Dianne Feinstein

November 13, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein (both D-CA) as well as Congressman Pete Stark (D-CA) sent a letter last night urging Labor Secretary Hilda Solis to approve the State of California’s request for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for workers at the New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI) facility.

NUMMI workers would become eligible for job training, job search and relocation assistance, and tax credits to cover health insurance costs.

The text of the letter follows:

November 12, 2009

The Honorable Hilda Solis

Secretary of Labor
U.S. Department of Labor

200 Constitution Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20210

Dear Secretary Solis:    » read more »

Asks Department of Agriculture to Join Effort; Pledges to introduce new legislation to close loophole that allows slaughter of downed calves

November 9, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today urged the Department of Agriculture to more vigorously enforce federal laws which outlaw the inhumane treatment and slaughter of food animals, following the release of yet another video which documented cases of animal cruelty in slaughterhouses.    » 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 »

Senator Feinstein Leads Bipartisan Coalition of 7 Senators and 16 Representatives in Urging Agriculture Secretary Vilsack to Fairly Distribute Federal Dairy Relief

October 8, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today led a bipartisan coalition of seven other Senators and 16 Representatives from states with the largest dairies in urging Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to fairly distribute $350 million in federal dairy relief and avoid regional bias. As a result of low dairy prices, Western dairy farmers are losing up to $100,000 in revenues per month.    » read more »

October 9, 2009 -- Washington D.C. – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today issued the following statement in response to the announcement that President Barack Obama has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize:

“Today at the White House I had the privilege of personally congratulating President Obama for receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.

"I believe the Nobel Committee's decision reflects the fact that the United States has restored its credibility with the international community. It signifies that the goals articulated by President Obama have resounded with the rest of the world."

Source: Senator Dianne Feinstein

Joins 29 Democratic Senators in Signing Letter to Majority Leader Reid

October 9, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, along with 29 Democratic Senate colleagues, has signed a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid urging the inclusion of a public option in any health reform legislation that will be considered on the Senate floor. An additional 14 Senators at least have expressed support for the public option through a resolution, letter, or by voting for a strong public option during committee markups.    » 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 »

Bill aims to prevent inmates from using technology to commit crimes outside of prison walls

October 5, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. –U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) today announced legislation to prevent inmates from using cell phones to commit crimes from inside prison walls.

The bill would close a loophole in federal law by prohibiting the use or possession of cell phones and wireless devices in federal prisons. The bill also would classify cell phones and wireless devices as contraband material. Anyone who provides, or attempts to provide, an inmate with a cell phone could face imprisonment of up to one year.    » read more »

National Competition in Search of Tomorrow’s Cybersecurity Leaders

October 2, 2009 -- Washington, DC – California will join the U.S. Cyber Challenge, a series of competitions aimed at recruiting and training America's next generation of cybersecurity experts, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and the California Office of Information Security announced today.

The U.S. Cyber Challenge consists of three competitions: The Digital Forensics competition, led by the U.S. Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center; the CyberPatriot Defense competition, led by the U.S. Air Force Association; and the NetWars Capture the Flag competition, led by the SANS Institute.    » read more »

October 1, 2009 -- “The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that greenhouse gas emissions pose a real threat to public health and safety, and has proposed a carefully targeted plan to regulate large industrial and commercial facilities under the Clean Air Act.

I fully support EPA’s actions to require that the nation’s largest stationary emitters, responsible for roughly 70 percent of America’s carbon footprint, take appropriate steps to contain these harmful emissions and improve energy efficiency.

Those who recognize that the Earth is in jeopardy, that global warming is real and that the climate is warming more quickly than anticipated, understand the urgent need to take action. We cannot lose time.    » read more »

Address California’s Urgent Water Crisis; Interior and Commerce Departments respond to Feinstein’s request to commission review of the two controversial biological opinions that govern water flows in the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta

September 30, 2009 -- Washington, DC – At a public forum today to address California’s water crisis, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) welcomed the Administration’s decision to commission an independent review of the biological opinions that govern water flows in the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta. The study will be conducted by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), the nation’s most respected independent scientific body.    » read more »

September 17, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today urged the Senate to approve the $32.1 billion Fiscal Year 2010 Interior bill. Senator Feinstein chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies, and will manage the floor debate during consideration of the annual spending bill.    » read more »

Feinstein and Snowe introduce measure to establish federal oversight for new carbon markets; Measure designed to prevent Enron-like fraud and manipulation

July 7, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) have introduced legislation to establish federal oversight for markets that trade carbon allowances, which are permits to emit one metric ton of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The bill also establishes a framework to regulate carbon derivatives.    » read more »

June 22, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein (both D-CA) wrote to President Obama to request a federal disaster declaration for Fresno County to assist the drought-stricken region in obtaining emergency food, job training, crisis counseling, legal services and unemployment assistance.

The federal assistance would help thousands of Fresno County residents who have lost their jobs and are struggling to feed their families because of severe drought conditions. A disaster declaration would also help ensure the long-term vitality of one of the nation’s leading agricultural areas.

The text of the letter follows:

June 22, 2009

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500    » read more »

June 19, 2009 -- Washington, DC – The members of the Senate Women’s Caucus on Burma today renewed calls for the Burmese military junta, the State Peace and Development Council, to immediately release imprisoned democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi on the occasion of her birthday, as well as all other political prisoners.    » read more »