HIRONO STATEMENT ON U.S. SUPREME COURT HOBBY LOBBY DECISION

HONOLULU – Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement denouncing today’s U.S. Supreme Court Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., decision that allows corporations to exclude contraceptive coverage from their employees’ health care insurance plans:

“In yet another sharply divided 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court in the Hobby Lobby case expanded a religious exemption to allow ‘closely held corporations’ to withhold contraceptive coverage for employees based on the religious beliefs of the owners. 

“The Supreme Court based this decision on the fact that Hobby Lobby is a ‘closely held corporation,’ and therefore the religious liberty of the humans who own and control the corporation must be protected.

“While Hobby Lobby may be a ‘closely held corporation,’ it is hardly a mom and pop shop. Hobby Lobby has some 572 shops across the country and employs over 20,000 people.

“I disagree with the five Justices’ interpretation of the applicable federal law and will join my colleagues to overturn this decision so that women who work for companies like Hobby Lobby will have access to health care coverage to which they are entitled.”