Mr. Watson’s nomination now goes before the full Senate for final confirmation. “My interactions with Derrick...

Washington, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono argued strongly for immigration reform legislation in the Senate Judiciary Committee’s first hearing on the subject today. In her remarks, she argued reform should not shift the purpose of immigration to the United States away from a family focus. While Hirono acknowledged that increasing...

Washington, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono tonight released the following statement following President Obama’s State of the Union address: “President Obama tonight laid out a strong and compelling course for Hawaii and our country. He was right to focus on the economy and jobs. Our economy is still trying to recover from a deep...

Washington, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono continued to argue against letting the across the board sequestration cuts go into effect today during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing with the Joint Chiefs of Staff. During her questioning of the nation’s top military leaders, Hirono noted how this morning’s news of a successful...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Brian Schatz, Senator Mazie K. Hirono and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard announced today that Maui has been awarded a grant of technical assistance through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities program. The County of Maui will receive assistance to create a green...

Washington, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono today joined her Senate colleagues in calling for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). For almost two decades, this critical legislation has saved lives and helped domestic violence victims seek justice. While the Senate is expected to pass the VAWA reauthorization with...

Washington, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement in celebration of the 20th anniversary of President Clinton’s signing of the Family and Medical Leave Act: “When my family immigrated to this country, my mother worked odd jobs to support us. Like many workers in that era, she worried that if she ever got sick,...

Met With Secretary of Defense Nominee Chuck Hagel Senator Hirono talked with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser about her one-one meeting with the Secretary of Defense nominee, Senator Chuck Hagel, as well as potential defense cuts that could impact Hawaii.  "As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I will do everything I can to emphasize the...

Washington, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono was selected to serve on three subcommittees on the Judiciary Committee today. Hirono will serve on the Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security; Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights; and Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law. These committees will...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Senator Brian Schatz, and Representative Tulsi Gabbard announced today that Hawaii will receive more than $1 million to expand and improve the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe. The funds come from a grant administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The grant will help the state...

Washington, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono joined her U.S. Senate colleagues in celebrating the 4th anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act by submitting remarks for the Congressional Record today. Hirono took the opportunity to call for passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act, a measure that would force employers who pay women employees less...

Washington, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono today announced hiring two experienced defense and military experts with island ties for her legislative team. Nick Ikeda, a former aide to Senator Akaka and Department of Defense expert, and retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Walter Kaneakua, a former aide to Senator Inouye, will make up Hirono's...