Dianne Feinstein

June 17, 2009 -- “The President’s plan is a giant step in the right direction. It ends the era of total chaos and the lack of coherent regulation – and outlines a roadmap to establish meaningful transparency and accountability.    » read more »

Letter urges Secretary of State Clinton to be a proponent of treaty to regulate interstate transfer of weapons

June 17, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and seven of her Senate colleagues are urging Secretary of State Clinton to be a strong proponent of an international Arms Trade Treaty to regulate the interstate transfer of conventional weapons.

The second session of the UN Open Ended Working Group (OEWG) on the Arms Trade Treaty is scheduled to convene at the United Nations next month. The Working Group is tasked with creating international regulations on the export, import and international transfer of arms to help prevents the flow of weapons to world conflict zones.    » read more »

Bill would enforce retail compliance with the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act

June 9, 2009 -- Washington, DC – The U.S. Senate has approved legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) that would require retailers of pseudoephedrine and ephedrine products to verify that they have trained their staff in the requirements of the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act that went into effect in 2006.

The next step in the fight against methamphetamine is to pass the Saving Kids from Dangerous Drugs Act – a bill pending before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senator Grassley is a co-sponsor of the legislation.    » read more »

Senators urge their colleagues to act quickly in considering and passing this important legislation

June 9, 2009 -- WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) on Tuesday called on their colleagues to quickly approve their legislation, “The Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act,” which renews sanctions against the Burmese junta.

The McConnell/Feinstein bill calls for the renewal of sanctions against the Burmese regime, which include an import ban on Burmese goods entering the U.S. and visa restrictions on officials from the dictatorial regime – the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).    » read more »

Bill would enforce retail compliance with the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act

June 9, 2009 --
Washington, DC – The U.S. Senate has approved legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) that would require retailers of pseudoephedrine and ephedrine products to verify that they have trained their staff in the requirements of the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act that went into effect in 2006.

The next step in the fight against methamphetamine is to pass the Saving Kids from Dangerous Drugs Act – a bill pending before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senator Grassley is a co-sponsor of the legislation.    » read more »

June 8, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley today continued his efforts to keep meth off the streets and out of the homes of Iowans. Legislation he co-sponsored with Senator Dianne Feinstein to help control meth precursor chemicals, passed the Senate tonight by unanimous consent. It will now be sent to the House for consideration.

“Iowa has been hit harder than most states by the meth epidemic. Passage of the Combat Meth Act in 2006 provided us with a good deal of success in reducing the domestic meth supply, but it’s tough to stay a step ahead. So, we’re looking to do more to get this dangerous drug out of the hands of people across the country,” Grassley said.    » read more »

Proposal would achieve 32 to 38 percent greater oil savings than House compromise

June 8, 2009 --
Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Tom Carper (D-Del.) today formally introduced legislation to establish a “Cash for Clunkers” program that incentivizes the purchase of more fuel efficient vehicles and would achieve at least 32 percent more oil savings than a House version of the bill. Senators Feinstein, Collins, and Schumer previously outlined the basic concepts in this bill on May 15.    » read more »

Biological Opinion issued by National Marine Fisheries Service

June 5, 2009 -- "Yesterday, the National Marine Fisheries Service released a biological opinion on the impact of Federal and State water projects in California’s Bay Delta.

What the Agency found is that additional endangered species – including salmon, sturgeon, and steelhead – are jeopardized by the current water projects. The Agency concluded that to avoid the extinction of these endangered species, further restrictions on pumping next spring will be needed, along with a number of changes to the long-term operations of the Delta infrastructure.    » read more »

State bill would ban use of Bisphenol A in baby bottles and other feeding devices

June 3, 2009 --
Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) commended the California State Senate for passing legislation this week to prohibit the use of Bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles, sippy cups and other feeding devices for children ages three and younger. Senator Feinstein today urged the California State Assembly to follow suit.    » read more »

June 3, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today convened a hearing on the President’s Fiscal Year 2010 budget request for the U.S. Department of the Interior. Senator Feinstein chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies and presided over the hearing. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar appeared as the primary witness.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- “The President has chosen a very solid and tested woman as his nominee for the United States Supreme Court.

Sonia Sotomayor has served as a New York City prosecutor and she has been a federal judge for over 15 years. She has already been confirmed by the Senate twice – first as a federal trial court judge and then as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

The nomination is clearly historic in that she would be the first Latina, and the third woman ever, to sit on the Supreme Court.

I know there are those who will try to delay this nominee. However, I believe it is important that she has a clear opportunity for a fair and open nomination process, and that her nomination can move rapidly to the floor of the Senate and be confirmed.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- "I know today’s decision is a tremendous disappointment for many people. But I also know that the opinions of Californians are changing on this issue, and I believe that equal marriage rights will one day be the law in this state. This is already the case in Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont. So, I believe this issue will come before the voters again, and I am very hopeful that the result will be different next time.

Today's State Supreme Court ruling also declares that the 18,000 same-sex marriages that have already taken place in California are valid, and I believe these marriages will allow people to see for themselves that marriage equality is a step forward for California and not a step back."

Source: Senator Dianne Feinstein

May 22, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer (both D-Calif.) have reintroduced a bill to increase the supply of non-drinking water for California’s Bay Area. Similar legislation was introduced by Senators Feinstein and Boxer in the 110th Congress.

Specifically, the bill would help six Bay Area communities increase their municipal water supplies through innovative and much-needed water recycling projects. It would make six additional Bay Area recycled water projects eligible for a 25 percent federal cost-share, and increase the authorization levels for two more, totaling $38,075,000.    » read more »

Measure would provide duty free status for textiles and imported apparel from 14 Least Developed Countries, as defined by the United Nations

May 22, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Kit Bond (R-Mo.) have introduced a measure to provide trade relief for apparel and textiles imported from 14 of the world’s poorest nations. The legislation is intended to help some of these impoverished nations sustain vital export industries and promote economic growth and political stability.    » read more »

May 20, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee today passed the Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries Boundary Modification and Protection Act, legislation introduced by Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein (both D-CA).

The bill will permanently protect the coastal waters and estuaries of Sonoma County and portions of Mendocino County by extending the boundaries of existing marine sanctuaries. Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) has reintroduced a companion bill, which the House passed last year.    » read more »