Mazie Hirono

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Mazie Hirono currently serves the 2nd Congressional district of Hawaii

Mazie Hirono, a Democrat, has represented the 2nd Congressional District of Hawaii in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2007. Hirono and Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) became the first Buddhists to serve in Congress in January 2007. [1] (map)

Record and controversies

General information about important bills and votes for can be found in Congresspedia's articles on legislation. You can add information you find on how Mazie Hirono voted by clicking the "[edit]" link to the right and typing it in. Remember to cite your sources!

Since entering the House of Representatives in 2007, Mazie Hirono has tended to vote along the party lines of her fellow liberal Democrats. Liberal interest groups have given Hirono an average score of 89.3 on supporting their issues. [2] Conversely, she has recieved an average score of 6.9 on conservative issues [3]Furthermore, Hirono was sponsored by several traditionally liberal interest groups, including the Sheet Metal Worker's Union and EMILY'S List over her congressional career. [4]Hirono's main legislative issues focus on agriculture, business, education, energy, health care, labor, military and veteran issues, native Hawaiian issues, and women's issues. These are all important to Hawaii but are also predominantly liberal political issues.

Iraq War

For more information see the chart of U.S. House of Representatives votes on the Iraq War.

Native Hawaiian Issues

Hirono has sponsored and co-sponsored several pieces of legislation focused on Native Hawaiian Rights.On her website, Hirono claims to be "a champion for the rights and needs of Native Hawaiians and is working to make sure the government honors its obligation to Native Hawaiians." [5]She co-sponsored the Native Hawaiian Reorganization Act (H.R. 505)[6], which she has argued for with several speeches on the House floor. Hirono has also sponsored several minor pieces of legislation like H.RES. 1153 (celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage month) [7] The rights of Native Hawaiians are very important and unresolved issue in Hawaii and Hirono is trying to help her constituents directly by endorsing such legislation

Education

Hirono is a member of the Education & Labor committee and the subcommittees on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education and on Higher Education, Lifelong learning, and competitiveness. [8]. Hirono receives heavy support from education; she has has $23,000 donated to her campaigns over her career from the University of Hawaii. [9] She has sponsored legislation celebrating the University of Hawaii, [10] and a few other resolutions passed to aid teacher, by increasing the number of jobs or helping improve their salaries. Hirono is against No Child Left Behind, instead believing that we need a complete overhaul of the system by increasing fairness and flexibility, supporting teachers and principals, encouraging best practices and protecting Native Hawaiian education. [11] She also supports adjusting the college financing system and Early Head Start schools in ways similar to her fellow liberal democrats.

Veteran's Rights

Additionally, Hirono is a strong supporter of the military and veterans, two groups that have played an important role in Hawaiian history. She is most supportive in the area of veteran's rights. Hirono proposes that her congress increases the VA budget and funding for health care facilities to show support for our troops. [12] Hirono has been effective in this area; the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of American gave Hirono a grade of A+ in 2007-2008. [13] She sponsored legislation helping the children of Filipino WWII veterans in 2007 [14] and co-sponsored many other minor bills along the way. Hirono has also helped the military of Hawaii in other ways. In November of 2008, she helped cleanup a landfill in Hawaii filled with six torpedoes and numerous casings through a 2 million dollar earmark. [15] Her support of the military is appreciated by the veterans, whom she has also helped get jobs if they are down on their luck. [16]

Environmental record

For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Reparations for Japanese Latin Americans

Hirono cosponsored The Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Latin Americans of Japanese Descent Act in the 110th Congress which would establish a commission that would determine the facts and circumstances involving the relocation, internment and deportation of Japanese Latin Americans.

Main article: Redress for Japanese Latin Americans/ U.S. legislation#Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Latin Americans of Japanese Descent Act of 2007

Support for gun control

Hirono cosponsored H.R. 1022 (Assault Weapons Ban Reauthorization Act of 2007) on March 13, 2007.

Main article: U.S. gun legislation

Biography

Hirono was born on November 3, 1947 in Fukushima, Japan. At age seven, her mother brought her to Hawaii as she fled an abusive marriage. Hirono became a naturalized citizen in 1959. She graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa with a bachelor's degree in psychology. She earned her law degree from Georgetown University. After graduating, she served as a Deputy Attorney General then practiced law in the private sector.[17]

In 1980, Hirono was elected to the the Hawaii state legislature. In 1994, she successfully ran for lieutenant governor. Hirono was also President of the National Commission on Teaching, America's Future as well as the Hawai'i Policy Group. In 2002, she was the Democratic nominee for governor, having defeated Rep. Ed Case in the primary. She lost in the general election, however, to Linda Lingle. [18]

2006 elections

On September 23, Hirono won the Democratic primary for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district, being vacated by Ed Case, in a 10-way race, garnering 21.8 percent of the vote, about 800 votes ahead of state Sen. Colleen Hanabusa, who had 21.1 percent. Former state Sen. Matt Matsunaga (14 percent) finished in third. [19]

Her opponent in the general election was Republican Bob Hogue. She defeated him 61%-39% to win the seat. [20]

2008 elections

This information was gathered by volunteer researchers as part of the Superdelegate Transparency Project on the superdelegates for the 2008 Democratic presidential primary. For more info see the Hawaii superdelegate tracker or visit the STP homepage.

Before Hillary Clinton conceded the race, Mazie Hirono, as a superdelegate, had not endorsed a candidate for President.

• For more information and sources, see the state page for this superdelegate linked to in the blue box above.

Money in politics

This section contains links to – and feeds from – money in politics databases. <crpcontribdata>cid=N00028139&cycle=2006</crpcontribdata>

Links to more campaign contribution information for Mazie Hirono from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org site.
Fundraising profile:	2006 election cycle	Career totals
Top contributors by organization/corporation:	2006 election cycle	Career totals
Top contributors by industry:	2006 election cycle	Career totals

• Revolving door profile for Mazie Hirono from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org website.
• 2006 privately funded travel profile for Mazie Hirono from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org website.
• Personal finance profile for Mazie Hirono from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org website.

Committees and Affiliations

• House Committee on Education and Labor
  • Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education
  • Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness

• House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
  • Subcommittee on Aviation
  • Subcommittee on Highways, Transit & Pipelines
  • Subcommittee on Water Resources & Environment

Contact

DC Office:
1229 Longworth House Office Building
Washington DC 20515
ph: 202 225-4906
fx: 202-225-4987
Email: mazie.hirono@mail.house.gov
Website

Honolulu Office:
5104 Prince Kuhio Federal Bldg.
Honolulu, HI 96850
ph: 808-541-1986
fx: 808-538-0233

Articles and resources

Articles

• Jerry Skurnik, " Congressional Elections - Good for the Jews (and the Buddhists)," Room Eight, November 8, 2006.
• Sarah Wheaton, "A Congressman, a Muslim and a Buddhist Walk Into a Bar...," New York Times - The Caucus blog, January 2, 2007.

Corresponding article on Wikipedia and Cause Caller. (If Cause Caller link does not work, pick from its list of senators and representatives.)

Current Office: U.S. House of Representatives
111th Congress
Leadership Position:	Committees Chaired:	Committees, Ranking Member On:	Caucuses:
Committees:
110th Congress
Leadership Position: None	Committees Chaired:	Committees, Ranking Member On:	Caucuses:
Committees: House Committee on Education and Labor, House Committee on Education and Labor/Subcommittee on Early Childhood Elementary and Secondary Education, House Committee on Education and Labor/Subcommittee on Higher Education Lifelong Learning and Competitiveness, House Committee on Small Business, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure/Subcommittee on Aviation, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure/Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure/Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
Congressional Career
First Elected to Current Office: November 7, 2006	First Took Current Office: January 4, 2007	Next Election: November 2, 2010	Term Ends:
Freshman Member? No	Previous Political Work? Lt. Governor, Hawaii House of Representatives, State Deputy Attorney General, Antitrust Division	Other Party Membership:
District Offices:
1. 5104 Prince Kuhio Federal Bldg., Honolulu, HI 96850 Phone: 808-541-1986 / Fax: 808-538-0233
Campaign Contact:
Website: Webform Email: / Email: Campaign Offices: 1. Phone: / Fax:
Zip Code Affiliations:
Misc:
Date of Birth: November 3, 1947