Issues and Legislation
Your Voice Counts
Here you can read what Californians are saying in response to my messages on issues facing Congress and the nation.
Agriculture
Senator Boxer has been a longtime champion of California’s agricultural industry, and she understands its vital importance to the state’s economy. She has fought to open international markets for California-grown agricultural products and to help protect California crops from diseases and pests. She has worked to make federal food inspection programs more effective, and her efforts to strengthen conservation programs will help protect California’s agricultural resources for future generations.
Defense and Foreign Policy
Since 2002, Senator Boxer has worked diligently to bring the Iraq war to an end. While she has opposed the war, she has consistently supported our service men and women – fighting for additional funds to protect our troops from roadside bombs and provide them with body armor, and supporting pay raises. Senator Boxer has always been a strong supporter of giving the U.S. military what it needs to effectively do its job. Throughout her career, Senator Boxer has also worked tirelessly to ensure that the United States continues to be a leader in the fight against global diseases and epidemics. A senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, she helped create the first-ever subcommittee to focus on global women’s issues, which she has used to promote efforts to end violence against women, particularly in conflict zones.
Economy
Senator Boxer understands that Californians and people across the country are struggling through this recession. She is working to strengthen California’s economy and the nation’s economy by leading efforts to create jobs, help small businesses compete and provide much-needed tax relief for middle-class families. She has also been a strong advocate for California businesses, promoting policies to help the state’s agricultural, high-tech, biotechnology, entertainment companies succeed.
Education
Senator Boxer firmly believes that a quality education is the key to our children's success and our nation's economic future. She is a proud graduate of public schools from kindergarten through college and an outspoken advocate for improving our nation's public school system, providing early education to all children and expanding access to higher education. She has and will continue to work to improve our public schools by helping communities repair crumbling schools, reduce class sizes, and hire more highly qualified teachers.
Environment
Senator Boxer has earned a reputation as the Senate’s leading champion on protecting our environment. She chairs the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and is the first woman in Senate history to do so. Throughout her career, Senator Boxer has fought to protect California’s spectacular coast, mountains, deserts, rivers and forests to preserve them for future generations.
Health Care
Senator Boxer is committed to ensuring that Americans have access to high-quality, affordable healthcare that they can rely on. The status quo is unsustainable. Too many of our fellow citizens are suffering because of the broken promises of a health insurance system that abandoned them when they needed it most.
Homeland Security
Senator Boxer is working to make sure the government is doing everything possible to protect every Californian and every American. She meets regularly with first responders, airport staff, seaport security and rail workers throughout the state to hear from those on the frontlines protecting Californians every day. In Washington, Senator Boxer continues to fight to fully fund critical security initiatives.
Housing
California has been among the states hardest hit by the housing crisis. Senator Boxer has fought for policies to keep families in their homes, to promote access to affordable housing and to ensure responsible lending practices and greater transparency. To help homeowners facing foreclosure, Senator Boxer has worked on measures to allow homeowners to refinance or modify their mortgages so they can stay in their homes.
Military and Veterans
Senator Boxer is grateful for the sacrifices made by our service men and women and their families. She has diligently worked to ensure that members of our nation’s armed forces are afforded the care and services they deserve. She is one of the Senate’s leading voices to improve mental health services throughout the Armed Services and for our veterans. As a Senator from the state of California—home to one of the largest veterans’ populations in the United States—Senator Boxer believes that we have an obligation to provide veterans with the health care and benefits they have earned through service to our country.
Water
As Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Senator Boxer has led efforts to increase investment in water infrastructure to protect communities from flooding, provide safe drinking water for families and improve management of water supplies. Throughout her Senate career, Senator Boxer has worked to secure funding for flood control, habitat restoration and water supply projects across California.
Wilderness and Public Lands
California's 43 million acres of public land encompass some of the most magnificent and pristine natural areas in the United States. From Mt. Whitney, the highest point in the lower 48 states, to Death Valley National Park, the lowest, our state stands out for the diversity of its natural beauty. California also has some of the nation’s most important historic sites, including some of the first European and Asian settlements in the nation.
Appropriations Requests
"As a United States Senator, part of my job is to know the funding priorities of our state of California so that I can support those that help create jobs, rebuild our infrastructure, and provide important resources to our children, seniors, and families."