Committees and Caucuses

Mazie's Committees:

The House of Representatives is organized into committees which handle legislative, administrative and oversight functions on assigned areas. Committees develop, analyze and evaluate legislative proposals, address policy issues and conduct oversight of federal agencies and programs.

Congresswoman Hirono requested – and received – appointments to 3 committees that help her advance the interests of the people of Hawai‘i.

Education and Labor Committee

The Committee on Education and Labor oversees federal programs and initiatives that deal with education at all levels. The Committee also has jurisdiction over workforce initiatives that focus on strengthening health care, job training, and retirement security for workers.

Among the major issues that the committee has worked on during the current Congress are raising the minimum wage, helping protect workers’ rights for organizing and bargaining, improving the No Child Left Behind Act to improve school quality and accountability, and making college more affordable for students and their families.

Congresswoman Hirono is a member of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education as well as the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.

The committee’s web site is located at http://edlabor.house.gov/

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is primarily concerned with ensuring that our nation’s transportation systems and infrastructure (including roads, highways, bridges and ports) are safe and secure and that infrastructure is adequate to relieve congestion, keep America competitive and improve the daily lives of our citizens. The committee also addresses global climate change and our nation’s commitment to clean water, energy independence, and environmental stewardship.

Congresswoman Hirono is a member of the Subcommittee on Aviation, the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, and the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

The committee’s web site is located at http://transportation.house.gov/

Small Business Committee

The Committee on Small Business provides assistance to America’s small businesses, promotes entrepreneurship and works to remove burdens that hinder business operations. The committee oversees the Small Business Administration (SBA) and its programs.

The committee web site is located at http://www.house.gov/smbiz/

Mazie’s Caucuses:

Members of Congress also pursue common legislative objectives through groups known as Congressional Membership Organizations (CMOs). Many CMOs are referred to as “caucuses”. Others are called “coalitions”, “study groups”, “task forces”, and “working groups”.

Congresswoman Hirono is a member of the following:

House Democratic Caucus

Within the Democratic Caucus, Congresswoman Hirono serves as At-Large Whip, part of the team that helps Members communicate with Leadership and round up votes needed to pass legislative priorities.

She is also part of the Democratic Rural Working Group, which is dedicated to improving the quality of life in rural America by providing quality education and health care and making communications technology available.

Freshman Caucus

As a newly elected Member of Congress, Congresswoman Hirono is part of the Class of 2006. She is a member of the Freshman Caucus on Energy and Climate, a group that focuses on meeting America’s energy needs in a responsible way, mindful of global climate change.

Congressional Arts Caucus

A bipartisan organization that supports the arts through federal initiatives, the Arts Caucus annually defends the preservation of funding for National Endowment for the Arts.

Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus

This bipartisan and bicameral organization advocates for the concerns of Asian Pacific Americans and promotes issues of importance to the Asian and Pacific Islander American community.

Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues

This bipartisan organization is dedicated to promoting the economic, health, legal and educational concerns of women. The Caucus serves as an advocate on women’s rights and promotes legislation that will improve the status of women.

Congressional Human Rights Caucus

This bipartisan organization is devoted to bringing attention to the abuse of human rights across the world and hopes to advance human rights through U.S. foreign policy.

Congressional Labor and Working Families Caucus

This Bipartisan organization is committed to advancing a pro-labor, pro-family legislative agenda. Caucus members are dedicated to protecting and defending workers and their families, and will work hard to support economic policies that help American working families.

Congressional Multiple Sclerosis Caucus

This bipartisan organization serves as a forum to discuss critical health care, disability, research, and other issues affecting people living with MS and other conditions.

Congressional National Parks Caucus

This bipartisan organization is dedicated to preservation and maintenance of America’s national parks.

Congressional Rural Housing Caucus

The bipartisan organization focuses on the housing needs of Rural America and aims to ensure that the rural population will be able to find safe, affordable, and decent housing.

Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus

This bipartisan organization is dedicated to raising awareness of our nation’s refuge system, supporting adequate refuge system budgets and ensuring the sustained growth of the refuge system for future generations.

House Impact Aid Coalition

This bipartisan group is dedicated to strengthening the Impact Aid programs which will ensure that local schools have the necessary resources for a quality education. Impact Aid is financial assistance to local school districts that have lost property tax revenue due to the presence of tax-exempt Federal property or that have experienced increased expenditures due to the enrollment of federally connected children: those residing on Indian lands, military bases, low-rent housing properties, or other Federal properties and those who have parents in the uniformed services or employed on eligible Federal properties who do not live on Federal property.

House Oceans Caucus

This bipartisan organization supports legislation to protect our nation’s ocean resources and provides Congress with information on ocean issues.

House Rural Health Care Coalition

This bipartisan organization is committed to the advancement of rural priorities in health care policies. The coalition supports funding to improve various rural health programs that allow the rural population to have easier access to physicians and health care.

National Marine Sanctuary Caucus

This group is dedicated to raising awareness about marine sanctuaries and ocean ecosystems which have an effect on coastal communities.

National Service Caucus

This bipartisan organization is dedicated to raising awareness of national service and to expanding service opportunities for Americans.

Port Security Caucus

This bipartisan organization is dedicated to ensuring that port and maritime security remain as top priorities on the Congressional agenda.

Congressional Progressive Caucus

This caucus is committed to building a more just and humane society by bringing attention to the needs and aspirations of all Americans.

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus

This bipartisan organization brings attention to renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

Mazie’s Other Memberships:

House Democracy Assistance Commission

The House Democracy Assistance Commission, comprised of 20 members of the House of Representatives, promotes and supports the development of democratic governments around the world through peer-to-peer partnerships with emerging democratic legislatures to assist in the development of the fundamental building blocks of legislative government: oversight, transparency, accountability, effective legislation, and responsiveness to constituents.

Congresswoman Hirono was appointed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi to HDAC and earlier this year traveled to Mongolia and hosted a delegation of Mongolian legislators in Hawai‘i.