I often advocate that the four essential elements to building our economy are infrastructure, entrepreneurship, workforce and capital formation. A strong, healthy, public higher education system provides the skills that students need to participate on all of these levels. I wholeheartedly believe that our education and economic development go hand-in-hand, and by supporting the University of Hawaii and the UH faculty, we invest in the entire state.”

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While many in Congress are attempting to limit the federal government’s support of public higher education, Mazie Hirono believes there is a strong role for the federal government. The federal government, in collaboration with universities, colleges and businesses, can create a strong university system that will enable students to be successful in school and in life. A strong university system is an economic engine for our state as it can attract the best and the brightest and create good paying jobs, she said.

She recognizes that support for higher education, however, cannot be done in vacuum. Support for the economy and job creation ultimately provides the resources for the federal government to allocate to Hawaii and other states to support public higher education. This is also why Mazie Hirono supports President Obama’s initiatives on tax reform, clean energy, and investment in bridges, highways, airports, and schools, as they are all designed to stimulate the economy.

College affordability is both a local and national issue. The federal government currently supports students in the University of Hawaii system in myriad ways in this area and many may not be aware of it.

This support includes Pell grants, Stafford loans, and work-study programs, all of which bring in millions of dollars in federal support to help students who are enrolled in the University of Hawaii system. Mazie Hirono has supported the expansion of Pell grants, limitation of the percentage of loan payments in wages, tuition loan forgiveness for students who pursue certain careers such early childhood education, and tax credits for tuition.

In addition, federal bonds for infrastructure support and construction have been made available to the UH to retrofit or replace existing buildings

I am honored by the Professional Assembly endorsement and appreciate the opportunity to communicate with you. It’s important for you to access me too, and I welcome hearing from you.

I am a strong believer in public education.

A good public education system is essential to a truly democratic society. It is the means by which people can succeed in life regardless of the situation of their birth.

An excellent public education system is essential to a thriving society. Communities with high proportions of college graduates are more resilient, have stronger economies, and are vibrant places to live.

We will face many challenges in the coming decade, including how to manage increased tourism and investment from China and Korea, and a reduction in federal funding due to the loss of seniority in the US Senate.

During these times, it’s important that we commit to diversifying our economy, and not sell ourselves to tourism and development. That is where the University of Hawaii system plays an essential role. We need you to develop our human resources, not our natural resources.

I look forward to working with you in the future.

Please contact me through www.LauraThielen.com or www.facebook.com/LauraThielen/Senate

View latest poll results on races UHPA is watching

As you may know, having the sound public policies that advance higher education is a priority for UHPA and UH faculty. That’s why being involved in the political process is important.

Forward this Facebook App

You can help by taking a moment to download the Facebook app developed by Honolulu Civil Beat, and forward it to your friends, family, colleagues and students. Here’s the link to the Facebook app: https://apps.facebook.com/ohs-prod/

A Non-Partisan Effort

UHPA and Honolulu Civil Beat have jointly developed and launched an innovative, non-partisan campaign to get more Hawaii residents to register to vote and to actively participate in the election process.  It’s the first initiative of its kind in the state, using a newly developed Facebook app to encourage more voters, especially those 40 years and under, to be engaged in the election process in this year’s major races.

We call it Our Hawaiian Spring – after Arab Spring, the revolution that occurred in the Middle East two years ago.

Here’s How it Works

Voters have one vote per race, but they can change their vote at any time if they learn something through the campaign that changes their mind. Facebook users will be able to see running totals, which are updated in real time to see who’s leading in the different races.

Our Hawaiian Spring is designed as a game and includes resources and links to inform voters about important topics. As the game is further developed, users will be able to pull a widget from the site to access customized data.

Voters earn points for various tasks beginning with registering for the app. More points can be accumulated for voting, sharing the site via Facebook or Twitter and other elements aimed at encouraging a robust voter turnout.

Mahalo for supporting this effort to increase voter registration in the Islands.

Making higher education more accessible for those in rural communities like the Wai`anae Coast will go a long way toward addressing our high teacher turnover, lack of medical professionals, lack of social workers, lack of entrepeneurialism, etc. on this Coast. Encouraging high tech jobs such as film and TV training is the perfect fit for an area like the Wai`anae Coast, where Searider Productions and Makaha Studios were born. I would definitely encourage LCCW and UHWO to continue to stop the “brain drain” to help our economy overall.

On ERS and EUTF

On EUTF and ERS

Senate District 10

As the state’s premier institution of higher learning, the University of Hawaii is training the next generation of business, nonprofit, community, and public leaders, as it should. This role of University of Hawaii and its community colleges is critical in empowering our citizens in the knowledge-based global economy, and is an economic engine of its own. I will do whatever I can to ensure and enhance the success of the University of Hawaii and all its campuses.