September 2004

Welcome to the September edition of my Washington Report. I hope this newsletter keeps you informed about some of the important matters facing our State, our Nation, and the U.S. Senate.

In this edition, I'll be addressing several of the major issues that have been in the news lately, including:

• Assault weapons ban to expire Monday
• New momentum on intelligence reform
• Slowing the spread of Indian casinos in California
• Stem cell petition update

If you have any comments or questions on these or any other issues, please don't hesitate to let me know. I also welcome your feedback on this newsletter and suggestions about ways in which I can better communicate with my constituents.

Please send any comments you have through my website.

Best wishes,

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein

Assault weapons ban to expire Monday
Ten years ago, President Bill Clinton and the U.S. Congress courageously stood up to one of the most powerful interest groups in American politics -- the National Rifle Association -- to pass the federal assault weapons ban. But on Monday, this landmark law will be wiped off the books. This means that weapons like the AK-47, TEC DC-9, and the Street Sweeper, which have been banned for 10 years, will once again be allowed to be manufactured and imported into this country, putting our communities and our law enforcement officers at grave risk.

Just last month, two alleged gang members used an AK-47 to savagely gun down an off-duty police officer just west of Compton, California early in the morning of August 10. Los Angeles County Police Captain Michael Sparkes, 53, was on an early morning bicycle ride when the alleged gang members attempted to rob him. Captain Sparkes, who valiantly tried to defend himself, died later at the hospital where he supervised a security force of 20 sworn and 100 private officers. He is survived by his wife, two children, and two grandchildren.

Every major law enforcement organization and chiefs of police from across the country support renewal of the ban because they know the ban saves lives. In fact, the proportion of banned assault weapons traced to crimes has dropped by 65.8% since 1995, according to Justice Department data. Further, law enforcement leaders recognize that they are in much greater danger with more of these weapons on the streets. The Violence Policy Center reports that one out of every five cops killed in the line of duty between 1998 and 2001 was killed with an assault weapon.

So, unless the President and the House leadership find the courage to stand up to the NRA, the ban will sunset on September 13. But supporters of the ban will not be dissuaded. We will come back again and again and again until the ban is reinstated and, hopefully, made even stronger.

To read my floor speech urging President Bush to help renew the ban, please go to: Senator Feinstein Calls on President Bush to Take Active Role in Effort to Renew Federal Assault Weapons Ban (9/8/04)

New momentum on intelligence reform
The intelligence failures leading up to 9/11 and regarding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq demonstrate the urgent need to reform our intelligence community. It is imperative that we move ahead and establish new, meaningful leadership for our entire intelligence community and substantially improve the collection and analysis of intelligence to help carry out the war against non-state, asymmetric terrorism.

The recent 9/11 Commission Report and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Report on pre-Iraq war intelligence are a wake-up call for action to reform our nation’s intelligence community. I am also pleased that President Bush has announced support for the creation of a Director of National Intelligence. As Congress moves ahead with this proposal, we must ensure that this new position is provided with the budgetary, statutory and personnel authority to truly manage our nation’s 15 intelligence agencies and keep our Nation safe.

To view some of my recent statements regarding intelligence issues, please go to: Statement by Senator Feinstein on Roberts' Intelligence Reform Proposal (8/23/04)

Statement by Senator Feinstein on Nomination of
Representative Porter Goss as new CIA Director (8/10/04)

Statement by U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein on President Bush’s Call for a Director of National Intelligence (8/2/04)

Slowing the growth of Indian casinos in California
Indian gaming in California has grown enormously in recent years. Since the State approved gaming compacts in September 1999, the number of casinos offering Nevada-style gambling has increased from 39 to 54, while revenues have grown from a few hundred million dollars to approximately $5 billion annually. These numbers will only increase as eleven Tribes with compacts, but without casinos, proceed with their casino development plans.

At some point, Californians are going to have to come to grips with the impact of the tremendous growth of gambling in our State, without sufficient oversight and regulatory authority. I strongly oppose the recent agreement reached by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians to build a massive off-reservation casino in the Bay Area. Fortunately, the public’s reaction to the proposal prompted the Governor to hold off on seeking the Legislature’s approval of the compact for now. Nonetheless, the rapid spread of casinos continues to pose a serious threat to the landscape and character of our State. It is time for a sober reevaluation of our State’s gaming policies.

To view my recent comments about the proposed San Pablo casino, please go to: Statement of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein On San Pablo Indian Casino Agreement (8/21/04)

Stem cell petition update
In late July, I launched a petition drive to urge President Bush to increase Federal investment in embryonic stem cell research. I'm pleased to report that so far more than 7,000 people have signed the petition. Please urge your family members, friends, and co-workers to sign this petition and send our leaders a message reminding them of the urgency of this investment.

Embryonic stem cell research has the potential to help more than 100 million Americans who have illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and multiple sclerosis as well as spinal cord injuries. Unfortunately, the Bush Administration has limited Federal funding for research on embryonic stem cells to those that had been derived as of August 9, 2001, when the policy was announced. At that time there were 78 stem cell lines available to researchers. Today, the number of stem cell lines has dropped to 19. But we’ll keep fighting for a stronger investment by our government and our Nation in this critical area of research.

To learn more about this issue and sign the petition, please go to: Senator Feinstein's Work to Support Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Sign the Petition to Support Embryonic Stem Cell Research

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