Key Legislative Accomplishments

Transportation

• Successfully enacted a measure in the Highway Bill to protect the public from faulty guardrails on roads and highways
• Authored legislation to strengthen accountability and oversight for so-called “megaprojects,” like the Bay Bridge, by creating a system that manages costs, foresees risks, and holds decision-makers accountable
• Spearheaded bipartisan legislation to rebuild public trust by increasing transparency during the project selection process to ensure that investments are based on merit as opposed to politics or connections

Oversight & Accountability

• Worked to safeguard the public from harmful emissions by calling on the Department of Justice to conduct a criminal investigation into allegations that Volkswagen AG purposefully evaded California air quality standards
• Pursued investigations of ExxonMobil’s alleged fraud related to climate change by the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Committee on Oversight & Government Reform

Education

• Authored legislation to make college more affordable by decreasing interest rates on federal student loans
• Successfully amended current law to allow Head Start programs to run more efficiently
• Passed a measure into law to encourage schools to keep student athletes safe by developing a set of standards for responding to concussions

Environment

• Passed bipartisan legislation in the House of Representatives to expand the John Muir National Historic Site and improve access to the park and its scenic trails
• Promoted legislation to prevent another BP oil spill by strengthening protections for whistleblowers on offshore oil and gas facilities