Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee, heard from Navy leadership on the Navy’s shipbuilding plan and operational needs, including the goal of increasing submarines and major surface combatant force levels from the previously projected need of 308...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Brian Schatz, and Representatives Colleen Hanabusa and Tulsi Gabbard introduced legislation to reinstate Medicaid coverage for Freely Associated States (FAS) citizens living in the United States. The Covering our FAS Allies (COFA) Act would restore Medicaid coverage, known in Hawaii as Med-QUEST, for...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – At today’s Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) questioned U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke on the Trump Administration’s proposed budget cuts, particularly its devastating 84 percent cut to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a popular...

WASINGTON, D.C.- United States Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) today sent a letter to Stefan Passantino, Designated Agency Ethics Official (DAEO) at the White House, requesting clarification on White House senior advisor Steve Bannon's compliance with...

WASINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono and the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii celebrated the success of nearly 70 participating Hawaii businesses at the Fourth Annual Taste of Hawaii on Capitol Hill this evening. Attendees were greeted with fresh orchid lei, and learned about an array of Hawaii businesses representing technology, agriculture, and...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono and the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii today welcomed nearly 75 members of Hawaii’s business community to Capitol Hill for the Fourth Annual Hawaii on the Hill Policy Summit. Business leaders representing diverse industries – including manufacturing, health care, transportation, and others –...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono spoke before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee opposing S.1275, which would completely eliminate federal Native Hawaiian housing programs, while preserving federal housing programs for other Native communities. Native Hawaiian community advocates attended the hearing, but were not invited by the Indian...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on the Ninth Circuit Court’s ruling against President Trump’s Muslim Ban: “Court after court has seen this Muslim Ban for what it is: an illegal attack on a group of individuals singled out for their religion....

Washington, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) received a perfect score of 100 percent on the Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA) Congressional Scorecard for the second session of the 114th Congress. The Senator currently maintains a lifetime record of 100 percent. “Now more than ever, it is important that we remain united in...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono applauded the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to grant Andres Magana Ortiz a 30-day stay of deportation. This is a temporary reprieve as the Department of Homeland Security considers Mr. Magana Ortiz’s wife’s Petition for Alien Relative. “Today’s announcement is a...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono, the Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, questioned Acting National Park Service Director Michael Reynolds and U.S. Department of Interior Deputy Inspector General Mary Kendall on recent reports of sexual harassment and misconduct in the National Park...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Brian Schatz urged federal appropriators in a bipartisan letter to increase federal funding for the Impact Aid Program in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 budget. “Impact Aid funds a range of programs, including efforts to retain highly qualified teachers, adequate technology, facilities...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement on the nomination of Chris Wray to serve as the next Director of the FBI: “At a time when we have so many concerns about President Trump’s interference with the FBI’s investigation of his team’s ties with...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono, the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee, received an update on several programs to modernize Marine Corps ground combat and tactical vehicles. Senator Hirono called for continued innovation and testing of technology to support Marines in Hawaii and around the world. This...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono and the Hawaii Congressional Delegation urged U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly to stop the deportation of Hawaii Island resident Andres Magana Ortiz. Mr. Magana Ortiz, a well-respected coffee farmer on Hawaii Island, faces deportation after living in the United States for nearly 30...

Washington, D.C. – Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) led a group of 37 Senators calling on appropriators to continue strong support for the federal Pell Grant program in Fiscal Year 2018. As the largest source of federal grant aid for undergraduate students in the United States, the Pell...

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Senator Hirono today announced that Hawaii has received $4.2 million in AmeriCorps funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency for volunteering and service programs. “This federal funding will support educational opportunities for students, increase environmental...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement after President Trump announced his decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement: “President Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement is irresponsible, hasty, and short-sighted. In Hawaii we understand why...

WASHINGTON, D.C.–  Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced today that the University of Hawaii will receive over $350,000 in grant funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support the training and recruitment of future science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) teachers. This announcement is part of the...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced today that Kahului Airport and Hilo International Airport will receive over $10 million in federal funding from the Federal Aviation Administration to enhance airport operations and runway safety. “Ensuring safe and secure air travel is critical to sustaining Hawaii’s...