Barbara Boxer

Includes $3.8 million Requested by Boxer

November 5, 2009 -- Washington, DC – The U.S. Senate today passed the Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill, which includes $3.8 million requested by U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) for key investments throughout California.

Senator Boxer said, “I am so pleased the Senate passed this bill, which will help make Californians safer. It includes crucial investments to fight drugs, combat gang violence and support our first responders.”
These investments include:

Coachella Valley Anti-Gang Task Force Project

Location: Cathedral City, California
Amount Received: $500,000    » read more »

November 4, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) praised the Senate’s passage of legislation to extend unemployment insurance for nearly 2 million Americans who would have otherwise lost their benefits by the end of the year. The bill will extend benefits by 14 weeks for jobless workers across the entire country and by 20 weeks in states with unemployment rates higher than 8.5 percent, including California.    » read more »

Interior Appropriations Bill Includes More Than $18 Million for California Sought By Boxer

October 29, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Senate passed the Interior Appropriations bill, which included more than $18 million in funding for key projects throughout California secured by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA).

The bill now goes to President Obama for his signature.

Senator Boxer said, “I am so pleased the Senate passed this bill that includes critical funding to improve air and water quality in California and help communities fight wildfires. I look forward to seeing President Obama sign it into law.”    » read more »

October 27, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.), Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee and co-author of the Kerry-Boxer Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, today addressed Chairman Barbara Boxer’s (D-Calif.) Environment and Public Works Committee on the first day of markup of comprehensive legislation to reduce pollution and combat global climate change.    » read more »

October 27, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today chaired the Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act.

The following is Senator Boxer’s opening statement:

This is the first legislative hearing on S. 1733, The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act. Over the next three days, we will hear from 54 witnesses, on nine separate panels.

Today, I want to welcome my partner in writing this bill, Senator John Kerry, and our distinguished Obama Administration witnesses. I greatly appreciate the President’s leadership on this issue.    » read more »

October 15, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Senate gave final approval to the Energy and Water Appropriations bill, which included an amendment by U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein (both D-CA) that will allow for water transfers to help agricultural communities in the Central Valley that have been hard hit by three years of drought. The legislation now goes to President Obama for his signature.

Senator Boxer said, “This measure is a critical first step toward improving water management to help ease the water crisis in the San Joaquin Valley. The legislation will enable water transfers between the east and west sides of the valley, offering some much-needed relief to agricultural communities that are suffering from drought conditions.”    » read more »

White House Announces More Than $20 Million for Efficiency Upgrades, Retrofits

October 8, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Today, United States Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) lauded the White House’s announcement that more than $20 million is headed to California for energy efficiency upgrades that will reduce energy use and create jobs in Los Angeles and Sacramento Counties.

The funding is part of nearly $93 million awarded today through the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program, which was funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.    » read more »

WASHINGTON (October 8, 2009) – The Union of Concerned Scientists has assembled a detailed summary of key provisions in the recently introduced Kerry-Boxer Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act. While many important provisions in the Senate bill have yet to be fleshed out, UCS is urging senators to strengthen and pass the legislation before December's international climate negotiations in Copenhagen conclude.

UCS experts have identified three provisions in the bill that merit greater media scrutiny.

First, the Senate bill allows carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects to receive generous, pre-set subsidies. UCS experts say the Senate should limit subsidies to this yet-unproven technology.    » read more »

Would authorize voluntary transfers of up to 250,000 to 300,000 acre-feet per year of water between sellers and buyers; streamline environmental reviews

October 7, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer (both D-Calif.) today introduced a measure that would help ease the effects of severe drought in the Central Valley by allowing new voluntary water transfers of up to 250,000 to 300,000 acre-feet of water, depending on rainfall that year, according to the Bureau of Reclamation.    » read more »

Boxer Requests for C-17s and $31 Million in Critical Defense Projects Included in Appropriations Bill

October 7, 2009 -- Washington, DC – The U.S. Senate late Tuesday passed the Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, which includes $31 million requested by U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) for key priorities throughout California.

The bill also includes funding for the production of 10 C-17 aircraft. Senator Boxer has consistently championed efforts to continue production of the C-17.

These investments include:

Military Burn Trauma Research and Clinical Trials Program

Location: nationwide

Amount: $6,000,000    » read more »

Bill Would Cut Red Tape, Make it Easier for Home-Based Businesses to Claim Deduction

October 6, 2009 -- Washington, DC –U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) and Evan Bayh (D-IN) today introduced the Home Office Deduction Simplification Act of 2009, legislation that would make it easier for home-based small businesses to claim an existing tax deduction.    » read more »

October 2, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) announced her support for California’s bid for more than $4.7 billion in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to advance the engineering, design and construction of high-speed rail throughout the state.

Senator Boxer said, “I am pleased to support the request that the California High-Speed Rail Authority is making today. California voters have already committed nearly $10 billion in state bonds for this effort. This investment of federal high-speed rail funds could help us create more than 130,000 jobs in California, reduce air pollution and congestion on our roads, and accelerate our push for a cleaner and more efficient transportation system.”    » read more »

Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director

September 30, 2009 -- Washington, DC -- The Sierra Club applauds the introduction of the Clean Energy Jobs & American Power Act by Senators Kerry and Boxer today. It is time for American to again take charge and make sure that we have less pollution, more jobs and greater security.

This bill is an important step forward to the clean energy economy that works for everyone. It makes America more energy independent creating new jobs with safer, cleaner energy sources that are made in America and work for America. We are pleased that the Senate bill sets a strong short term target for carbon pollution reductions and retains EPA's authority to regulate global warming emissions.    » read more »

Statement of Andy Wilson, Global Warming Program Director, Public Citizen’s Texas Office

Sept. 30, 2009 -- The Boxer-Kerry draft includes some important measures to address climate change and create new green jobs, it is simply not sufficient to solve climate change or create the green jobs revolution we need.    » read more »

Introduction of the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act

WASHINGTON, DC (September 30, 2009) – Senate Environment & Public Works Committee Chair Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Foreign Relations Committee Chair John Kerry (D-MA) are expected to unveil the Senate’s version of comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation today.

Joe Mendelson, global warming policy director of the National Wildlife Federation, said today:

“Quite simply, this bill means less pollution and more clean energy. It will move America forward in the new clean energy economy, create new jobs and help ensure our country is a leader in developing and selling clean energy technology around the world.    » read more »