Mazie Hirono

Before I end, I also wanted to mention I was so glad to hear you reference Constance Baker Motley during your introductory press conference at the White House.

It's about time that Black women and girls across the country can finally see themselves who look like them sitting on the highest court making decisions that will impact their lives.

One cannot overstate the importance of representation.

Like your mentor, Justice Breyer, I know you will incur-- you will engage with the other Justices, both liberal and conservative.

I congratulate you and your family on this historic nomination.

Hawaii has a goal of reaching a 100 percent carbon-neutral economy by 2045.

We would love to see more support though, to demonstrate that technology and to test that technology.

I`d like a justice who also will take into consideration the real-life impact of the decisions he or she will be making.

What I`m looking for is a justice who can be fair and impartial, and who does not have an ideological axe to grind, which is what we saw, as far as I`m concerned, in President Trump`s nominees.

I very much support President Biden`s decision to put a black woman on the court. High time. About time.

I have a bill that I have been working on that I am going to want to work with you, having to do with just data collection and access to data that will enable the VA to really understand the veterans and their--I guess identifying…

I am particularly interested in all those veterans out there who do not have the kind of--who do not access the kind of tools that you are talking about.

I should think that we would want this kind of data so that we can really provide... effective support for our growing veteran population.

Moving forward, I expect VA to prioritize this and other items that advance equity and support for underserved and minority communities of veterans because attention to these issues is long overdue.

It is time that this Committee, our House counterparts, and the outside organizations that advocate for veterans have the tools we need to ensure the health and success of all veterans.

The goal is to make sure that the records of a servicemember from the time that they put on the uniform to the time that they separate from service to the time of death are all captured in this system

I previously questioned the VA on suicide prevention efforts tailored to women veterans and API veterans, both identified as high risk groups.

Making the transition from active to veteran status as seamless as possible is a really important goal

We have all heard of veterans who have incomplete or piecemeal health records

Can you elaborate on the importance of programs like these for student veterans and their families?

Do you have data that shows how many of your veterans are able to purchase homes through your Loan Guaranty Program?

Really, how can a veteran or anybody else practically afford that?

The current hypercompetitive housing market has made buying a home in high cost of living States like Hawaii almost impossible for many families, including veterans.

Does it account for areas like Hawaii where the cost of housing is so high that your loan guaranty portion is simply not enough to enable the veterans to afford these homes?

I certainly look forward to working with you, Mr. Kiyokawa, to better serve veterans and ask the Committee to move on his nomination and for the Senate to swiftly confirm him.