Press Releases

Today, U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Joni Ernst (R-IA) reintroduced the Veterans E-Health & Telemedicine Support Act of 2017 (VETS Act). This bipartisan legislation seeks to improve health care access – including mental health treatment – for disabled or rural veterans by expanding telehealth services provided by the Department...

Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) urged the President to continue the implementation of the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program (FWVP) program, which reunites Filipino veterans who fought for the United States during World War...

Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) introduced legislation to extend the federal Historically Underutilized Business Zone Contracting (HUBZone) program for Maui County small businesses, and other communities that are set to lose their HUBZone...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement in response to Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ comments on Judge Derrick Kahala Watson’s ruling against the President’s Muslim ban: “The suggestion that being from Hawaii somehow disqualifies Judge Watson from performing his Constitutional duty is dangerous, ignorant,...

Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) introduced S. 899, the bipartisan Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veteran Transition Improvement Act, to ensure veterans with a disability rating of 30% or higher who are hired by the VA in critical medical positions can access additional paid sick leave during...

Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.), the Ranking Member and Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, celebrated the unanimous U.S. Senate passage of their resolution to mark April 15 through April 23 as National Park Week. “Last fall, I joined our National Park Service ohana...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and 15 Senate Democrats pressed Attorney General Jeff Sessions for answers on the Department of Justice’s plan to review consent decrees between the federal government and local law enforcement agencies. The Senators asked Attorney General Sessions to lay out the impact of the review, including if the...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono announced that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will conduct a six month mobile biometrics pilot program for immigration benefits on Hawaii Island, Kauai, and Maui from May through September. “This pilot program will provide neighbor island residents with more equitable access to biometrics...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono and Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, introduced a bipartisan, bicameral bill to repeal burdensome Department of Defense requirements for service members and civilian employees. The bill would correct a Department of Defense rules that increase the burden of finding affordable...

In consultation with her physician, Senator Mazie Hirono has elected to undergo surgery to implant a lens to improve the vision in her left eye. Because this surgery requires some preparation, Senator Hirono plans to have this procedure during the Congressional recess, which will allow her to get back to work when the Senate is back in session. She...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement: “The repeated use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime against his own people is an atrocity and breach of international law, and the international community must hold him accountable. “The Civil War in Syria adds layers of...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement after Senate Republicans used the nuclear option to advance the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch for the U.S. Supreme Court. “Today, Senate Republicans destroyed a process that has been in place for years to accomplish their goal of confirming a far-right Supreme Court Justice,”...

Senators Mazie K. Hirono, Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) took to the Senate floor to talk about the real world consequences that Judge Neil Gorsuch and the Supreme Court’s rulings have on working families.  From Senator Hirono’s remarks: “As we mark...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono voted in the Senate Judiciary Committee to oppose the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch. Before the vote, Senator Hirono questioned the low bar set for the President’s Supreme Court nominee: “We cannot and should not evaluate Judge Gorsuch’s nomination based on the low bar President Trump has established for...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono announced that the University of Hawaii will receive $1.4 million to help minority students studying science, technology, engineering, and math at UH’s seven community colleges to accelerate their transition to four year degree programs. “Minority students face persistent barriers to pursuing STEM careers. This...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, released the following statement on the appointment of Jennifer Gutowski to serve as the Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS). In her meeting with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Dr. David Shulkin...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono admonished Senate Republicans for their latest attack on Planned Parenthood. Vice President Mike Pence was called to the Senate to break a tied vote to roll back protections that stop states from cutting Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers out of federal Title X grants.   From Senator Hirono’s...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono took to the Senate floor to oppose Republican efforts to get rid of regulations that currently give cities and states the opportunity to set up programs to help more working families save for retirement. Senator Hirono shared the story of a working Hawaii senior struggling to save for retirement.    From Senator...

On the Senate floor, Senator Mazie K. Hirono called for continued “loud and steadfast” opposition to the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to sit on the Supreme Court. Senator Hirono made her case for her “no” vote, citing Judge Gorsuch’s refusal to answer questions about his judicial philosophy that had be addressed by...

Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on the President’s executive order rolling back environmental protections and clean energy resources: “This executive order is clear proof that this Administration is not committed to an ‘all of the above’ energy strategy. The President continues to promote alternative...