HONOLULU, Hawaii, Oct. 7 -- Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) met with the Kupuna Collective, a network of support organizations that focus on maximizing the health, independence, and engagement of Hawaii's older adults, for a roundtable conversation about supporting seniors in Hawaii. During the roundtable, Senator Hirono discussed issues including food security, senior care workforce shortages, and the recently-passed Inflation R  more

HONOLULU, Hawaii, Oct. 7 -- Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after the Hawaii Department of Health approved the Department of Defense's plan to begin the next step of the defueling process at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility: "The approval of this plan is a critical step toward permanently closing Red Hill. "I have urged leaders at the Defens  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- Rep. Susan Wild, D-Pennsylvania, acting chairperson, and Rep. Michael Guest, R-Mississippi, acting ranking member, of the House Ethics Committee, issued the following joint statement regarding Rep. Kaiali'i Kahele, D-Hawaii: * * * Pursuant to House Rule XI, clause 3(b)(8)(A), and Committee Rules 17A(b)(1)(A) and 17A(c)(1), the Acting Chairwoman and Acting Ranking Member of the Committee on Ethics have jointly decided to extend the matter regarding Representative Kaiali'  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release on Oct. 12, 2022: U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) today announced that seven Native Hawaiian organizations working to preserve and share Native Hawaiian culture and traditions with visitors will receive $1 million in funding from the U.S. Department of the Interior to continue doing so. The funding is made possible by the NATIVE Act, 2016 legislation authored by Senator Schatz to help empower Native commu  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on Oct. 10, 2022: * * * U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, released the following statement on today's celebration of Indigenous Peoples' Day. "On Indigenous Peoples Day, we recognize the unique cultures, histories, and traditional knowledge systems that Indigenous populations have contributed to our nation   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 -- The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee issued the following written statement by Hawaii Office of Veterans' Services Director Ronald P. Han Jr. involving a hearing on Oct. 5, 2022, entitled "The State of VA Services in Hawaii": * * * Chairman Tester, Ranking Member Moran, Senator Hirono, Secretary McDonough, Distinguished Members of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, members of our panels, fellow Veterans, Veteran Organizations, and members of the community. Befor  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 -- The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee issued the following statement by TriWest Healthcare Alliance President and CEO David J. McIntyre Jr. involving a hearing on Oct. 5, 2022, entitled "The State of VA Services in Hawaii": * * * Senator Hirono, thank you for the opportunity to testify at today's Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee field hearing. It is an honor to join you, Secretary McDonough, and my fellow panelists for this hearing. I have been asked to share about T  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 -- The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee issued the following statement by VA Secretary Denis R. McDonough involving a hearing on Oct. 5, 2022, entitled "The State of VA Services in Hawaii": * * * Good morning, Senator Hirono and distinguished guests. Thank you for inviting me here today to discuss VA's commitment to delivering timely, world-class, care and services to our Nation's Veterans.The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employs over 400,000 employees, one third o  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 -- The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee issued the following written testimony by Diane C. Haar, an attorney at Hawaii Disability Legal Services LLLC, involving a hearing on Oct. 5, 2022, entitled "The State of VA Services in Hawaii": * * * Good morning. My name is Diane C. Haar. I am a licensed attorney practicing in the State of Hawai`i, the Pacific Territories, and the Philippines. My practice is devoted to representing veterans and others with disabilities throughout   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 -- The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee issued the following written testimony by retired veteran Roxanne E. Bruhn involving a hearing on Oct. 5, 2022, entitled "The State of VA Services in Hawaii": * * * Experiences Associated with VA Healthcare I retired from the United States Air Force after 32-years of honorable service to the State of Hawaii and the United States of America on 30 September 2015. I filed my claim through the State Office of Veterans' Services, E Buil  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release and letter: Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), and Representative Lois Frankel (D-Fla.), along with Democratic Women's Caucus leadership, Pro-Choice Caucus leadership, led 62 Congressional Democrats in submitting a comment letter in support of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) interim final rule (IFR) allowing VA to provide abortion counseling and, in some cas  more