Mazie Hirono

I would want to work with you to make sure that these projects are moving along.

I really hope that you will re-introduce that, and I will do everything possible to help support that bill.

I would like you to reiterate, for the record, that you believe that this is a very good thing.

I know that you are aware of the bill that Senator Joni Ernst and I introduced.

I rise today in opposition to the nomination of Mike Pompeo to serve as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Representative Pompeo has been wrong on many critical intelligence issues during his 6 years in Congress. He will not…

There has been a lack of parity as to the treatment and the access to care for the mental health side

I think that if he is chosen, he will decimate Medicare and Medicaid as we know it.

How do you all think that is supposed to happen? How is that supposed to be implemented with Secretary Price at the helm?

These seniors are going to find out that with the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, they will end up paying more for drugs.

I think that finally, with the potential demise or repeal of the Affordable Care Act and voucherizing of Medicare and the huge cuts to Medicaid, the defunding of Planned Parenthood, it is finally, I think, sinking into our country what…

I will join my colleagues in fighting tooth and nail against the voucherizing of Medicare and the privatizing of these kinds of programs that really are the lifelines for millions of people in our community.

Don't touch Medicare but don't pass the Affordable Care Act.

I was surprised, pleasantly surprised by your response to that question.

When I talk with my small businesses and they say that, it is easy enough to say we are in an overregulated environment, but I always ask them, 'What specific regulation is it that is causing you trouble?'

I think that you have an understanding of the special challenges that are faced by women entrepreneurs, having been one yourself, and minority-owned businesses and veterans.

The consent decrees provide a kind of bridge of accountability between police departments and the community that are enforceable.

I certainly share your concerns about what would happen to the 800,000 DREAMers who have come out of the shadows if DACA is rescinded.

Senator Sessions was one of those, so he broke with the majority of the Republican Party to vote against that 2013 version.

Senator Leahy was the sponsor of the 2013 version.

The Violence Against Women Act is one of the pieces of legislation in this country that has always enjoyed strong bipartisan support.

Absolutely, Senator Hirono.

So in this area of voting rights, there is no question in my mind that who bears the burden to go forward to prove something has a very high burden.

Post-Shelby, the burden of going forward to show that a voter requirement law is discriminatory now rests with organizations, individuals such as the NAACP, correct?

Senator Sessions, in 1944, the Supreme Court handed down what is considered one of the worst rulings in the history of our country.

But you also indicated that you would support basically what would be considered enhanced vetting of people with extreme views.