Biography

Congresswoman Doris Matsui has represented the city of Sacramento and its surrounding areas since 2005.  As a member of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee she serves on the Health and Communications and Technology subcommittees.  She is committed to strengthening Sacramento’s flood protection, ensuring quality, affordable health care for all, promoting clean energy economy, and creating a vibrant region where families can live, work, and play.

Sitting at the confluence of two rivers, the Sacramento area has one of the highest flood risks in the country.  Congresswoman Matsui is a stalwart champion for increased flood protection, levee improvements and keeping flood insurance rates affordable. She was at the forefront of the effort to build the Joint Federal Project at Folsom Dam, a $1 billion project that is a model of cooperation and efficiency.  She also fights to preserve the region’s water rights and resources within the ongoing Bay Delta Conservation Plan.

Congresswoman Matsui passionately works to increase public transportation options in Sacramento.  She is engaged in the planning and execution of an intermodal transportation center in downtown Sacramento, was instrumental in securing federal funds to extend Sacramento’s light rail system, and is a leading proponent of a proposed streetcar system linking Sacramento and West Sacramento.
Congresswoman Matsui was appointed to the exclusive House Energy and Commerce Committee in 2008, which holds jurisdiction over issues impacting the daily lives of every American.  As a member, she crafts legislation to address critical issues facing our nation today, including health care, energy policy, technology, consumer protection, food safety, environmental quality, and American manufacturing.

She has worked tirelessly to improve access to high quality health care in Sacramento and across the nation.  Through her committee work, Congresswoman Matsui helped author the Affordable Care Act, and she continues to work with stakeholders to ensure the Sacramento region has what it needs to provide the access to health care services that every citizen deserves.  She is also a champion in Congress for improving our nation’s mental health care system, and secured passage of landmark bipartisan legislation, the Excellence in Mental Health Act, which provides $1 billion to strengthen the mental health safety net.  

Congresswoman Matsui has been a leader in Congress on tackling climate change, and she serves as a co-chair of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC).  She supported the 2010 climate change proposal, and has since authored a number of legislative proposals aimed at boosting clean energy manufacturing and financing to help smaller clean energy companies grow and create jobs.  Thanks in large part to her efforts, the Sacramento region has been transforming into a clean-tech capitol, with over 450 companies in the region.

Congresswoman Matsui has been a champion of net neutrality and ensuring our nation has a free and open Internet.  She has authored legislation that would prohibit so-called Internet fast lanes from harming consumers, small businesses and innovators.  As the co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional High Tech Caucus, she advocates for policies to expand the use of technology for improving healthcare, energy efficiency, financial services, government and other economic sectors. She also is an ardent supporter of improved STEM education, and has sought to connect students at Sacramento-area high schools with professionals in the STEM fields, encouraging them to pursue careers in these fields.

During the 114th Congress, Congresswoman Matsui was elected by her peers to serve as a co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues.  As co-chair, she works closely with the 88 women Members of the House to advance issues that matter most to women in the United States.  

After growing up on a farm in California's Central Valley, Congresswoman Matsui met her husband, the late Congressman Bob Matsui, while attending the University of California at Berkeley.  During President Clinton's first term in office, she served as one of eight members of the President's transition board.  She later served for six years as Deputy Assistant to the President in the White House Office of Public Liaison.

Congresswoman Matsui has a son Brian Matsui and a daughter-in-law Amy Matsui.  She has two grandchildren, Anna and Robby.