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Senator Feinstein’s Accomplishments
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| - Public Laws- Northridge Earthquake - Provided $11 billion in federal disaster relief funds to help tens of thousands of victims of the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. (Advocated inclusion in Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill – H.R. 3759; P.L. 103-211, 2/12/94) Assault Weapons Ban - Fought the gun lobby and won passage of a landmark ban on the manufacture and sale of 19 types of military-style assault weapons, including UZIs and AK-47s. (Sponsor – S.Amdt.1152 to S.1607, the Crime Bill; P.L. 103-322, 9/13/94) Hate Crimes Sentencing Act - Established new penalties for hate crimes based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability or sexual orientation. (Sponsor - S.1522, added as an amendment to the Crime Bill, S.1607; P.L. 103-322, 9/13/94) Death Penalty/Carjacking - Permitted prosecutors to seek the death penalty for carjackers who cause death in the course of their crime. (Sponsor - Senate Amendment to the Crime Bill, S.1607; P.L. 103-322, 9/13/94) The Small Business Defense Conversion Guarantee Act - Provided $50 million in loan guarantee assistance, permitting small businesses to leverage $2 billion in private loans and create jobs in areas hard hit by defense downsizing. (Sponsor – S.1830, altered and offered as amendment to Defense Authorization Act, S.2182; P.L. 103-337, 10/5/94) Gun Free Schools Act - Set a "zero-tolerance" policy to keep America's schools gun-free by requiring all public schools to expel students who carry a gun to school. (Cosponsor with Senator Byron Dorgan - S.854, included in S.1513 Elementary and Secondary Education Reauthorization Act, 10/22/94) California Desert Protection Act - Protected more than 7 million acres of pristine California desert – the largest such designation in the history of the continental United States – and established the Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks and the East Mojave Natural Preserve. (Sponsor - S.21; P.L. 103-433, 10/31/94) - Public Laws - Ryan White CARE Act Reauthorization/Omnibus Appropriations Bill -Increased Ryan White AIDS funding from $757 million in 1996 to $998 in 1997 and made funds available to more California cities. (Cosponsor - S.641; P.L. 104-146, 5/20/96) Amber Hagerman Child Protection Act - Cracked down on those who commit sex offenses against children by establishing two strikes and you’re out provision and by expanding federal jurisdiction to cover cases where the offender crosses state lines with intent to commit the offense. (Sponsor - S.1985, amended into Child Pornography Prevention Act and incorporated into Omnibus Appropriations Act, signed into law 9/30/96) Burma Sanctions - Established U.S. sanctions policy toward Burma, requiring the President to ban new investment by U.S. firms in Burma if it is determined that the Government of Burma has physically harmed, rearrested or exiled human rights activist Aung San Suu Kyi or committed large-scale repression or violence against the Democratic opposition. (Original cosponsor with Senator William Cohen – S.Amdt.5019 to H.R.3540, folded into H.R.3610; P.L. 104-208, 9/30/96) Comprehensive Methamphetamine Control Act - Established new controls over the manufacture of methamphetamine and increased the criminal penalties for possession and distribution of this highly addictive narcotic that has reached epidemic proportions in California. (Original cosponsor - S.1700; P.L. 104-237, 10/3/96) - Significant Negotiations - Medicaid - 115 Waiver for Los Angeles County - With LA County’s public health system on the verge of collapse, helped convince Department of Health and Human Services to provide $550 million in Medicaid funds. (Urged HHS to work with Los AngelesCounty) - Public Laws - Restoring Benefits for Elderly Legal Immigrants - Spearheaded successful bipartisan effort to restores some of the important benefits that were unfairly eliminated by the 1996 Welfare Reform law, including Supplemental Security Income. (Sponsor - S.392, folded into H.R. 2015; P.L.105-33, 8/5/97) The Breast Cancer Research Stamp - Raised more than $50 million (as of Sept. 2006) for breast cancer research through the creation of the Breast Cancer Research Stamp, the first such postal stamp dedicated to raising funds to fight a disease. (Sponsor - S.726, folded into H.R.1585; P.L. 105-41, 8/13/97) Hotline for Disease Research - Directed the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health to establish a toll-free number to help people with life-threatening diseases and the medical community learn about important new research and clinical trials. Now can be reached at www.clinicaltrials.gov. (Sponsor - S.87, amended into S.830, the FDA bill; P.L. 105-115, 11/21/97) The Headwaters Forest Agreement - Secured $250 million in federal funds to match state funding and purchase the 7,500 acre Headwaters Forest, a national treasure and the largest privately held stand of uncut old-growth redwoods. The agreement also helped preserve 12 additional groves of ancient redwood trees and provided strong protections for the endangered marbled murrelet and coho salmon. (Advocated inclusion of funding in FY’98 Interior Appropriations Bill, H.R.2107; P.L. 105-83, 12/15/97; Supported AB1986, California legislation to provide matching funds; worked closely with all sides to make the agreement happen by the March 1, 1999 cut-off date) Preparing More Teachers - Expanded teacher training opportunities by providing Pell college grants to needy students enrolled in a fifth year of college, which is required in California to obtain a teaching credential. (Sponsor - Amendment to S.1882, folded into H.R.6; P.L.105-255, 10/7/98) Breast Reconstruction Surgery - Required health insurance plans to pay for breast reconstruction surgery following mastectomies. (Cosponsor, S.249, portions of which were amended into the Omnibus Appropriations Bill, H.R.4328; P.L. 105-277, 10/21/98) Quincy Library Group - Established pilot timber management plan as proposed by the Quincy Library Group, a coalition of local environmentalists, timber industry representatives and local elected Northern California officials to help battle the danger of wildfires by establishing firebreaks in dense areas of the Lassen, Plumas and Tahoe National Forests and protect the California Spotted Owl and other endangered species. (Sponsor - S.1028, included in H.R.4328; P.L. 105-277, 10/21/98) Extending Pell Grant Aid to Teaching Students - Provided the Education Secretary with discretionary authority to extend, on a case-by-case basis, Pell Grant aid to teaching students enrolled in graduate courses required by State law for teacher certification. (Sponsor, folded into S.1882; P.L. 105-277, 10/21/98) Screening Mammograms for Woman – Required insurance plans to cover screening mammograms for women 40 years and older. (Sponsor, included as an amendment to the Balanced Budget Act of 1997; P.L. 105-277, 10/21/98) President's Executive Order to Stop Import of Assault Weapons - Helped block over 1.8 million of these guns from being sold on our streets by helping to convince President Clinton to sign an executive order to stop 59 types of cosmetically adjusted assault weapons from coming into the nation. (Requested President to issue executive order regarding assault weapons as defined in USC 18 925(d)3.) - Public Laws - Y2K - Limited the potential flood of frivolous lawsuits stemming from the Year 2000 computer problem, which was critical to California, where over 20 percent of the nation’s high tech jobs are located. (Original cosponsor – S.96, merged with S.461, folded into H.R.775; P.L.106-37, 7/20/99) Bombmaking - Made it a federal crime to teach or distribute information on how to make a bomb or other weapon of mass destruction if the distributor intends that the information be used to commit a federal violent crime or knows that the recipient intends to use the information to commit a federal violent crime. (Original sponsor - S.606; P.L. 106-54, 8/17/99) MTBE - Underground Tanks - Directed the Environmental Protection Agency to give a high priority to enforcing safety regulations to help stem leaks of contaminants such as MTBE from underground tanks. (Senate amendment to FY’00 EPA Appropriations Bill; P.L. 106-74, 10/20/99) Citrus Freeze - Emergency Supplemental Appropriations/Agricultural Appropriations - Provided $20 million in assistance for seasonal and migrant workers who lost their jobs due to the devastating freeze in December 1998 and directed the USDA to provide at least $90 million for citrus growers who did not receive 1998 disaster assistance. (Advocated inclusion of funding, H.R.1906; P.L.106-78, 10/22/99) California Desert - Secured $15 million in federal funding, with a commitment for another $15 million in fiscal year 2001 to complete the public-private purchase of over 437,000 acres of pristine California desert habitat and help preserve the endangered desert tortoise and other wildlife. (Advocated inclusion in H.R.3194, FY’00 Interior Appropriations Bill; P.L. 106-113, 11/29/99) Education - Title I Funding - Helped lead effort to provide $8.68 billion in Title I funds for low-income students nationwide, a hike of $265 million; with $1.18 billion going to California, an increase of $38 million from FY 1999. Bill also included Feinstein amendment to direct Department of Education not to apply the Title 1 “hold harmless” provision to other programs, which costs California tens of millions of dollars a year. (Senate Amendment to FY’00 Omnibus Appropriations Act, H.R.3194; P.L. 106-113, 11/29/99) Child Support Penalty Fairness Act - Remedies flaw in federal child support laws that could have cost CA $4 billion annually. (Sponsor – S.1033, incorporated into the FY’00 Omnibus Appropriation Act, H.R.3194; P.L.106-113, 11/29/99) Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act - Enabled the United States to block and seize assets of narcotics traffickers who pose threats to the nation’s security, foreign policy and economy. (Cosponsor with Senator Paul Coverdell - S.1171, Senate amendment to the Intelligence Appropriations Act; P.L. 106-120, 12/3/99) Otay Mountain Wilderness Act- Preserved 18,500 acres of the Otay Mountain region, located near the U.S.-Mexico border, in eastern San Diego County. This mountain area is home to twenty sensitive plant and animal species, including the endangered quino checkerspot butterfly, the only known stand of Tecate cypress, as well as the only known population of the Mexican flannel bush. (Sponsor - S.848; P.L. 106-145, 12/9/99) Airplane Cabin Air Quality - Directed the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a year-long, independent study of the air quality on commercial airline flights. (Sponsor – S.Amdt.1911 to the FAA Reauthorization Bill, (S.82, H.R.1000); P.L. 106-181, 4/5/00) Social Securities Earnings - Allowed Americans who want to keep working once they turn 65 to collect their full Social Security benefits no matter how much money they earn. (Cosponsor – S.2074. Congress approved the companion House bill, H.R.5; P.L. 106-182, 4/7/00). Joseph Ileto Post Office - Named the U.S. Post Office in Chino Hills after Joseph Ileto, the Filipino-American postal worker shot and killed by a gunman on a hate-filled rampage in the San Fernando Valley in August 1999. (Sponsor - S.1964; P.L. 106-184, 4/14/00) Medication to Combat AIDS in Africa- Helped to make low-cost medicine available to battle the raging AIDS/HIV epidemic in Africa -- where over 34 million have been infected and over 11 million killed -- by permitting compulsory licensing and parallel important of low-cost generic AIDS drugs for nations that have been ravaged by the disease. (Sponsor – S.Amdt.2355 to H.R.434, approved on 10/28/99; subsequently deleted by Conference Committee, but instituted by Presidential Executive Order at Senator Feinstein’s urging on 5/03/00) Immigration Services and Infrastructure Improvement Act - Provided the Immigration and Naturalization Service ( INS) with the resources to help eliminate the current backlog in naturalization, adjustments of status, and visa applications, and established new accountability measures. (Sponsor – S.2586, incorporated into S.4025, the H-1B Visa legislation; P.L. 106-313, 5/18/00) Science and Math Education - Provided funds for science and math education, including $46 million annually for three years for National Science Foundation K-12 math and science education and skills development programs, and $70 million annually for three years for post-secondary scholarships for low-income students in science, math or other high-tech areas. The funds come from H-1B visa fees and will be matched by the high-technology industry. (Amendment to S.4025, HI-B Visa legislation; P.L. 106-313-, 5/18/00) Charles Schulz - Posthumously honored Peanuts Creator Charles Schulz with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award. (Sponsor - S.2060; P.L. 106-225, 6/20/00, Great Rotunda Ceremony 6/07/01) Breast Cancer Research Stamp Reauthorization Act - Amended the Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act to continue authorization for the Breast Cancer Research stamp, which has raised more than $50 million (as of Sept. 2006), for another two years. (Sponsor - S.2386, folded into HR4437; P.L. 106-253, 7/28/00) Golden Gate National Recreation Area - Added nearly 1,300 acres of undeveloped land in Pacifica, Marin County and San Francisco to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, thereby protecting some of the most beautiful vistas, sweeping coastal views and unique ecosystems in the nation. (Sponsor - S.2051; P.L. 106-350, 10/05/00) Rosie the Riveter - World War II Home Front National Historic Park Act - Commemorated the women workers who made major contributions to the Second World War effort by mobilizing to fill the gap created by men who left their jobs for active military duty. (Sponsor - S.2294; P.L. 106-352, 10/05/00) Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Act - Designated 272,000 acres of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains as a national monument. (Sponsor - S.2784; P.L. 106-351, 10/05/00) Immigration Services and Infrastructure Improvements – Authorized the Attorney General to take necessary steps to: (1) reduce the immigration backlog; and (2) make infrastructure improvements to effectively provide immigration services. Authorized appropriations and set forth related reporting requirements. (Sponsor - S.4265, incorporated as an amendment to the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act; P.L. 106-313, 10/17/00) Lake Tahoe Restoration Act – Helped to preserve this treasured natural resource by authorizing $300 million in federal funds over 10 years to match investments by the States of California and Nevada and local authorities and help reverse the environmental emergency that is threatening the future of the lake and forest. (Sponsor - S.1925; P.L. 106-506, 10/27/00) National Police Athletic League Youth Enrichment Act – Authorized Justice Department to grant $16 million annually for five years to police after-school programs to reduce crime and drug use. (Lead cosponsor – S.1874, House companion bill H.R. 3235 approved by Senate; P.L. 106-367, 10/27/00) Terrorism victims – Improved the ability of the Justice Department’s Office for Victims of Crime to provide immediate and effective assistance to victims of terrorism abroad. (Lead cosponsor, amendment included in Conference Report for Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000; P.L.106-386, 10/28/00) Methamphetamine Enforcement – Fought the growing scourge of the highly addictive drug methamphetamine authorizing the hire of more Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents and imposing harsher penalties on manufacturers of illegal drugs. (Cosponsor – S.486, introduced by Senator John Ashcroft, approved by Senate 11/19/99, and folded into the Children’s Health Act of 2000; P.L. 106-310, 11/17/00) Japanese Imperial Army Disclosure Act - Required the full disclosure of classified records and documents in the possession of the U.S. government regarding the activity of the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. (Sponsor, incorporated into the FY’01 Intelligence Authorization Act, 12/27/00) - Significant Negotiations - Medicaid - 115 Waiver for Los Angeles County - Helped forge an agreement with the Los Angeles County, the State of California and the Health and Human Services Department to grant the County a Medicaid waiver that will help stabilize health care services for millions of County residents and avoid cuts in services and serious layoffs. (Agreement reached 6/27/00) - Public Laws - Justice for Victims of Pan Am 103 – Expressed the Sense of the Senate that Libya must pay compensation to the families of the victims of Pan Am 103 and end support for international terrorism before multilateral sanctions are lifted (Sponsor – S.Con.Res. 23, approved by the Senate 4/6/01) Enhanced Intelligence Community & FBI Cooperation – Advocated the “significant purpose” language in the USA Patriot Act that began to break down the wall between intelligence and law enforcement investigations that, in part, prevented the government from stopping the 9/11 attack. (P.L. 107-56, 10/26/01) Julian C. Dixon Post Office – Redesignated a United States Postal Service facility in Los Angeles, California, as the “Congressmen Julian C. Dixon Post Office Building.” (Sponsor – S.1381; P.L. 107-88, 12/18/01) Master Teachers – Created demonstration grant program to help school districts establish master teacher positions as a way of retain qualified teachers who could help train other teachers. (Sponsor – S.120, incorporated as an amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Reauthorization Bill; P.L. 107-110, 1/8/02) Small Schools – Authorized $5 billion over five years for grants to local school districts to construct new schools of no more than 500 elementary students, 750 junior high students or 1,500 high school students. (Sponsor – S.308, incorporated as an amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Reauthorization Bill; P.L. 107-110, 1/8/02) Teacher Technology Training – Authorized $100 million to state education departments for grants to local school districts to train teachers in how to use technology in the classroom. (Sponsor – S.307, incorporated as an amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Reauthorization Bill; P.L. 107-110, 1/8/02) Title I Funds for Educating Disadvantaged Students – Directed that these funds only be used to improve academic achievement and helping students meet state achievement standards. (Sponsor – S.309, incorporated as an amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Reauthorization Bill; P.L. 107-110. 1/8/02) Campaign Finance Reform Contribution Limits – Led fight for a compromise bipartisan amendment, which helped win passage of the McCain-Feingold campaign reform bill, by linking the ban on unregulated “soft money” to an increase in regulated contributions to individuals from $1,000 per election cycle to $2,000. (Incorporated as amendment to S.27, Campaign Finance Reform measure; P.L. 107-155, 3/27/02) Border Security and Visa Entry Reform– Helped prevent terrorists from entering the United States through loopholes in our immigration system. Highlights included mandating an interoperable law enforcement and intelligence data system to provide immigration and law enforcement authorities immediate access to relevant crime and intelligence information on foreign nationals; reformed the visa waiver program and mandated the development of tamper-resistant, biometric visas, passports and other travel documents; and reformed the foreign student visa program, requiring that a tracking system be implemented by January 2003; and required more extensive background checks for foreign nationals. (Sponsor – S.1627, incorporated into the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act; P.L. 107-173, 5/14/02) International Affairs Budget – Expressed the Sense of the Senate that “if we are to win the war against terrorism and provide peace and security for all Americans,” the U.S. should increase foreign assistance spending by at least 25 percent for the next five years, with the goal of reaching an amount equal to or exceeding 3 percent of the federal budget. (Sponsor – S.Res.182, approved by the Senate on 6/4/02) Deadly Biological Agent Control Act – Established new strict controls for labs and individuals handling anthrax, small pox, and more than 30 dangerous biological agents and toxins: required registration and background checks for anyone seeking to possess deadly agents; established penalties for lacking such registration; required that the list of dangerous agents be reviewed every two years; and established a national database on the location and characterization of deadly biological agents. (Sponsor – S.1661. Folded into a larger bioterrorism bill, the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Response Act ; P.L.107-188, 6/12/02) Ban on Corporate Loans – Prevented public companies from issuing loans to executive officers of that company. The bill included a limited exemption which allows for companies which are in the banking/credit business to provide standard loans to their executives. (Cosponsored with Senator Charles Schumer as an amendment to the Public Company Accounting Reform and Investor Protection Act; P.L. 107-204, 7/30/02) Child Status Protection Act – Permitted qualified child beneficiaries (children of U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, refugees and asylees) who filed timely immigration and naturalization applications to retain their eligibility for a visa after they have turned 21. (Sponsor – S.672; P.L. 107-208, 8/6/02) Tibet Policy Act – For thefirst time, laid out U.S. policy toward Tibet and authorized $2.75 million for humanitarian assistance for the Tibetan people; also codified the position of Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues at the State Department; protected Tibetan culture and heritage; and encouraged dialogue between the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government. (Sponsor - S.852 with Senator Thomas, folded into FY’03 Foreign Relations Authorization Act; P.L. 107-228, 9/30/02) Small Arms/Light Weapons Amendment – Strengthened the notification and reporting requirements for sales of small arms and light weapons. At the time, those seeking to export small arms and light weapons had to report any transaction greater than $14 million to Congress; with the law’s passage, exporters are required to notify Congress when the sale exceeds $1 million. (Sponsor – S.1555, incorporated intothe Nonproliferation Assistance Coordination Act of 2001; P.L. 107-228, 9/30/02) Nat King Cole Post Office – Redesignated a U.S. Postal facility in Los Angeles, California, as the “Nat King Cole Post Office.” (Sponsor - S.2929, P.L. 107-271, 10/30/02) State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) Reauthorization – Amended the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize annually $750 million in appropriations for fiscal years 2002 through 2006 to carry out the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP). As part of the effort to secure reauthorization, Senator Feinstein successfully fought off efforts by the Bush Administration to eliminate the SCAAP program altogether. (Sponsor – S.862, incorporated as an amendment to the FY’02 Department of Justice Authorization Act; P.L. 107-273, 11/2/02) James Guelff and Chris McCurley Body Armor Act – Offered in honor of James Guelff, a San Francisco police officer killed in 1994 by an assailant wearing body armor, the bill enhanced criminal penalties against individuals who commit crimes wearing body armor, prohibited violent felons from obtaining body armor, and allowed Federal agencies to distribute surplus body armor to State and local law enforcement. (Sponsor – S.166, incorporated as an amendment to the Department of Justice Authorization Act; P.L. 107-273, 11/2/02) Southwestern Border Judgeship Act – Authorized new permanent judgeships, including five for the Southern District of California, where serious backlogs were caused by a shortage of judges. (Sponsor – S.147, incorporated as an amendment to the Department of Justice Authorization Act; P.L. 107-273, 11/2/02) Chick Hearn Post Office – Designated a U.S. Postal Service facility in Encino, California, as the “Francis Dayle ‘Chick’ Hearn Post Office.” (Sponsor –S.2931, P.L. 107-286, 11/6/02) Breast Cancer Research Stamp – Authorized U.S. Postal Service to continue selling for at least two more years the Breast Cancer Research Stamp. (Sponsor, Amendment to the FY 2002 Treasury-Postal Appropriations Bill; P.L. 107-67, 11/12/02.) (As of September 2006, the stamp has raised more than $50 million for breast cancer research since it was begun in 1998) Created Terrorist Watchlist Capability – Required a terrorist watch-listing capability and the creation of the National Virtual Translation Center. (Incorporated into the Intelligence Authorization Act for FY 2003; P.L. 107-306, 11/27/02) National AMBER Alert Network Act – Created the nationwide AMBER Alert communications network that helps law enforcement find abducted children. After the original bill stalled in Congress, Senators Feinstein and Kay Bailey Hutchinson spurred President Bush to implement core pieces of the legislation by Executive Order. (Original sponsor with Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison - S.121, folded into the Child Abduction Protection Act; P.L. 108-21, 4/30/03) - Significant Negotiations - Just and Reasonable Electricity Rates – With the electricity rates skyrocketing because of market manipulation during the California energy crisis, Senator Feinstein lobbied the President, other members of Congress and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to cap electricity and natural gas rates. She also introduced S.26, which would have authorized the Department of Energy to impose price caps, S.287, to direct FERC to impose cost of service based rates on electricity and S.764 to give FERC the choice of either price caps based on demand or cost of service rates. While the bills did not come up for a vote, Senator Feinstein was finally successful in convincing FERC, after new commissioners were sworn in, to impose price caps on their own. San Francisco Bay Salt Ponds Restoration – Helped to negotiate the purchase of 16,500 acres of salt ponds from Cargill along the San Francisco Bay and Napa River – the largest such wetlands restoration project in California history – through an unprecedented public-private partnership (including $35 million from the Hewlett, Moore and Packard Foundations and the Goldman Fund). (Deal brokered on 5/29/02, and sale completed on 3/13/03) Cadiz – Though legislative action and negotiations with the Metropolitan Water District, Senator Feinstein helped to fend off efforts by Cadiz to store water in the desert aquifer and sell it to Southern California. Senator Feinstein believed the project would have adversely affected the future of the California Desert by possibly depleting critical water sources for fragile desert wildlife. (MWD rejected the Cadiz proposal in October 2002) - Public Laws - Total Information Awareness Amendment- Limited the scope of the Defense Department's Total Information Awareness (TIA) project and prevented it from being used to invade Americans' privacy and civil liberties. (Sponsored amendment with Senator Ron Wyden, was approved by a Senate voice vote and incorporated in the FY 2003 Omnibus Appropriations Bill; P.L. 108-7, 2/20/03) National “Do Not Call" Telemarketing List - Authorized the Federal Trade Commission to establish a national “Do Not Call” telemarketing registry. (Cosponsored with Senators John Ensign, Mike DeWine and others; P.L. 108-10, 3/11/03) Interoperable Communications – Secured $109 million to help police and firefighters obtain communications systems that function between agencies during times of crisis. (Advocated inclusion in War and Homeland Security Supp lemental Appropriations Conference Committee Report; P.L. 108-106, 11/6/03) Lake Tahoe Restoration – Provided authorization to fully fund the federal share of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act from 2004 through 2011 from sales of federal land, amounting to $30 million per year. (Sponsored with Senators John Ensign and Harry Reid, folded into the FY 2004 Interior Appropriations bill; P.L. 108-108, 11/10/03) Overseas Military Facility Structure Review Act– Established a Congressional panel to conduct a detailed study of United States military facilities overseas, consider the advisability of closing any installations overseas, and provide recommendations for a comprehensive overseas basing strategy. (Sponsored with Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison - S.Amdt.3661, folded into FY’04 Military Construction appropriations; P.L. 108-132, 11/22/03) Fighting Wildfires
Aircraft Cabin Air Quality Improvement – Provided for a study of cabin air pressure and altitude effects, established a new air quality reporting system, and required the FAA to monitor ozone levels on a representative number of flights, collect pesticide exposure data, and analyze sample from aircraft ventilation ducts to identify contaminants. (An amendment to the FAA Reauthorization Bill; P.L. 108-176, 12/23/03) Breast Cancer Research Stamp – Authorized U.S. Postal Service to continue selling for at least two more years the Breast Cancer Research Stamp, which has generated more than $50 million for breast cancer research since it was begun in 1998 (since Sept. 2006). (Sponsor – S.2000, incorporated as an amendment to the FY’04 Omnibus Appropriations Bill; P.L. 108-199, 1/23/04) DC Scholarship Program – Established educational scholarships in a five-year pilot program for 2,000 students in troubled public schools in Washington, DC, and boosted funding for other charter schools and public school programs in the city. (Sponsor – S.Amdt.1783 to FY’04 Omnibus Appropriations bill; P.L. 108-199, 1/23/04) Improving Irvine Basin's Water Supply – Authorized funds for three projects to improve water quality and increase water supply in the Irvine Basin. (Sponsor – S.649; P.L. 108-233, 5/28/04) Economic Sanctions Against Burma – Renewed economic sanctions against Burma, first imposed in 2003 as part of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act, which is designed to encourage Burma to improve its record on democracy and human rights. (Sponsor - S.J.Res.36, S.J.Res.39 and H.J.Res.97; P.L.108-272, 7/7/04) Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act – Increased penalties on those who commit identity theft and made it easier for prosecutors to target identity thieves who steal for the purpose of committing the most serious crimes, including terrorism. (Sponsor - S.153; P.L. 108-275, 7/15/04) Urging Iran to Halt its Nuclear Weapons Program – Called on Iran to cease its efforts to produce nuclear weapons and come into compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and other international obligations. (Sponsor - S.Con.Res.73; Approved by Senate 7/22/04) Tribal Forest Protection Act – Allowed Native American tribes to thin brush and small trees on federal lands adjacent to their reservations to help prevent the spread of wildfires consistent with the Health Forests law. (Sponsor - S.2134; P.L. 108-278, 7/22/04) Cleaning up Perchlorate Contamination:
CALFED (Water Supply Reliability and Environmental Improvement Act) – Authorized $395 million for a balanced program to increase California's water supply, reliability and quality and help restore sensitive water ecosystems. (Sponsor - S.1097; P.L. 108-361, 10/25/04) Global Clean-up Act – Created a single, integrated U.S. government program with a defined budget and resources to facilitate the removal of weapons-usable nuclear materials where the material is susceptible to be stolen or obtained by terrorists. (Sponsor - S.3192, amended to H.R.4200; P.L. 108-375, 10/28/04) Safeguarding Nuclear Weapons Materials – Created a single, integrated U.S. government program, with a defined budget and resources, to facilitate the removal of these materials. (Sponsor – S.2310, folded into FY’05 Defense Appropriations bill; P.L. 108-375, 10/28/04) Crime Victims Right Act(Justice for All Act)– Gave victims of violent crime a core set of procedural rights under federal law and ensuring that they have standing to assert their rights before a court. (Sponsor – S.2329 with Senator Jon Kyl; P.L. 108-405, 10/30/04) Internet Access Tax Moratorium – Worked with more than 150 California cities to ensure that a moratorium on new internet taxes protected cities and counties by allowing these jurisdictions could continue raising funds through existing taxes on telephone service. (Cosponsor; P.L. 108-435, 12/3/04) Intelligence Community Leadership Act– Created the position of Director of National intelligence to oversee the nation's intelligence community, set priorities and give direction to the 15 intelligence agencies. (Sponsor – S.190, which, after the release of the 9/11 Commission report, had its major points incorporated into S.2845; P.L. 108-458, 12/17/04) Specialty Crop Competitiveness Act – Successfully advocated using block grants to enhance competitiveness of five American specialty crops, including wheat, grain, corn, rice and cotton. (P.L. 108-465, 12/21/04) - Significant Negotiations - California Desert Inholdings- Spearheaded efforts by Wildlands Conservancy to purchase more than 467,000 acres of the Mojave Desert for preservation and public recreational use, culminating a long process to preserve and protect one of North America's great natural treasures - the 7.7 million acres of California desert. (The latest 62,000 acres were purchased from Catellus by the Wildlands Conservancy in February 2003) Colorado River Water Agreement - Offered guidance and direction during negotiations that reached an agreement to ensure stability of California 's water supply as the State gradually reduces use of the Colorado River down to the allotted 4.4 million acre feet and provide up to $320 million to begin to restore the Salton Sea. (Agreement signed by Governor Gray Davis on 09/29/03) - Public Laws - Artists’ Rights and Theft Prevention Act– Makes it illegal to create unauthorized recordings of motion pictures in a movie theater or any other public motion picture exhibition facility and post pre-released versions of movies, music, software, or other copyrighted works on the Internet. (Sponsor – S.104, introduced with Senator John Cornyn, 1/25/05. Incorporated into the Family Entertainment and Copyright Act, also cosponsored by Senator Feinstein, which was signed into law on 4/27/05 as P.L. 109-9) Robert T. Matsui Courthouse - Designated the United States Courthouse in Sacramento, California, as the Robert T. Matsui United States Courthouse. (S.125, Cosponsored with Senator Barbara Boxer; P.L. 109-10, 4/29/05 ) Ban on Energy Marketplace Manipulation – Created a broad ban on manipulation in the energy markets; a ban on traders who manipulated the natural gas or the electricity markets from ever trading in energy markets again; and provided a waiver so that California does not have to use ethanol during the summertime. (Incorporated into the Energy Policy Act of 2005;P.L. 109-58, 8/8/05) Allowing hybrid vehicles in the HOV lanes – Amended Federal highway law to authorize a State to permit a low-emission vehicle or hybrid vehicle with fewer than two occupants to operate in high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. (Sponsor – S.553, incorporated into the Transportation Reauthorization Bill; P.L. 109-59, 8/10/05) Breast Cancer Research Stamp– Extended the Breast Cancer Research Stamp for another two years after it had already raised more than $50 million (as of Sept. 2006). (Sponsor – S.37; P.L. 109-100, 11/11/05) Angel Island– Authorizes $15 million for the preservation and restoration of the Angel Island Immigration Station in San Francisco Bay, the “ Ellis Island of the West,” or the entry point for over 1 million immigrants from 1910-1940. (Sponsor – S. 262; P.L. 109-119, 12/1/05) National Parks and Recreation(P.L. 109-131, 12/20/2005)
Youth Conservation Corps – Allowed existing youth land corps to work on hazardous fuels reduction and disaster prevention and relief projects. (Sponsored with Senators Pete Domenici, Jeff Bingaman, and James Jeffords – S. 1239; P.L. 109-154, 12/30/05) Reimbursing States for Incarcerating Criminal Illegal Immigrants – Authorized increased federal funding to reimburse states and local governments for the costs of incarcerating illegal criminal aliens. (Sponsored with Senator Jon Kyl, and incorporated into the Violence Against Women Act, which Senator Feinstein also co-sponsored. The bill was later incorporated into the larger Department of Justice Reauthorization Act; P.L. 109-162, 1/5/06) Combat Meth Act – Restricted the sale of products necessary to cook methamphetamine and authorized $585 million for enforcement, training, and research into meth treatment. (Sponsor with Senator Jim Talent, incorporated into the USA-Patriot Act Reauthorization; P.L. 109-177, 3/9/06) Reducing Crime and Terrorism at America’s Seaports Act – Increased security at our nation’s ports by making it a crime to use a vessel to smuggle terrorists or dangerous materials into the U.S., imposed stiff criminal penalties for providing false information to a federal law enforcement officer at a port or on a vessel, and doubled the sentence of anyone who fraudulently gains access to a seaport. (Cosponsor, incorporated into the USA-Patriot Act Reauthorization; P.L. 109-177, 3/9/06) Milk Regulatory Equity Act – Closed a loophole in federal dairy policy and eliminated unfair competition for California producers and processors.The loophole previously allowed out-of-state interests to sell milk in California at prices less than they would be able to charge if there sales were in their own state. (Cosponsored with Senators Harry Reid and Jon Kyl; P.L. 109-215, 4/11/06) Commemorative Coins to Honor San Francisco’s Old Mint – Authorized the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 100,000 Five Dollar gold coins and up to 500,000 One Dollar silver coins commemorating the San Francisco Old Mint Building and its importance to California; proceeds generated from the sale of these commemorative coins will be paid to the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society for the restoration of the Old Mint Building. (Sponsor with Senators Barbara Boxer and John Ensign – S.1881; P.L. 109-230, 6/15/06) Advanced Procurement of C-17s – Helped secure funding for the procurement of 22 new C-17 aircraft in the FY’07 Department of Defense Authorization bill. (The Senate version of the Appropriations bill had fully funded the procurement of 12 C-17 transport aircraft in the FY’07 Defense Appropriations bill, which were requested by the Pentagon, along with an additional three C-17s as part of the $50 billion “bridge fund” for combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The final House-Senate Conference Report included funding for an additional seven C-17s in the bridge fund.) Reauthorization of Trade Sanctions Against Burma – Renewed economic sanctions on Burma – contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 – including the ban of all imports from that nation until it improves its record on democracy and human rights. (S.J.Res.38, Cosponsored with Senators Mitch McConnell et al; P.L. 109-251, 8/1/06) - Significant Negotiations - BRAC – Worked with the Governor and other California and local officials to ensure that the brunt of base closures did not fall on California, as it did in past rounds. The BRAC Commission’s final recommendations resulted in a net loss of no more than 2,000 California jobs. The Commission also decided not to close or move the Naval Postgraduate School or the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. (8/25/05) Preserving Mt. Soledad monument – Helped preserve the Mt. Soledad Veterans Monument by transferring ownership of the land from the City of San Diego to the Federal government. (Senators Feinstein and Barbara Boxer led the effort to have the House bill, H.R.5683, approved by the Senate by unanimous consent, which occurred on 8/1/06) Tule Lake World War II Internment Camp – Urged Interior Department to designate the Tule Lake Segregation Center site as a National Historic Landmark to honor Japanese-Americans who were interned during World War II. (Interior Secretary Gale Norton approved the designation on 2/17/06) San Joaquin River/Friant Dam Settlement – Worked with Congressman Radanovich to develop a framework to restore the San Joaquin River in a manner that would provide water supply certainty to the Friant farmers who depend on San Joaquin River water. |
