Mazie Hirono

This is a resolution recognizing October 2026 as Filipino American History Month. The resolution celebrates the history, culture, and contributions of Filipino Americans to the United States, highlighting their presence dating back to 1587 and their role in military service, labor movements, politics, sports, healthcare, and other fields. The resolution acknowledges that Filipino Americans are the third largest Asian American group, with a population of approximately five million, and notes their significant growth from 2000 to 2023. Congress originally designated October as Filipino American History Month in 2009, and this resolution reaffirms that designation for 2026 while urging Americans to observe the month with appropriate programs and activities. There is no funding or specific timeline associated with this resolution, as it is a ceremonial designation intended to promote awareness and education about Filipino American history and culture.

This bill establishes a new Hawaiian Islands Program within the Environmental Protection Agency to address water quality and pollution issues unique to Hawaii. The program will be led by a director based in Hawaii who will coordinate funding, research, and public education efforts related to the state's watersheds and coastal waters. A management conference composed of federal, state, local government officials, nonprofits, and Native Hawaiian organizations will develop a comprehensive action plan within three years, focusing on converting failing septic systems (cesspools), restoring aquifer water quality, and managing coastal wetlands. The bill authorizes fifty million dollars annually for fiscal years 2028 through 2032, with no more than four percent of funds available for administrative costs. The comprehensive action plan will be revised every five years, and the director will fund eligible projects and activities identified on an annual priority list developed by the management conference.

This bill amends federal water pollution control law to establish a grant program specifically for Hawaii to help households upgrade or replace small-capacity cesspools, which are underground sewage systems serving single-family homes. The program would provide federal grants covering 75 percent of project costs to convert cesspools to septic systems, connect homes to municipal treatment facilities, or transition communities to shared wastewater systems, along with funding for workforce training and technical assistance related to wastewater management. Eligible households must be located in municipalities that meet Hawaii's affordability criteria, and the bill prioritizes projects addressing cesspools that pose the greatest health and environmental risks. The legislation authorizes $20 million in federal funding annually for fiscal years 2028 through 2032, with up to 2 percent of that amount available for administrative costs. Grants would be administered by the Environmental Protection Agency and distributed to Hawaii's state government or local management entities with the capacity to oversee decentralized wastewater systems.

This Senate resolution designates September 27-October 3, 2026, as "Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week" to recognize colleges and universities that serve these student populations. The resolution marks the 19th anniversary of Congress formally authorizing these institutions in 2007, which are defined as degree-granting colleges with at least 10 percent Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander enrollment. According to the resolution, approximately 194 such institutions currently exist and enroll 45.5 percent of all Asian American and Pacific Islander undergraduate students nationwide despite representing only 7.2 percent of all higher education institutions. The resolution does not provide any funding but encourages these institutions to obtain resources and establish programs to meet students' needs, and calls on Americans to observe the week with appropriate activities and ceremonies to support these institutions.

This bill would prevent the federal government from spending any money to implement or enforce a Department of Homeland Security rule about the "public charge" ground for denying immigration status. The rule, finalized in July 2026, would allow immigration officials to deny permanent residency to immigrants who use certain federal benefits like food assistance, medical care, or housing programs. The bill's supporters argue the rule would harm immigrant families and U.S. citizen children who depend on these programs, discourage people from seeking needed services, and damage local economies and public health. The legislation takes effect immediately upon passage and applies to all federal funds in any fiscal year going forward. The bill was introduced by a group of Democratic senators who contend the rule reverses over 140 years of immigration law and policy without congressional authorization.

This bill prohibits the Department of Defense (DOD) from excluding an individual from military positions or assignments based on gender. It also limits changes to DOD occupational performance standards that address gender neutrality.First, the bill prohibits the exclusion of members of the Armed Forces from an occupational specialty, career field, or assignment on the basis of gender.Next, it prohibits DOD from changing an occupational performance standard to increase or decrease the number of individuals in a career field on the basis of gender. (Currently, this prohibition only applies to increasing or decreasing the number of women.)DOD must also apply occupational standards related to technical, tactical, cognitive, or physical abilities on a gender-neutral basis for positions that require such standards and must determine any such standards after a rigorous scientific process.In situations where DOD establishes or revises a physical requirement for a military position, a member serving satisfactorily in such a position must be provided at least 18 months to meet the new standard.Finally, DOD must notify Congress of any proposed changes to the gender-neutral occupational standards for a military position that may result in at least a 10% change in the number of members of any gender who are assigned to or enter that position. (Currently, such notice is required only with respect to a change in the number of female members.) DOD must provide the congressional defense committees with a report on the proposed change, estimated costs, and justification for the change.

The SAFER Health Act of 2026 prohibits healthcare providers and their business associates from disclosing patient information about pregnancy termination or loss, including abortion care, to federal, state, local, or tribal authorities without explicit patient consent. The law applies to covered entities under HIPAA privacy rules and includes narrow exceptions only for defending professional liability lawsuits and investigating cases where a patient dies or becomes incapacitated due to physical harm related to pregnancy loss. The legislation directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to update federal regulations within 90 days to implement these protections, require health IT developers to segregate pregnancy-related data, and clarify that refusing to share such information does not constitute illegal information blocking. The bill also preempts conflicting state laws but allows states to maintain stronger privacy protections, and requires the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a public awareness campaign about these new privacy rights. This legislation primarily affects patients seeking reproductive healthcare and the healthcare providers and insurers who treat them.

This Senate resolution celebrates the 54-year legacy of Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education and has significantly expanded educational and athletic opportunities for women and girls since 1972. The resolution acknowledges major accomplishments including increased graduation rates, access to professional schools, and athletic participation for women, while noting that challenges persist such as unequal treatment in women's sports, barriers in STEM fields, and ongoing sexual harassment in schools. The resolution expresses concern about the Trump administration's recent actions, including an announced transfer of Title IX enforcement from the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights to the Department of Justice, which the resolution argues could undermine civil rights protections and create confusion for schools. The resolution calls on the executive branch to protect all students from sex discrimination, including those who are transgender, and opposes what it characterizes as the weaponization of Title IX to harm vulnerable students or eliminate diversity and inclusion programs. No funding is authorized or required by this resolution, as it is a symbolic measure expressing the Senate's position rather than enacting new law or appropriating money.

This bill requires the Judicial Conference to increase transparency in its meetings by establishing specific documentation and public access requirements. The Judicial Conference must publish notice of its meetings at least 30 days in advance on its website, including the meeting date, time, location, and agenda, unless there is good cause to waive this requirement. Additionally, all meetings must be live-streamed with audio accessible to the public at no cost, and the Judicial Conference must archive and publish these recordings within 7 days of each meeting. The bill allows closed sessions only when required by law or when the conference votes to address sensitive or confidential matters, and requires the conference to publicly state the reason for any closed session. These requirements affect the Judicial Conference and related judicial councils, with no specific funding or implementation timeline beyond the 30-day notice and 7-day publication deadlines specified in the legislation.

The Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026 significantly increases federal financial aid for low-income college students and makes the program permanently funded. The bill doubles the maximum Pell Grant award, raising it from roughly $5,000 to $15,000 by award year 2031-2032, with subsequent annual increases tied to inflation. Starting in award year 2026-2027, grants would be $10,000 and increase by $1,000 per year until reaching the $15,000 baseline. The legislation converts Pell Grants from discretionary to mandatory funding, meaning Congress automatically appropriates whatever money is needed each year without annual budget votes. The bill also expands eligibility to include students with negative expected family contributions who would receive grants exceeding the maximum amount, restores Pell Grant access to undocumented immigrants who meet specific criteria, allows students to use grants for up to 18 semesters instead of 12, and makes it easier for students to regain aid eligibility after academic struggles. Additionally, the bill removes restrictions that previously made students ineligible if they received other scholarships. The changes take effect July 1, 2026, for the 2026-2027 academic year.