As California’s senior Senator, Dianne Feinstein has built a reputation as an independent voice, working hard to find commonsense solutions to problems facing California and the nation.
Since her election to the Senate in 1992, Senator Feinstein has built a significant record of legislative achievement across a wide range of issues.
She led a bipartisan group of senators in passing legislation to drastically increase the fuel efficiency of cars. She’s a champion for the preservation of the Mojave Desert, Lake Tahoe and California's forests. She helped create the nationwide AMBER Alert network, passed bills to criminalize border drug tunnels, succeeded in passing a major bill to help California cope with severe drought and continues to advocate for commonsense gun laws.
She authored the first major cybersecurity bill to be signed into law in years. She’s an aggressive opponent of sex trafficking and authored legislation to help prevent sex abuse of amateur athletes. She’s an advocate for consumers, authoring bills to review ingredients in personal care products, ban chemicals in toys, crack down on rogue pharmacies and strengthen food safety.
One of her most notable achievements was leading the six-year review of the CIA’s detention and interrogation program. This effort culminated in the 2014 release of the report’s executive summary and passage of legislation banning the use of torture.
In 2017, Senator Feinstein became the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee—the first woman to assume that role—where she helps shape policy on criminal law, national security, immigration, civil rights and the courts. She also oversees judicial nominations and major investigations including Russia’s interference in the 2016 election.
Senator Feinstein was also the first woman to chair the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence—a position she held for six years beginning in 2009. During her tenure as chairman, Senator Feinstein oversaw the passage of six consecutive intelligence authorization bills and the release of a key bipartisan report on the Benghazi attacks. She remains on the committee today.
Senator Feinstein is also a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, where she serves as ranking member on the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development. In that role, she has secured billions of dollars for California communities, including critical transportation, water supply and federal building projects.
And she continues to serve on the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, which she chaired during the 110th Congress. In that capacity, Senator Feinstein was the first woman to chair the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies and presided over the inauguration of President Barack Obama in 2009.
In addition to her committee assignments, Senator Feinstein is co-chairman of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, co-chairman of the Senate Cancer Coalition and co-chairman of the Senate Women’s Caucus on Burma. She is also a member of the Anti-Meth Caucus, the Congressional Dairy Caucus and the Congressional Former Mayors Caucus. She has served as a member of the Aspen Strategy Group since 1997.
One thing I'm not clear about...if the Recall does pass, and Larry Elder becomes governor...and Diane Feinstein dies (I don't believe she'd retire early, unless a Democrat was in the governor's mansion), would he be able to appoint whomever he liked (as the media seems to imply), or would his nominee be subject to confirmation by the state Senate (as I suspect is actually the case?)
I remember when Jesse Unruh died, and Deukmejian nominated Dan Lungren to be the next state Attorney General...and the state Senate ixnayed that (so independent Thomas W. Hayes got the job instead.)
Maybe state Senatorial confirmation isn't required for making gubernatorial appointments to fill U.S. Senatorial vacancies? They don't make this info easy to find.
One thing I'm not clear about...if the Recall does pass, and Larry Elder becomes governor...and Diane Feinstein dies (I don't believe she'd retire early, unless a Democrat was in the governor's mansion), would he be able to appoint whomever he liked (as the media seems to imply), or would his nominee be subject to confirmation by the state Senate (as I suspect is actually the case?)
I remember when Jesse Unruh died, and Deukmejian nominated Dan Lungren to be the next state Attorney General...and the state Senate ixnayed that (so independent Thomas W. Hayes got the job instead.)
Maybe state Senatorial confirmation isn't required for making gubernatorial appointments to fill U.S. Senatorial vacancies? They don't make this info easy to find.
Governor Newsom appointed Senator Padilla without a confirmation process.
State law empowers the Governor to fill vacancies to the U.S. Senate and, subject to confirmation by the State Senate and Assembly, the Secretary of State. Governor Newsom announced his selection of Padilla and Dr. Weber in December. https://www.gov.ca.gov/2021/01/18/governor-newsom-formally-appoints-alex-padilla-to-the-u-s-senate-and-nominates-dr-shirley-weber-as-secretary-of-state/
Governor Newsom appointed Senator Padilla without a confirmation process.
State law empowers the Governor to fill vacancies to the U.S. Senate and, subject to confirmation by the State Senate and Assembly, the Secretary of State. Governor Newsom announced his selection of Padilla and Dr. Weber in December.
Condolences for Sen. Feinstein. Her husband died last night of cancer. https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/596095-sen-feinsteins-husband-dies-of-cancer
Condolences for Sen. Feinstein. Her husband died last night of cancer. [Link]
October 22, 2002:
Feinstein says she will not be president pro tem of the Senate if Democrats keep control of the chamber - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/10/22/grassley-feinstein-senate-pro-tempore/
October 22, 2002:
Feinstein says she will not be president pro tem of the Senate if Democrats keep control of the chamber - [Link]
I didn't realize Patty Murray was 72. She seems younger. Guess she'll be the next Pres Pro Temp.
I voted for her in 1992. Which is the last time I lived in the state. 30 years ago.
BrentinCO: I didn't realize Patty Murray was 72. She seems younger. Guess she'll be the next Pres Pro Temp.
I voted for her in 1992. Which is the last time I lived in the state. 30 years ago.
Oh, man...
Dianne Feinstein could be third in line to the presidency as Senate president pro tempore. She appears unaware that she's already declined the job. - https://www.businessinsider.com/senator-dianne-feinstein-third-in-line-presidency-pro-tempore-2022-11
Oh, man...
Dianne Feinstein could be third in line to the presidency as Senate president pro tempore. She appears unaware that she's already declined the job. - [Link]
RIP. It was a shame, for her and for the office she held, to see her deteriorate as severely as she did in that setting. It shouldn't happen.
Morbid though it may be, one would hope and expect that Newsom('s proxies) anticipated such an emergent scenario and are prepared to act swiftly. Time will be of the essence, with a lot on the legislative docket between now and year's end as Congress flings itself into the throes of synthetic crisis yet again.
RIP. It was a shame, for her and for the office she held, to see her deteriorate as severely as she did in that setting. It shouldn't happen.
Morbid though it may be, one would hope and expect that Newsom('s proxies) anticipated such an emergent scenario and are prepared to act swiftly. Time will be of the essence, with a lot on the legislative docket between now and year's end as Congress flings itself into the throes of synthetic crisis yet again.
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