Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono

• Hirono: “Republicans’ ‘Why Bother?’ Approach to Clean Energy is Damaging to Hawaii’s Future” September 14, 2012

  Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono (HI-02) today released the following statement on her vote against H.R. 6213, The No More Solyndras Act, legislation that would prevent the U.S. Depar...

• Administration Report is the Latest Wake-Up Call on Need for a Balanced Debt Deal September 14, 2012

  Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono (HI-02) today released the following statement on the release of the Obama Administration’s report on how it plans to implement the across-the-board s...

• Hirono: Story of the 112th Congress – Half a Step Forward, Two Steps Back September 13, 2012

  Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono (HI-02) released the following statement on the legislation passed by the House today relating to the federal budget: H.Res.117, th...

Watching Out for Hawaii’s Consumers

Unfortunately, scams can range a wide variety of fields, from not only mortgage and credit card schemes but also fraud scams that claim to prevent, treat, or cure health conditions and scams targeting immigrants seeking to become citizens. For the many hardworking people in Hawaii and across our country, scams and identity theft continue to threaten the most wary of consumers.

Below is a listing of resources on issues such as foreclosure prevention, scams, and money management. For additional information on how Congresswoman Hirono can help Hawaii’s consumers, read her MaziEmail or click here to submit a request for help.

Foreclosure Prevention, Modification Scams, Housing Resources

·         Be aware of modification scam companies who promise to get you a loan modification for a fee. Only your lender/loan servicer can offer you a loan modification. To report alleged scammers, visit www.PreventLoanScams.org or www.LoanScamAlert.org.

• The Federal Trade Commission has many resources on foreclosure, fraud prevention and other consumer issues at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/ncpw/consumer-topics.shtml

·         Act 48, Hawaii’s new foreclosure law regarding non-judicial foreclosures and the Mortgage Foreclosure Dispute Resolution Program within the State Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) http://hawaii.gov/dcca/oah/mfdr/mortgage-foreclosure-dispute-resolution-mfdr.html

·         Making Home Affordable program for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac owned mortgages http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/pages/default.aspx

·         The National Mortgage Settlement for mortgages other than Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans http://www.nationalmortgagesettlement.com/

·         Hawaii Attorney General David Louie’s highlights of the Joint State-Federal Mortgage Servicing Case Settlement http://hawaii.gov/ag/mortgagesettlement/index_html

·         The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) website offers more information on the national mortgage settlement at http://www.occ.gov/topics/consumer-protection/foreclosure-prevention/correcting-foreclosure-practices.html

·         In April 2011, the OCC, the Federal Reserve, and the Office of Thrift Supervision took action against the 14 large mortgage servicers. If your primary residence was involved in a foreclosure process between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010, you may qualify for a free Independent Foreclosure Review https://independentforeclosurereview.com/

·         The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has developed a Foreclosure Prevention Tool Kit which includes resources on how mortgage modification programs can help and how to handle foreclosure rescue scams http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/loans/prevention/toolkit.html

Certified Housing Counselors

There are HUD-approved non-profit housing counselors here in Hawaiʻi who provide FREE foreclosure prevention services. Contact any one of the following HUD-certified, non-profit housing counselors for free foreclosure prevention services: 

·         Legal Aid Society of Hawaii

http://www.legalaidhawaii.org/
Intake Hotline: 536-4302

·         Hawaii HomeOwnership Center

http://www.hihomeownership.org/foreclosure.html
Oahu, Kauai, and Hawaii Island: 523-9500

·         Hale Mahaolu Homeownership and Housing Counseling
http://www.halemahaolu.org/site/380/mortgage_delinquency.aspx
Maui, Molokai, and Lanai: 872-4100

·         Hawaiian Community Assets

http://www.hawaiiancommunity.net/index.html
Oahu, Kauai, and Molokai: 587-7886
Maui and Lanai: 760-510
Hawai‘i Island: 934-0801

·         Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Hawaii
Foreclosure counseling http://cccsofhawaii.org/services/foreclosure_counseling.html
Bankruptcy counseling http://cccsofhawaii.org/services/bankruptcy.html
Oahu: 532-3225
Maui, Molokai, and Lanai: 242-8399
Kauai and Hawaii Island: 969-7136

Resources on Avoiding Fraud Scams

·         Watch Health Fraud Scams – Be Smart, Be Aware, Be Careful and learn how to avoid falling for a health fraud scam http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ProtectYourself/HealthFraud/ucm270086.htm

·         The National Consumer Protection Week website has a page dedicated to scam and fraud alert, including the grandparent scam and scams against immigrants http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/ncpw/consumer-topics/scam-fraud-alert.shtml

·         Scam artists also target investors by posing as a stockbroker or investment advisor. Scams and Swindles: An Educational Guide to Avoiding Investment Fraud was developed by the National Futures Association to describe common types of investment  scams and how to avoid them http://www.nfa.futures.org/NFA-investor-information/publication-library/scams-and-swindles.pdf

·         The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers a site to report fraud, waste, and abuse regarding email scams, mortgages, credit cards, credit report, bank accounts, and other financial products and services http://www.treasury.gov/services/report-fwa/Pages/ReportFWA.aspx

Medicare Fraud 

·         To report Medicare fraud, contact:

o   Office of the Inspector General, US Department of Health and Human Services

Hotline: 1-800-447-8477
Email: HHSTips@oig.hhs.gov

o   Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP Hawaii)

Phone: 808-586-7281
Toll free: 1-800-286-9422
Email: eoa@doh.hawaii.gov

·         To report Medicaid fraud, contact:

o   For fraud committed by providers, contact the Department of the Attorney General, State of Hawaii Medicaid Fraud Control Unit

Phone: 808-586-1058

o   For fraud committed by recipients, contact the Department of Human Services

State of Hawaii Recipient Hotline: 808-587-8444

·         Complaints about a health insurance plan or insurance agent/broker

o   Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs

State of Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection: 808-586-2630
Insurance Division Insurance Fraud Investigation Branch: 808-586-2790
Email: insurance@dcca.hawaii.gov

·         Complaints about vendors selling health care products

o   Better Business Bureau of Hawaii

Phone: 808-536-6956
Toll free: 1-877-222-6551
Email: info@hawaii.bbb.org

·         “Healthcare Fraud is a Family Matter”

·         “Stop Medicare Fraud”

·         “Don’t Be a Target of Healthcare Fraud”

·         “Medicare Fraud & Abuse”

Resources on Handling Identity Theft

To help you repair the damage and reduce the risk of identity theft happening to you, please visit the following websites:

·         The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, prepared the guide, Taking Charge: What To Do If Your Identity is Stolen http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/idtheft/idt04.pdf

·         The Consumer Federation of America developed www.idtheftinfo.org/ and identity theft quizzes to see how prepared you are.

·         OnGuardOnline.gov provides information on uncovering tax-related identity theft http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/onguard/articles/taxrelatedidtheft.shtml

·         If a taxpayer receives an IRS notice indicating identity theft, they should follow the instructions in that notice. A taxpayer who believes they are at risk of identity theft due to lost or stolen personal information should immediately contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490. Visit: www.irs.gov and use search term “theft.”

·         Free Tax Return Preparation for You by Volunteers http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=107626,00.html

Resources on Credit Repair and Money Management

·         The NAACP and the Federal Trade Commission are working together to provide information on money management techniques, the business side of consumer protection, and other resources. http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/partnerships/naacp/index.shtm

·         The Federal Trade Commission tells you what you need to know if you’re looking to reach out to a debt relief firm or a company that promises to repair your credit.

o   http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/moneymatters/dealing-with-debt-relief-services.shtml

o   http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/moneymatters/dealing-with-credit-repair.shtml

o   http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre13.shtm

o   http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/credit.shtm

o   http://www.consumerfed.org/pdfs/Get-Real-Debt-Help.pdf

·         The Consumer Federation of America offers a credit score quiz to test your knowledge http://www.creditscorequiz.org/

·         The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) offers a Quick Guide for Consumers on Credit, Debit, and Prepaid Cards to learn what each card is, how it works and the consumer protections available http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/information/ncpw/cardchart.html

·         The FDIC also provide a Ten Things You Should Know about Debit, Credit, or Prepaid Cards list that may be helpful in planning your use of the various cards http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/information/ncpw/cardstopten.html

Congresswoman Hirono Outlines Hawaii’s
Path to Sustainability

How can we help make Hawaii’s economy stronger? By helping to make Hawaii less dependent on the mainland for energy and food. We’ll create local companies and local jobs and keep more of our money in Hawaii. To continue the progress we’ve made, we need federal policies that will help us to get there. This spring, Congresswoman Hirono hosted a series of roundtables with leaders and stakeholders in the energy and agriculture fields across Hawaii.

“Hawaii may be dependent on imports for food and energy, but we are not a dependent people,” said Congresswoman Hirono. “I recently met with agriculture and clean energy leaders across our state who want to see a future where the dollars we spend on energy and food stay in Hawaii. They see the value in creating local jobs to produce that energy and food. That’s why we have to accelerate our progress to make Hawaii more sustainable. Doing so will help families across our state and our country while also helping to protect our precious natural resources and beautiful natural places.”

For a complete look at Congresswoman Hirono’s sustainability plan, please click here.

This agenda is based on what she heard was needed to help move Hawaii forward. While this plan is a good start, it’s a living document. Please send your ideas on how we can build Hawaii’s sustainable future to sustainablehawaii@mail.house.gov.

 
Congresswoman Hirono tours the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative's Solar Farm in Kapaa

Helping Hawaii Become More Energy Independent

1. End Subsidies to Oil Companies and Grow Hawaii’s Clean Energy Industry: Last year the five biggest oil companies in the U.S. received $4 billion from taxpayers, despite making over $137 billion in profits. Sixty billion of those dollars were simply held in reserve by these companies—not creating jobs, not supporting investments, and not helping our economy. Instead, Congresswoman Hirono’s plan calls for these funds to support investments in research, development, and deployment of renewables and for other clean energy technologies. She would extend tax incentives and maintain federal support for research, development, and deployment of clean energy across Hawaii.

2. Help Our Families Manage Prices at the Pump During our Clean Energy Transition: To help stem extreme price per barrel of oil increases, Congresswoman Hirono’s plan supports a limited and targeted release of oil by President Obama from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. In addition, speculators shouldn’t be able to keep driving up costs by nearly $25 per barrel simply to make big profits for themselves. That’s why Congresswoman Hirono supported the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform law, which requires new rules to curb speculation. Her plan also calls on the agencies in charge of these rules to receive the resources they need to quickly implement and enforce rules protecting consumers. In addition, her plan includes reviving and expanding tax benefits to encourage the use of public transportation as well as biking and other alternatives for commuting.

3. Train for Jobs of Tomorrow: Hawaii’s clean energy workforce has been growing, and is poised to grow another 12 percent this year. Congresswoman Hirono’s plan calls for continued investments in workforce development, such as the grant program under which Hawaii’s community colleges recently won $24.6 million. She also introduced H.R. 288, the Renewable Energy Applied Partnerships Act which would support partnerships in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education.

4. Help Families and Businesses Reduce Costs and Increase Energy Efficiency: One critical way to reduce our reliance on imported petroleum is to increase energy efficiency. The good news is that we are making significant progress—Hawaii’s a leader in upgrading the energy efficiency of our workplaces and other buildings. We need to continue this momentum and provide the tools that will give Hawaii’s families and businesses the ability to monitor their energy use and learn how to reduce it. That’s why Congresswoman Hirono supported tax incentives like the Energy Star Rebate program and the Residential Energy Property Credit. Her plan supports legislation to increase energy efficiency in federal buildings and green schools and to help small businesses finance energy efficiency upgrades.

“In Hawaii, we know what the future looks like a lot sooner than the rest of the country,” said Warren Bollmeier, president of the Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance. “The path our nation needs to take is one where we level the playing field for clean energy. A plan like this that looks to the future and helps invest in a wide range of clean energy options is how we’ll make Hawaii energy self-sustainable.

“People in Hawaii know that we can’t remain dependent on imported oil for our energy needs. Pacific Biodiesel has shown that homegrown renewable energy companies can be sustainable—and grow and create jobs here in Hawaii. Congresswoman Hirono’s plan is about laying the groundwork for a sustainable economy that supports these types of businesses, engages all stakeholders, and helps to keep us focused on continuing the progress we’ve made together,” said Kelly King, vice president of Pacific Biodiesel.

“Making more energy in Hawaii keeps more dollars in Hawaii. The same is true when it comes to our food,” said Congresswoman Hirono. “Our agriculture sustainability plan will help boost our local food production to help us build a stronger Hawaii that is less dependent on the mainland.”

Helping Grow Hawaii-Made Food

1. Meeting Basic Needs for Hawaii’s Agriculture Sector: The different crops, year-round growing season, hospitable climate for pests, and a lack of adequate agricultural water delivery systems mean that Hawaii’s agriculture industry has unique needs compared with the mainland. To address these issues, Congresswoman Hirono’s plan calls for helping deliver water to farms and ranches; continuing investments for Hawaii-specific research on crops, diseases, and pests; and assisting Hawaii’s farmers and ranchers with Hawaii-specific problems, such as the high cost of fertilizer.

2. Producing More of the Food We Eat in Hawaii: The key issue for Hawaii farmers is finding a market for what they produce that covers their costs of production and returns a reasonable profit. To help, Congresswoman Hirono’s plan calls for educating consumers about the benefits of buying local; helping farmers sell their products more directly to consumers; grow more farmers; and help create partnerships between farmers and institutions, such as schools, to help small farmers have access to larger markets.

3. Supporting Our Agricultural Exports: While sugar and pineapple have declined in Hawaii, we still have a very important sugar company on Maui on 34,000 acres that provides some 800 jobs. In addition, Hawaii’s coffee, macadamia nut, papaya, cattle, and seed industries bring in dollars from outside the state. To support Hawaii’s exports, Congresswoman Hirono’s plan advocates for continuation of the U.S. sugar program, continuation of crop insurance and disaster assistance programs that have helped the macadamia nut and coffee industries deal with periodic losses, as well as increased agricultural research on new crops.

4. New Opportunities in Agriculture: Agritourism and the Hawaii Brand: Given the strength of the Hawaii brand as well as Hawaii’s repeat visitor business, agritourism is emerging as another way to preserve and promote agriculture in the islands. Congresswoman Hirono’s plan supports efforts to bring more visitors to the islands to visit these new attractions as well as calls for promotion assistance to help businesses like farms and ranches market to potential visitors.

“This won’t be an easy task and we don’t expect this to happen overnight, and we know that energy and agriculture sustainability aren’t the whole story,” said Congresswoman Hirono. “We need to continue to address issues like clean water for our families, and promoting ways to protect the quality of life we treasure. This will all take a lot of laulima – cooperation. It’s heartening to see so many people come together to share their ideas with us as we developed this plan. We also see this as just the beginning. This plan is a living document and we welcome more feedback. That’s the only way we’re going to move Hawaii forward – with all of us working together to do so.”