Mazie Hirono

I have to say that I am astounded that the Navy, upon whose assessments we rely in making decisions...

If we do not deal with the Budget Control Act, we will end up cutting, not increasing, the size of the Navy.

The mindless cuts to defense and non-defense programs were meant to be so bad that Congress would be forced to find an alternative way forward.

We have to recognize that the Budget Control Act is looming in the background and will have to be dealt with.

The investigation into this tragedy should guide our decisions going forward to prevent these kinds of tragedies and to provide support for our sailors and Marines.

My thoughts, our thoughts, are with the families of the 15 Marines and one sailor who lost their lives in service to our country.

This bill would extend the requirement for the VA to provide nursing home care to certain veterans with service-connected disabilities through December 31, 2018.

Do you feel pretty confident that we will not let this program lapse? Because otherwise you have to have a Plan B.

The 350 veterans in Hawaii, that is really a large number of veterans who would be impacted.

I am glad that the VA is supportive as well as the veterans organizations across the country, because we have a lot of veterans who need long-term care, and we want to keep those facilities supported.

I think it is important, since the need is great, that the kind of contracts you have will enable the Indian Health Services and the Native Hawaiian Health Services to continue to be a part of the providing of services.

We must keep our commitment to these veterans, which is why I am grateful to the VA and the veterans service organizations here today for their testimony in support of the bill.

I would like to thank Senators Collins, King, and Markey for their close sponsorship of S. 683, my Keeping Our Commitment to Disabled Veterans Act, which would ensure coverage for around 350 veterans in Hawaii, some 20,000 veterans across…

I conclude that you do support the President's budget for Interior at this point with all of the cuts that many of my colleagues have pointed out.

I think that is very unfair to states such as Hawaii.

I will certainly be working with you all to make sure that we are, in fact, maintaining a level of activity in this area and research because $5.3 million is a relatively small amount and I think that it should be restored.

I believe that there is value in having the U.S. Forest Service invest in protecting Hawaii's forests.

The President's budget goes the other way.

I am here to share my serious concerns over the decision to exclude Native Hawaiian housing programs in S. 1275.

This body has a rich history of acknowledging that Native issues can rise above beltway party politics.

The health care crisis facing many IHS facilities in the Great Plains and throughout Indian Country is a concern this Committee takes very seriously.

Thank you, Senator Hoeven. Thank you to the witnesses for traveling to be with us today.

We must do all we can to make sure NAHASDA is fully reauthorized for all Native American communities that rely on its housing programs.

I ask this Committee to restore reauthorization for Native Hawaiian housing programs in NAHASDA.

I strongly oppose those suggestions and I believe that dividing Native communities is, frankly, unconscionable.