Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement in reaction on the selection of James Horton by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to serve as the director of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl, effective March 9, 2014: “Congratulations to Mr. Horton on being selected to...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement in reaction to the immigration reform principles unveiled by House Republicans on Thursday: “Clearly, House Republicans recognize that we have a broken immigration system and that they should be part of the solution, rather than continuing to sit on the...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono announced that the 2014 Farm Bill includes a measure to fight the coffee berry borer that has been ravaging Hawaii Island coffee farms for almost three years. The bill was passed by the House today and is expected to receive a vote in the Senate this week. Hirono had worked with Senate and House...

Washington, D.C. – The Hawaii and Alaska congressional delegations today introduced legislation that would exempt Hawaii, Alaska, and communities that rely on essential air service as subsidized by the U.S. Department of Transportation, from the increase in air travel fees included in December’s budget deal. This exemption would protect...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono commended the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announcement today that it plans to more broadly communicate the availability of open grave sites at Punchbowl’s National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. “Secretary Shinseki’s leadership has been critical in helping to resolve this...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono joined today with Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Representatives Jared Polis (D-CO) and Joaquin Castro (D-TX) to introduce the Investing IN States To Achieve Tuition Equity (IN-STATE) for DREAMers Act of 2014. Under this bill, the University of Hawaii system would be eligible for federal...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono commended the bipartisan appropriations deal passed by Congress this week. The 2014 omnibus spending bill would fund the government through the remainder of the fiscal year and includes several key measures for Hawaii. “This bipartisan bill is a true compromise and includes hard-fought...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono today announced her nomination list of 32 students to the U.S. military service academies for the Class of 2018. The students’ applications are now being considered by the four academies for final selections. The four military service academies are: the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Military...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono commended the nomination today of Chris Lu to serve as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Labor. “Chris Lu is a strong, experienced choice to serve as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Labor. I’ve had the privilege of getting to know Chris through our work with the White House...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs committees, voted today to pass the Fiscal Year 2014 National Defense Authorization Act and send it to President Obama for his signature. The bill provides more than $400 million in military construction projects in Hawaii. Military...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono voted today in support of the bipartisan budget deal that passed the Senate by a vote of 64-36. The bill now heads to President Obama for his signature. “This budget demonstrates Congress can work together in a bipartisan fashion and break the gridlock. I am proud to join the large majority of my...

Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Mark Begich (D-Alaska), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) introduced an amendment that would exempt Hawaii and Alaska from the increase in air travel fees included in the budget deal. This exemption would protect interisland flights from increased air travel fees, which would more than double from $2.50 to...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement to mark the one-year anniversary of Senator Daniel K. Inouye’s passing. To honor Senator Inouye, Hirono introduced legislation that would redesignate the Asia-Pacific Center For Security Studies as the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Dean Heller (R-NV) and Representatives Eric Swalwell (CA-15) and Mike Thompson (CA-05) introduced the bipartisan Philippines Charitable Giving Assistance Act, legislation that provides expedited tax relief for Americans making charitable donations in support of Typhoon Haiyan...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on the passing of State Health Director Loretta Fuddy, who was killed in a plane crash Wednesday off Kalaupapa: “I join many people in Hawaii today in mourning the sudden, tragic passing of Loretta Fuddy. Loretta was a dedicated public servant who spent most of her...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs Committees, joined Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) to ensure that their bipartisan amendment (S.A. 2114) requiring the Department of Defense (DOD) to issue a report on the current status of telehealth initiatives, as well as plans to integrate...

Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono joined colleagues from across the aisle to introduce legislation to reauthorize the Victims of Child Abuse Act (VOCAA), which provides funding for Children’s Advocacy Centers that serve child victims of violent crimes and help law enforcement hold perpetrators accountable. Hawaii’s five...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on tonight’s proposed budget deal authored by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI): “This proposed budget deal presents tough choices for everyone and I commend my colleagues who worked together on a compromise that provides...

Washington, D.C. – Last week, Senator Mazie K. Hirono touted Hawaii as a model of progress on national radio, appearing on WMC Live with Robin Morgan. WMC Live is a weekly talk radio show with national syndication that has featured guests such as Sheryl Sandberg, Sandra Fluke, and Dee Dee Myers. In the interview, Morgan noted that Hawaii has...

Honolulu, HI – Senator Mazie K. Hirono today released the following statement on the passing of former Hawaii Lieutenant Governor, Jean Sadako King. “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Jean King, a trailblazer in the history of Hawaii politics. As the first female elected to the office of Lieutenant Governor, Jean helped pave the...