Mazie Hirono Is The Badass Senator You Need To Know About

Mazie Hirono, junior United States Senator, is an absolute badass. She has made real change in our nation and doesn’t back down ever. We love her feistiness and determination, especially when it comes to supporting the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities of the United States. Let’s take a look at all of her awesome accomplishments as junior U.S. Senator and all of the times she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind.

COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act

Senator Mazie Hirono and Representative Grace Meng introduced the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act which aims to make it easier to report and review hate crimes related to COVID-19 and against the AAPI community. President Joe Biden signed this act on May 20, 2021, with the House approving the bill 364-62, following the Senate’s 94-1 vote in April. 

“We’ve seen the horrifying consequences of racist language as AAPI communities across our country experience hate crimes and violence related to the pandemic,” said Senator Hirono. “The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act addresses the surge in violence against AAPI communities by dedicating an official at the Department of Justice to expeditiously review hate crimes reported to law enforcement. The bill also provides resources for communities to come together and fight intolerance and hate. This is no less than victims deserve.” 

According to the American Psychological Association, “Even before the deadly Atlanta-area spa shootings in March, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) had faced nearly 4,000 hate incidents since the pandemic began, a 149% rise over the previous year.”

Heart of Fire: An Immigrant Daughter’s Story

Not only is she a kickass senator, but she’s also a published author. Her autobiography “Heart of Fire” tells her life story. She was raised on a rice farm in rural Japan, and then she and her family (to escape her mother’s abusive husband) sailed to Hawaii when she was seven years old. Her novel tells her journey of how she became a state representative and Hawaii’s lieutenant governor before winning the election to Congress in 2006.

Advocate for sexual harassment and the #MeToo movement

In January of 2018, Hirono began vetting all court nominees’ questions about sexual harassment under oath. This was after she, along with three other female senators, shared her #MeToo story in an episode of Meet The Press in October or 2017. She has also been an advocate for removing harassers from office, like calling for Al Franken to resign after 7 sexual assault accusations. She also made similar calls regarding former President Donald Trump, who has been accused by more than 20 women.

She isn’t afraid to speak her mind

Mazie Hirono is known for her use of “bullshit,” with The Cut having a running list of every time she has used it. She also called for men in government to do the right thing with her “Just shut up and step up” quote in September of 2018. In June of this year, she accused Ted Cruz of “mansplaining” during a Senate Judiciary hearing. She also said “Hell no” when asked about her vote for Amy Coney Barrett.

When asked, “Does it ever feel like when you wake up, you’re yelling at a brick wall?” Hirono replied, “There are often days when I say, ‘What the heck.’ I may use another word, to tell you the truth. I get up every morning, and I say ‘Up and at ’em!’ We always have to get up, and gird our loins.”

These are only a few examples of her accomplishments as a senator, but we love the passion she brings when it comes to standing up for what she believes in. 

Whether you agree with her political beliefs or not, it is a breath of fresh air to see someone so outspoken on our Senate. What do you think about Mazie Hirono? Let us know in the comments below!

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