Mazie Hirono

Certainly, increasing access to VA benefits, cutting or eliminating the backlog to claims, ending homelessness, the mental health issues, the suicide rates--these are all areas that we have bipartisan support on the Committee.

I figure--you know what? Each one that we help to get on in a positive way with their lives, that is worth doing.

I think it is really important to focus on the issue of veteran homelessness.

I thank Senator Sessions very much for his agreement regarding the concerns we have for our friends in the Philippines, and I look forward to working with the Senator to come up with a measure that will accomplish what my bill seeks to…

I'm glad to hear that because I have certainly seen firsthand how, for example, modernizing of a shipyard really enables for better efficiency.

I have found that the Asia-Pacific Center for Strategic Studies (APCSS) is an outstanding institution bringing together a diverse group of outstanding faculty and students to discuss, debate, and learn from each other.

I am also concerned that if a solution is not identified and implemented relatively quickly, the Army could be forced to settle for off-post housing that are not safe for our families.

Cybersecurity plays a vital role in the security of our Nation and to DOD.

Secretary Hagel, with the Opportunity, Growth, and Security Initiative (OGSI) investment of $26 billion, there are a variety of opportunities...

The subsequent bill includes provisions that support Native Hawaiians even more than the Pre-K Act by including Native Hawaiians in the eligibility for Native set asides; requiring Native consultation in the development of the state plans…

In March 2013, Senator Mazie Hirono introduced S. 519, the Pre-K Act to direct the U.S. Secretary of Education to award matching grants to states to enhance or improve State-funded preschool programs.

I hope that the risks taken on by delaying some of these projects will be mitigated as additional MILCON funds become available.

I want to start by saying that I am disappointed in the overall MILCON reductions, as I am sure all of you are.

I know that there's pressure everywhere in the DOD budget; tradeoffs have to be made while managing RIFs.

I believe that there is enough on the commander's plate, and the fact that there is just entirely too many conflicts of interest...

So while there have been some improvements, then given the severity of the problem, more can be done?

Let us just tell perpetrators: 'don't rape.' Okay. So you get all the perpetrators in a room and tell them 'don't rape,' but you are still going to allow them to serve?

If I don't have to deal with sexual assault and I can continue going on with what my mission is, to make the unit ready... they would like to do that.

The figures are some 22,000-plus sexual assaults occur in the military in a given year, and only a very insignificant number of these crimes are ever reported to the chain of command.

You, too, support removing the chain of command from the decision to prosecute these crimes?

I am especially concerned about reports that women are confined in solitary for reporting abuse, including sexual abuse, by the Bureau of Prisons staff.

97 percent of our prisoners do get released into the community, so we really need to pay attention to what is happening with them.

Sequestration in 2016 is an issue that we're going to need to deal with in a sensible way.

There is growing concern among U.S. allies and partners that the United States will be unable to follow through on its commitment to the rebalance due to declining defense budgets and continuing security challenges elsewhere.

My best to you in achieving the balance and meeting the needs of the marines.