Congresswoman Doris Matsui has represented the city of Sacramento and its surrounding areas since 2005. As a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, she serves on the Health and Energy subcommittees and is the Vice Chair on the Communications and Technology subcommittee. She is committed to strengthening Sacramento’s flood protection, ensuring quality, affordable health care for all, promoting a clean energy economy, and creating a vibrant region where families can live, work, and play.
Each day that Congresswoman Matsui serves as Sacramento’s representative, she’s working to push the economy forward for American families. The Congresswoman has championed making targeted investments in areas that will grow the economy and create high-paying jobs: manufacturing, clean energy, education, health care, and infrastructure.
The COVID-19 pandemic has demanded a strong, decisive response from the federal government to ensure our economic stability and create new well-paying jobs. As we continue to work through a time of unprecedented uncertainty, millions of Americans have been left struggling by the economic fallout caused by the pandemic. The challenges we face are some of the most consequential of our lifetime, and that is why she is working with the Biden Administration to expand support for small businesses, boost investments in job training, and create new pathways to employment. But more work must be done to strengthen this growth and ensure the economy benefits all Americans.
The Congresswoman has joined with her Democratic Women’s Working Group (DWWG) colleagues to promote the Women’s Economic Agenda, which is grounded in the knowledge that when women succeed, America succeeds. She has also pushed to expand broadband access for low-income households to ensure working families have the tools they need to apply for a job, take online classes, or start a business. And, she has consistently called for additional funding for state and local governments to maintain services that support economic activity like public transit, tourism boards, and the arts.
As we strive to build and strengthen our economy, Congresswoman Matsui is committed to continue fighting to keep Sacramento a wonderful place to work and live.
In February 2021, Congresswoman Matsui met with President Biden, Vice President Harris, and a bipartisan group of lawmakers to address shortages in the global supply chain for critical goods including semiconductors and medical supplies
In April 2021, the Congresswoman met with President Biden, Vice President Harris, and leaders of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) to address the priorities of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities in the American Jobs Plan
Successfully secured $52 billion of vital investments in the America COMPETES Act to help address supply chain shortages in the strategically important semiconductor industry, which is based on her legislation, the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America Act
Led a bipartisan group of 85 Members of Congress in securing funding for Destination Marketing Organizations like Visit Sacramento and Visit California. These organizations are economic drivers, bringing tourism dollars and supporting local businesses
Secured funding for Sacramento’s I Street Bridge Replacement Project and Old I Street Bridge Deck Conversion Project through the INVEST in America Act
Secured over $468 million in local funding to aid local city and county governments in the Sacramento region in the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic as part of the American Rescue Plan
Led a bipartisan group of House and Senate lawmakers with Representative McCaul (TX-10) in sending a letter to President Biden, urging him to make bold investments in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing
Secured over $13 million in COVID-19 relief funding for Sacramento International Airport to support operations during and after the pandemic and to make needed infrastructure upgrades.
Helped secure $1 billion in funding for AmeriCorps as part of the American Rescue Plan.
H.R. 4150 - Minor League Baseball Relief Act
H.R. 3886 - Clean Energy Victory Bonds Act of 2021
H.R. 3917 - Give Our Athletes Level Salaries (GOALS) Act
H.R. 3513 - the Patsy T. Mink and Louise M. Slaughter Gender Equity in Education Act (GEEA) of 2019
Congresswoman Matsui has been a leader in Congress on a broad range of health care issues, from establishing and improving the Affordable Care Act, to reforming mental health and substance abuse care, to expanding the use of telehealth, and ensuring that medical research and the delivery system provide Americans with 21st Century cures and equitable access to quality care.
The Congresswoman is a member of the House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee, which oversees agencies and writes laws pertaining to public health, including emergency preparedness and response; private and public health insurance (Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program); the regulation of food, drugs, vaccines and cosmetics; mental health; biomedical research and development; health disparities; health information technology, and more.
At its core, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is about providing affordable access to high quality health coverage or all Americans. Congresswoman Matsui played a pivotal role in passing this historic health law, and has continued to advocate for building upon its foundation to increase coverage by lowering premiums for people buying coverage through the ACA marketplaces.
There are a number of resources available to help people learn about their options through the Affordable Care Act.
Covered California is California’s health insurance marketplace where individuals, families and small businesses can purchase health insurance coverage. This is a free service that connects Californians with low-cost, high-quality health coverage under the ACA. Through Covered California, you may qualify for a discount on an ACA health plan, or get health insurance through the Medi-Cal program. You can visit coveredca.com to apply for coverage and see if you qualify for savings.
The Affordable Care Act ensures that preventive services are covered with no cost-sharing. Congresswoman Matsui believes that early detection and intervention are key to better care and to ultimately saving lives. This is achievable when Americans have access to primary health care services, and that is why Congresswoman Matsui continues to champion expanding access to affordable coverage options and the use of innovative care delivery models like telehealth.
Just as individuals rely on providers for their care, our communities rely on robust public health investments and initiatives to ensure equitable access to health resources. The Congresswoman has long supported the importance of community-based care, and led the effort to create the ACA’s Prevention and Public Health Fund, which is the nation’s first mandatory funding stream dedicated to improving our public health system.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Congresswoman Matsui and the Energy & Commerce have worked to enact important policies enacted in relief laws responding to COVID-19. These policies included billions in financial support for hospitals and other health care providers, public health initiatives, broadband and telehealth, testing, vaccine distribution, mental health and substance use care, and premium tax credits to lower the cost of health plans on the ACA marketplaces.
For over 50 years, the Medicaid program has successfully improved the ability of low-income Americans to access essential health services. Today, more than 80 million Americans depend on Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for their health insurance. Children and youth, the disabled, and the elderly represent a majority of all people covered by Medicaid.
Congresswoman Matsui was a leader in the passage of the Affordable Care Act, which expanded Medicaid to millions of low-income Americans. She also led bipartisan efforts in 2015 to successfully extend funding for the CHIP, which provides affordable, accessible health insurance to children. She has also worked to expand access to mental health and substance use treatment for Medicaid beneficiaries by leading legislation to create a community-based behavioral health center program.
Enacting comprehensive mental and behavioral health reform is very personal to the Congresswoman, and one of her biggest priorities. She has led several legislative efforts related to mental health reform throughout her time in Congress, with the goal of expanding access to services and supports, reducing disparities, improving crisis response, and bringing mental health services to integrated care settings.
In 2014, Congresswoman Matsui’s landmark Excellence in Mental Health Act was passed into law. The legislation supports Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, a Medicaid provider type, that has been proven to better serve patients by integrating physical, mental, and substance abuse treatment. The Congresswoman has also advocated for legislation which would expand Mental Health First Aid training in communities to help emergency services personnel, police officers, educators, and the public identify, understand, and respond to mental health issues and disorders.
In 2020, Congresswoman Matsui successfully championed an extension and expansion of the Excellence in Mental Health demonstration project, increasing Medicaid and grant funding opportunities to more states, including California. This financing has proved critical to increasing Americans’ access to high-quality, evidenced-based, and community-driven mental health care and strengthening our response to the substance use disorders and mental illness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Congresswoman has also worked on bipartisan efforts to provide new resources to help reverse the tragic rise of suicide across the nation through legislation such as the Suicide Prevention Act.
Congresswoman Matsui believes in harnessing the power of technology to improve our health care system. She has worked on policies to ensure that health care providers utilize electronic health records and that those systems are “interoperable” so that providers can appropriately share electronic information. As a leading Member of the House Telehealth Caucus, she has strongly advocated to expand access to telehealth in the Medicare program, understanding that virtual care is convenient to patients, saves time and money, and improves quality of care. She is a leader of the bipartisan CONNECT for Health Act and the Protecting Access to Post-COVID-19 Telehealth Act, which will permanently eliminate restrictions on the use of telehealth in Medicare.
The Congresswoman has combined her work on mental health and telehealth by introducing several bills that leverage the promises of audio and video services to expand access to telemental health services for Medicare beneficiaries. In 2020, Congresswoman Matsui successfully led the House-passage of her Telemental Health Expansion Act, legislation that permanently waives Medicare’s geographic restrictions on telehealth for mental health services and allows beneficiaries to receive telemental health care at home. These telemental health provisions were included and enacted into law with the FY2021 spending package. She also continues to advocate for the Improving Access to Remote Behavioral Health Treatment Act, which aims to increase access to medication-assisted treatment at community behavioral health clinics in underserved areas through the use of telemedicine under the Ryan Haight Act.
Congresswoman Matsui fights to make prescription drugs more affordable for American families. She was a leader on the Energy and Commerce Committee’s H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act. The landmark legislation empowers the federal government to negotiate the price of prescription drugs and caps Medicare beneficiaries’ out-of-pocket costs. The House-passed legislation stops drug companies from ripping off Americans while charging other countries less for the same drugs by limiting the maximum price for any negotiated drug and making the lower drug prices negotiated by Medicare available to Americans with private insurance.
Congresswoman Matsui has been a consistent advocate for the expansion of medical research. She supports robust funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which conducts much of the basic science that leads to treatments and cures. The Congresswoman has a particular interest in encouraging research for rare diseases, as lesser known conditions are often overlooked and under-researched. She has led annual appropriations requests to increase research funding and championed legislation for blood cancer, bone marrow failure, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Primary (PID).
Every five years, the Congresswoman works to reauthorize the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act, which gives hope to thousands of Americans who suffer from life-threatening blood cancer or other bone marrow disorders by making possible life-saving transplants through the “Be a Match” National Registry. The Act was unanimously passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama in late 2015. To support this work, the Congresswoman co-founded the Congressional Caucus to Cure Blood Cancers and Other Blood Disorders. In May 2021, the Timely Reauthorization of Necessary Stem-cell Programs Lends Access to Needed Therapies (TRANSPLANT) Act, was signed into law. This important bill renews the federal programs that ensure continued access to life-saving bone marrow and cord blood transplants for patients with blood cancer and other blood diseases.
Congresswoman Matsui championed the passage of the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education and Research (FASTER) Act, legislation requiring sesame to be labeled on packaged foods.In 2021, President Biden signed the FASTER Act (S.578/H.R. 1202) into law, making sesame the ninth food recognized as a “major allergen” by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Congresswoman Matsui also Co-Chairs the Congressional Food Allergy Caucus, advocating for issues impacting the 32 million Americans who have a potentially life-threatening food allergy.
Congresswoman Matsui believes that a woman’s access to reproductive healthcare should not be politicized. She has stood with women in Sacramento and across the country to fight for the preservation of federal funding for Planned Parenthood, so all women can make healthcare choices that are right for them. She has also supported initiatives to repeal the domestic and global gag rule.
Authored the landmark Excellence in Mental Health Act, which was passed into law. The legislation supports community behavioral health clinics that will better serve patients by integrating physical, mental, and substance abuse treatment.
Advocated to increase access to telehealth through leadership on the House Telehealth Caucus.
Passed H.R. 2820 into law, reauthorizing the life-saving National Marrow Donor Program and National Cord Blood Inventory, including the Be the Match registry for patients to match to bone marrow donors. Co-Founded the Caucus to Cure Blood Cancers and Other Blood Disorders.
Passed H.R. 5668, the MODERN Labeling Act of 2020, out of the House of Representatives unanimously in November 2020. H.R. 5668, a bipartisan bill to ensure that providers, patients and their caregivers have the most up-to-date information about the prescription drugs they use, was included in the FY2021 government funding package and enacted into law.
Introduced H.R. 7839, the Continuing Access to In-Home IVIG Act, legislation that extends and expands access to Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment administered in the home for Medicare patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDD). H.R. 7839 was included in the FY 2021 government funding package and enacted into law.
Passed H.R. 5201 Telemental Health Expansion Act, out of the Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously in July 2020. Provisions of this legislation were included in the FY2021 government funding package and enacted into law.
Championed efforts to extend funding for the ten-state Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) demonstration program through September 30, 2023 and provide $600 million for the CCBHC Expansion Grant program.
Passed H.R. 2955, the Suicide Prevention Act, out of the House of Representatives unanimously in May 2021.
Led efforts to preserve safety net hospitals’ eligibility for the 340B Drug Pricing Program amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Worked through the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee to end surprise medical bills, provide long-term extensions of expiring public health programs including Community Health Centers and the National Health Service Corps, make prescription drugs more affordable, stop the youth tobacco epidemic and enhance the Affordable Care Act.
H.R. 863 - DXM Abuse Prevention Act of 2019
H.R. 1767 - Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Expansion Act
H.R. 2117 - FASTER Act of 2020
H.R. 3447 - Public Health Funding Restoration Act
H.R. 4131 - Improving Access to Remote Behavioral Health Treatment Act of 2019
H.R. 5201 - Telemental Health Expansion Act of 2020
H.R. 5668 - MODERN Labeling Act of 2020
H.R. 7839 – Continuing Access to In-Home IVIG Act
H.R. 941 – TRANSPLANT Act of 2021
H.R. 1202 - The FASTER Act of 2021
H.R. 1583 - Public Health Funding Prevents Pandemics Act
H.R. 3203 - To provide for certain temporary waivers with respect to the 340B drug discount program due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, and for other purposes.
H.R. 4058 - Telemental Health Care Access Act of 2021
H.R. 4323 - Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Act of 2021
H.R. 4472 - BENEFIT Act of 2021
H.R. 6160 - Access to Rare Indication Act of 2021
Located at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers, Sacramento and West Sacramento face a constant threat of flooding. With the major floods of 1986 and 1997, the Sacramento region understands the importance of a modern, system-wide approach to flood control. Throughout her time in Congress, Congresswoman Matsui has continuously advocated for federal resources to minimize our risk of flooding, which includes maintaining and strengthening the region’s levee and dam system while taking a wider, watershed approach to managing high-water events. Over the years, Congresswoman has secured hundreds of billions of federal dollars to support these local flood control projects. Flood control is one of her top priorities and areas of focus.
Congresswoman Matsui is working closely with the Army Corps of Engineers in addition to the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA) and the West Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (WSAFCA) to advance major levee strengthening projects with the potential to result in multiple billions of dollars of additional flood protection for the region.
Additionally, it is critical that residents in the Sacramento region have the flood insurance they need to protect their homes and businesses from potential flood damage. That is why Congresswoman Matsui works every day to lower insurance costs for ratepayers and to invest in the flood protection infrastructure we need to avoid flooding altogether.
For more information on Congresswoman Matsui’s flood protection agenda, please review the items below:
Since taking office in 2005, Congresswoman Matsui has secured over $3 billion for flood projects in the Sacramento region.
Led 20 colleagues with Representative Nadler (NY-10) in writing a letter to President Biden to address the urgency of climate resiliency and enhancing flood protection measures in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
The Joint Federal Project at Folsom Dam is a nearly $1 billion effort that will more than double Sacramento’s flood protection through the construction of an auxiliary spillway at Folsom Dam. Congresswoman Matsui led the fight in Congress to authorize construction of the spillway in 2007. Since that time, the Congresswoman has fought every year for federal funding to ensure the project was completed on time in 2017. Congresswoman Matsui secured more than $500 million in federal investments for the Joint Federal Project at Folsom Dam.
In an effort to create system-wide flood protection, Congresswoman Matsui has advocated strengthening the Folsom Dam, including raising the existing crest elevation to create more capacity. In these efforts, the Congresswoman has secured over $270 million in federal funds.
Additionally in 2020, Congresswoman Matsui has secured over $131 million in federal funding to strengthen Natomas levees. Protecting the people and businesses in Natomas is one of the Congresswoman’s top priorities, and she looks forward to building on her previous work for the basin to ensure that the levees in Natomas are as strong as possible.
Congresswoman Matsui is also working with federal and local partners to ensure West Sacramento has modern flood protections, advocating for the West Sacramento Project. This $1.2 billion dollar project would provide state-of-the-art protection for West Sacramento’s 54,000 residents.
As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Co-Chair of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), Congresswoman Matsui has made it a top priority to bring clean energy technology to Sacramento, transform the city into a global leader in the sector, and support many local initiatives on clean school buses and 100% clean energy by 2030. From enacting her Healthier and Greener Schools act through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – which would help schools nationwide upgrade to energy efficient technologies and install electric school bus chargers – to negotiating one of the largest expansions of rooftop solar tax credits for medium- and low-income homeowners in President Biden’s Build Back Better Act, the Congresswoman continues to support forward-thinking clean energy policies that help our economy and the environment.
In addition to these efforts, Congresswoman Matsui has introduced several bills to promote green jobs and climate resilience. This Congress, her POWER ON Act was enacted through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. In light of the devastating wildfires ravaging through California and subsequent blackouts, this law provides states with additional funding to invest in electrical grid resiliency upgrades in the face of extreme weather events, which are becoming stronger and more frequent due to climate change. She has also led the Clean Energy Victory Bonds Act to give Americans opportunities to invest in clean energy projects and supported the 100% Clean Economy Act. Through her leadership role in SEEC, she has advocated for tax incentives for zero emission vehicles, energy efficiency, and clean energy production. Many of these tax incentives, including the extension of tax credits for solar as well as onshore and offshore wind, were enacted at the end of 2020, and several more became a part of the clean energy investments included in the President’s Build Back Better Act.
Congresswoman Matsui believes we have an historic opportunity to lead the world in the clean energy sector in our region. From world-class universities and training facilities, to demonstrated consumer support, to a range of existing clean tech companies and forward-thinking utilities, Sacramento has what it takes to foster growth and help jumpstart our local economy.
The Congresswoman believes it is vital that our local clean energy manufacturing firms continue to have the tools and resources they need to be competitive in the global clean energy economy, and create new, good paying jobs in the Sacramento region.
Named Co-Chair of the Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition (SEEC) for the 115th, 116th, and 117th Congresses
Led a group of 31 colleagues in writing to the Biden Administration to support the creation of a program for indoor air quality and energy efficiency upgrades in our nation’s schools. This became the foundation of her Healthier and Greener Schools Act, which is now law.
Enacted the POWER ON Act to help California and all states impacted by intensified extreme weather build a more resilient electrical grid.
Negotiated the inclusion of rooftop solar tax credits for low- and medium-income homeowners in the Build Back Better Act.
H.R. 4966 - Healthier and Greener Schools Act of 2021
H.R.2885 - POWER ON Act of 2021
H.R. 3886 - The Clean Energy Victory Bonds Act of 2021
Congresswoman Matsui believes that there are enormous opportunities in Sacramento to spur the innovation economy. She has supported policies that ensure multiple sectors of our economy — from health care, to clean energy, to technology — prosper as the region continues to grow.
With the growth of technology in health care, Congresswoman Matsui has advocated for policies that encourage innovation in the telehealth space, while also protecting patients. The Congresswoman has introduced several bipartisan bills including the Telemental Health Expansion Act and the Telehealth Modernization Act to expand access to and improve the quality of telehealth. She is also a leading member of the bipartisan Energy & Commerce Telehealth Working Group, which is working to advance telehealth policies within the Medicare program.
As Co-Chair of the High Tech Caucus and the Vice Chair of the Energy & Commerce Communications & Technology Subcommittee, Congresswoman Matsui is working to address the pressing tech issues of today and tomorrow while increasing the accessibility and affordability of communications services. During her time in Congress, the Congresswoman has continuously advocated for policies that expand access to broadband while allowing our wireless economy to grow. As Congresswoman Matsui likes to say, the airwaves, known as spectrum, are the invisible infrastructure of our 21st Century economy. Congresswoman Matsui has championed new approaches to unlock this valuable resource to fuel the economy. In 2019, Matsui introduced the WIN 5G Act that laid out a process for auctioning off valuable “C-Band” spectrum. That auction concluded in early 2021 and raised more than $80 billion in revenues for the U.S. Treasury. The Congresswoman is a co-author of the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America Act, which would restore semiconductor manufacturing back to American soil by increasing federal incentives to stimulate advanced chip manufacturing, enable cutting-edge research and development, secure the supply chain and bring greater transparency to the microelectronics ecosystem. Congresswoman Matsui successfully included an amendment based on the CHIPS Act in the FY21 NDAA. Shortly after his election, Congresswoman Matsui called on President Biden to develop a spectrum strategy that will help bring more spectrum to market to support faster networks and better service for consumers.
Congresswoman Matsui is also advocating for policies that support access to reliable, affordable, high-speed broadband for families and students. Millions of Americans still lack broadband access — households in rural America are unserved and many low-income families struggle to afford the high cost. As a result, these Americans are at a competitive disadvantage when it comes to employment, education, and other opportunities. The Congresswoman authored the first piece of federal legislation to address this problem by expanding the Lifeline program, a program that has helped low income Americans get telephone service since President Reagan’s Administration, to cover broadband access. Since then, she has consistently fought to expand the Lifeline program’s reach and impact. At the onset of the pandemic, the Congresswoman called on the top broadband regulator to expand Lifeline to help struggling families stay online. To support connectivity in schools, Congresswoman Matsui introduced H.R. 8612, the Enhancing K-12 Cybersecurity Act which would provide $400 million in grant funding to help K-12 schools improve cybersecurity as they increasingly rely on distance and online learning.
As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Co-Chair of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), Congresswoman Matsui has made it a top priority to bring clean energy technology to Sacramento and transform the city into a global leader in the sector. From securing a $127.5 million grant for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) to modernizing the electric grid through the installation of SmartGrid, to advocating for a California Rural Home Mortgage Finance Authority Homebuyers Fund (CHF) home retrofit loan program, the Congresswoman continues to support forward-thinking clean energy policies that help our economy and the environment.
Congresswoman Matsui has also 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.
During her time in Congress, the Congresswoman has continuously advocated for policies that allow our wireless economy to grow. As Congresswoman Matsui likes to say, the airwaves, known as spectrum, are the invisible infrastructure of our mobile society. Congresswoman Matsui champions an all of the above approach to improve the efficiency of how we use this finite resource – everything from creating new opportunities for WiFi to improving the way the federal government uses spectrum. For example, the Federal Spectrum Incentive Act of 2015 will ensure consumers can make wireless connections on their smartphones, tablets, and devices now and into the future – and give federal agencies the opportunity to improve their missions. The legislation won unanimous approval from the House Energy & Commerce Communications and Technology Subcommittee in 2015.
Three pieces of legislation authored by Congresswoman Matsui were included in House Democrats’ Make It In America Plan to promote manufacturing and innovation in America.
Helped secure over $300 million in American Recovery & Reinvestment Act funds for energy efficiency programs, research and development and job training. Including $127.5 for SMUD’s Smart Grid deployment.
Original Cosponsor of the USA Telecommunications Act to improve supply chain security in telecommunications equipment. The bill was signed into law as part of the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Introduced the House amendment of the CHIPS Act to boost investments in American manufacturing of strategically important semiconductor industry which was signed into law as part of the FY21.
Successfully urged the Federal Communications Commission on multiple occasions to make new spectrum available to fuel the innovation economy and support deployment of 5G.
Fought for the adoption of strong net neutrality rules by the FCC, so that every American, innovator, and small business has equal access to an open Internet. Congresswoman Matsui’s Online Competition and Consumer Choice Act, a bill to prevent fast and slow lanes online, was incorporated into the FCC’s final net neutrality decision.
Congresswoman Matsui’s Broadband Adoption Act (H.R. 2638) to make Internet access more affordable for low-income families through the FCC’s Lifeline Program was included in House Democrats’ Make It in America Plan. In 2016 the FCC adopted Congresswoman Matsui’s recommendation to expand the Lifeline program to support broadband.
H.R. 8612, the Enhancing K-12 Cybersecurity Act
H.R. 4171, the WIN 5G Act
H.R. 4131, Improving Access to Remote Behavioral Health Treatment Act
H.R. 5918, the Emergency Reporting Act
H.R. 3811, the IoT Standards Leadership Act
H.R. 3475, SPECTRUM NOW Act
H.R. 1888, Federal Spectrum Incentive Act
H.R. 1576 Innovation Corps Act of 2017
We have a duty to the men and women who have bravely put their lives on the line to defend our country, and we must ensure that we provide them with the assistance they need and deserve as they return home. As our troops return home, it is essential that we help them transition to civilian life and provide them with the physical, mental and financial assistance they need.
Congress has been making important strides in increasing support for our nation’s veterans. Congresswoman Matsui voted in support of the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014, H.R. 3230, which was signed into law by the President on August 7, 2014. This bill includes a number of key provisions designed to address the widespread reports of misconduct within the VA health system. The Congresswoman will continue to fight to ensure that our veterans have access to the highest quality healthcare.
Congresswoman Matsui believes that providing mental health support to our nation’s veterans is of the utmost importance. To this end, she voted to pass the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (Clay Hunt SAV) Act, H.R. 203, which aims to prevent veteran suicide and increase access to quality mental health care to our nation’s veterans. The President signed this bill into law on February 12, 2015. In order to bolster this program, she is a co-sponsor of H.R. 2915, the Female Veteran Suicide Prevention Act, which would direct the VA to identify mental health programs that are most effective for female veterans. The Excellence in Mental Health demonstration project, created by a bill that Congresswoman Matsui authored, will enable Community Behavioral Health Clinics to provide an enhanced set of services in our communities, including behavioral health services specifically for veterans.
Congresswoman Matsui is also an advocate for expanding educational opportunities for veterans transitioning to civilian life. She’s a co-sponsor of Rep. Patrick Murphy’s (D-FL) bill, Reducing Barriers for Veterans Education Act, H.R. 456, which would provide financial assistance to veterans applying to institutions of higher education. In addition, she is a co-sponsor of Rep. Lois Frankel’s (D-FL) bill, the Veteran Education Empowerment Act, H.R. 1399, which would create a U.S. Department of Education grant program to ensure institutions of higher education have student centers for veterans.
Congresswoman Matsui understands that there is more that needs to be done in order to ensure our veterans can access the support and services they deserve. To this end, she continues to monitor a range of legislation aimed at expanding and enhancing veterans’ services and ensure that services are provided quickly and efficiently. She will remain a strong advocate for our nation’s veterans and will continue to support legislation that supports our veterans.
As co-chair of the Democratic Caucus Congressional Task Force on Seniors in the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Matsui has consistently supported policies that are important to seniors in Sacramento, such as protecting and strengthening Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Older Americans Act programs. Congresswoman Matsui is committed to ensuring all Americans have the tools they need to achieve the retirement security they have earned.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Social Security is a pillar of our society, representing our nation’s promise to preserving the well-being and dignity of its people as they grow older. For 79 years, Social Security has provided older Americans with stability and security by offering a minimum level of guaranteed income to aging citizens.
Congresswoman Matsui has worked diligently to ensure the federal government continues to provide the retirement benefits our seniors have earned, so they can maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.
MEDICARE
For 48 years, Medicare has provided Seniors and people with disabilities access to affordable health care. Over 49 million retired Americans rely on Medicare to provide some or all of their health insurance needs. Despite access to such benefits, elderly Americans spend almost a quarter of their yearly income on health care services. Congresswoman Matsui works to strengthen Medicare, and ensure it continues to provide retired Americans access to affordable and reliable health insurance.
Congresswoman Matsui was a key advocate for The Affordable Care Act, which significantly increased access to preventive services for Medicare beneficiaries. Before the health care law, Medicare beneficiaries only received one wellness physical throughout their entire time on the program. With the ACA, all Medicare beneficiaries are able to see their doctor once a year for an annual physical, allowing them the chance to focus on wellness and prevention. Furthermore, Medicare beneficiaries have access to a host of new preventive screenings and procedures, without any out-of-pocket costs.
In addition, the ACA has saved seniors tens of billions of dollars in prescription drug costs and strengthened the solvency of the Medicare Trust Fund by more than a decade. Congresswoman Matsui will continue to advocate for the full implementation of the ACA, so seniors can continue to benefit from its advances.
MEDICAID
Medicaid is a safety net for low-income seniors and is the single largest payer of long term services and supports in this country. Approximately 12 million Americans need long-term services and supports, which are medical and personal care assistance services for people who have difficulty completing daily living activities over a prolonged period of time.
Without Medicaid or private long term care insurance, which many families do not have, families are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on long term care for their loved ones. The Congresswoman is working to ensure that Medicaid remains a strong safety net for those who need it, while encouraging a more consumer-friendly long term care private insurance and a public program that will be there for those with catastrophic long term care costs.
OLDER AMERICANS ACT
For more than 50 years, Older Americans Act (OAA) programs have delivered critical resources and services to millions of American seniors. These programs provide people with home-delivered and congregate meals, transportation to medical appointments and the grocery store, and adult day care. The Older Americans Act promotes health and well-being – helping manage diabetes, prevent falls, and improve behavioral health so seniors can live at home in their community. These programs also provide unique support to hardworking Americans who serve as family caregivers, many of whom work full-time jobs in addition to their caretaking responsibilities. As Co-Chair of the Seniors Task Force, Congresswoman Matsui continues to fight to preserve the OAA for the millions of seniors who depend on it to live healthy and productive lives.
By safely linking neighborhoods through investments in our region’s transportation infrastructure, we connect all of our residents to jobs, promote a sense of community, and ensure that no one is left behind as Sacramento continues to grow.
In addressing Sacramento’s transportation needs, the Congresswoman is committed to the mutual alliance of federal, state, and local agencies that have come together to build and grow our region’s infrastructure. The Sacramento Region Blueprint, put forth by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG), is helping to make the Sacramento region’s streets an example for the nation.
In Washington, Congresswoman Matsui has used Sacramento’s Blueprint plan as a model as she advocates for a federal complete streets policy that would ensure our roadways are designed with all users in mind – including bicyclists and pedestrians, children, seniors, and the disabled.
Congresswoman Matsui works with all levels of government to address Sacramento’s ongoing transportation priorities, including the Port of West Sacramento, operations at the Sacramento International Airport, light rail expansion and the development of an intermodal station. The intermodal station will help foster connections between nearly all modes of transportation – from bicycle to bus, light rail to car, train to sidewalks. It is a long term vision that is taking place in phases. Phase 1 of the project was completed in August 2012 and Phase 2 of the project, during which Sacramento Valley Station was renovated, was completed in 2017. Congresswoman Matsui has helped to secure $52 million in federal funding for the intermodal project.
Additionally, the Congresswoman has been an advocate for bringing streetcars back to Sacramento. For more than 70 years, streetcars rolled through downtown Sacramento, and the Congresswoman has a vision for building on that history and bringing streetcars back to the region. The streetcar project will help connect West Sacramento and Sacramento, and provide more options to residents and tourists who are looking to move more efficiently between neighborhoods. In February 2016, the Obama Administration recommended that Sacramento’s streetcar initiative receive funding in his budget request.
Congresswoman Matsui also supports California’s High Speed Rail project. This project is an opportunity to invest in our state’s infrastructure, create new jobs, boost American manufacturing, and work towards a greener future. And, the federal funding allocated for California’s high speed rail line and our intercity passenger rail system are creating important momentum in Sacramento and the rest of the state.
These investments will help us reduce our dependence on foreign oil, create jobs, ease the congestion on our roads, and meet the demands of our growing population.
Universal access to quality education is one of Congresswoman Matsui’s top priorities in Congress. She believes we need to improve our education system from Pre-K through college, both in Sacramento and nationwide.
Congresswoman Matsui supported a bipartisan, far-reaching education law that replaced the No Child Left Behind Act called the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). ESSA aims to prepare our children for the challenges of the future by investing in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, increasing access to high quality preschool, and raising academic standards. As classes have transitioned online during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Congresswoman introduced the Enhancing K-12 Cybersecurity Act. This legislation would enhance cybersecurity at K-12 schools by promoting access to information, better tracking cyberattacks nationally, and increasing the amount of cybersecurity experts in schools.
Congresswoman Matsui is also committed to making sure that high school graduates have access to an affordable college education. The Congresswoman believes all young people should be able to fulfill their higher education ambitions. In order to cultivate a well-trained, competitive workforce that is capable of keeping abreast of the dynamic global market, the dream of a college education must be within the reach of every qualified student. The Congresswoman has continued to support the Pell Grant program and oppose cuts to these grants, which help make higher education a reality for so many young people.
Local educators and administrative staff have also done a wonderful job applying for new federal grant opportunities. The Congresswoman will continue to work with local school districts to ensure they have the resources they need to apply for federal grants.
Links to Helpful Education Funding Resources:
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Sacramento CAL-SOAP (California Student Opportunity Access Program) Consortium
Federal and State Education Links:
School Districts within the California 6th Congressional District:
Sacramento City Unified School District
Twin Rivers Unified School District
Natomas Unified School District
Washington Unified School District
Wrote a letter to Congressional leadership with Congressman Langevin (RI-02), urging them to include additional K-12 Cybersecurity support in the Build Back Better Act
Wrote a letter with Senator Hirono (D-HI) to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona encouraging the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to establish an Office for Gender Equity (OGE) within the agency
Helped secure a historic $1 billion in funding for AmeriCorps as part of the American Rescue Plan
Led a group of 31 colleagues in writing to the Biden Administration to support the creation of a program for HVAC system maintenance and energy efficiency upgrades in our nation’s schools.
H.R.4966 - Healthier and Greener Schools Act of 202
H.R. 3513 - the Patsy T. Mink and Louise M. Slaughter Gender Equity in Education Act (GEEA) of 2019
H.R.4005 - Enhancing K–12 Cybersecurity Act
Enacting policies that assist in our ongoing efforts to reverse the effects of a changing climate, while protecting our communities, air, water, lands, oceans, and wildlife remains one of the Congresswoman’s top priorities. Throughout America’s history, we’ve often been presented with the challenge of protecting and preserving the environment and ensuring the safety and health of our communities while maintaining growth and responsible industrial progress. The Congresswoman believes that today, we can do both by supporting a just economic transition to a green new economy rooted in environmental and climate justice. For this reason she was a supporter of the Green New Deal and the Climate Action Now Act to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord.
In four years, the Trump Administration dismantled more than 100 environmental rules, including carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, cars, and trucks; critical provisions in the Endangered Species Act; and the Mercury and Air Toxic Standards, which protect communities from the toxic health effects of mercury exposure. The Congresswoman took matters into her own hands by introducing the Clean and Efficient Cars Act to fight against these rollbacks and preserve Obama-era fuel economy and vehicle emissions standards that reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars.
In addition to this bill, during the 117th Congress the Congresswoman led several efforts urging the Biden Administration to restore these ambitious transportation standards and reinstate California’s ability to advance even stronger vehicle emission rules. Thanks in part to the Congresswoman’s efforts, in December of 2021 the Biden Administration unveiled new stringent tailpipe emission standards that incentivize the adoption of electric vehicles. The Administration has also announced that it is working to reinstate California’s authority to set its own vehicle emission standards and intends to unveil a new fuel economy rule to maximize transportation emission reductions.
Congresswoman Matsui has also spearheaded initiatives focused on clean transportation to reduce air pollution. She is a long-term champion of the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, a law enacted in late 2020 to provide $100 million annually to upgrade millions of diesel truck engines to cleaner technologies while improving air quality and living conditions.
She is also a strong proponent for sensible conservation efforts that would protect our diverse environmental legacy, which is why she supported the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, the largest conservation funding law in the last fifty years, and the Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act. The Congresswoman is also a strong proponent of equitably sharing the benefits of green spaces and nature. Inspired by our district’s own “Sacramento Shade Program”, the Congresswoman introduced the TREES Act, a bill to reduce residential energy bills through tree planting. From our vast oceans to our precious national parks, all aspects of our environment must be considered. The Congresswoman believes we must not only protect these lands for native wildlife, but also to protect our natural, tribal, and cultural heritage and provide vital outdoor opportunities for all Americans.
The Congresswoman will continue working to uphold environmental regulations; ensure access to clean air, water, and green spaces for all communities; protect wildlife and nature; and improve the quality of our air and water for future generations.
Immigrants have made critical contributions throughout our nation’s history, and Congresswoman Matsui is supportive of programs that ensure they are able to continue to live the American dream for generations to come. She is a vocal supporter of the American Dream and Promise Act, landmark legislation which would provide Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders and individuals with Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) with protection from deportation and a path to citizenship. She is also a supporter of the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act, Reuniting Families Act, and strongly opposed the former Trump Administration’s costly and discriminatory construction of the border wall. The Congresswoman believes these are first steps towards comprehensive immigration reform that provides a path to citizenship for those that come to the United States without documents to live a life with safety, opportunity, and dignity.
As a mother and Japanese American, Congresswoman Matsui sought justice for asylum seekers, immigrants, and families separated at the US-Mexico border. During the summer of 2019, the Congresswoman visited several detention facilities in Texas to examine the devastating conditions in which migrants were being held. In 2021, she joined the Congressional Moms Task Force on Family Reunification which works closely with First Lady Jill Biden to lead reunification efforts for migrant children and their parents.
As Sacramento is home to a vibrant Afghan community, Congresswoman Matsui and her staff have worked diligently in assisting constituents with Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applications. Additionally in 2021, the Congresswoman introduced the Afghan and Iraqi Allies Resettlement Improvement Act. This bill would allow the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to include SIVs as part of its annual survey of refugees, as well as direct the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of State to create programs to employ SIVs.
The Congresswoman’s staff continue to assist and work towards solutions for the Afghan community in Sacramento.
Congresswoman Matsui is committed to protecting women’s rights and advancing an economic agenda that supports women and families.
Bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues
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 worked closely with the 88 women Members of the House to advance issues that matter most to women in the United States.
Democratic Women’s Caucus
Congresswoman Matsui has previously chaired the Democratic Women’s Caucus, which advocates for the When Women Succeed, America Succeeds economic agenda for women and families. Today, women play an expanded role in America’s workforce, in businesses small and large, and in our homes. In fact, 2 of every 3 women are sole/equal breadwinners in their families, yet still only make 82 cents for every dollar a man makes. This disparity is even worse for Native, Black, and Latina women who make 57, 62, and 54 cents respectively for every dollar a man makes, and has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is particularly harmful to working women.
The Congresswoman believes that enacting paid family and medical leave, guaranteeing women receive equal pay for equal work, providing affordable childcare and options for working families is essential to addressing these disparities and key our nation’s long term success. She has supported the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act or FAMILY Act, the Paycheck Fairness Act, the Equal Rights Amendment Ratification, and the Climate and Women Act to protect and enhance the lives of women domestically and abroad.
Congresswoman Matsui is also a passionate advocate for women’s equality in education and introduced the Gender Equity in Education Act (GEEA), which would provide more resources, training, and technical assistance to implement Title IX and address gender discrimination in education throughout the United States. She also introduced the Give Our Athletes Level Salaries (GOALS) Act to ensure the World Cup-winning U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) are paid fair and equitable wages compared to the U.S. men’s team.
Women’s Healthcare
The Congresswoman believes that a woman’s access to reproductive healthcare should not be politicized. She has stood with women in Sacramento and across the country to fight for the preservation of federal funding for Planned Parenthood, so all women can make healthcare choices that are right for them.
Nearly 40,000 lives are claimed by gun violence in the United States every year. The Congresswoman believes it is past time that we act together to prevent gun violence from taking the lives of more victims. Congresswoman Matsui has advocated for common sense solutions like strengthening background checks, increasing gun safety research, promoting responsible gun ownership, and keeping guns out of the hands of those who would do harm to themselves and others. She has repeatedly stood with House Democrats in pushing for gun safety measures to address the epidemic of gun violence in the United states. She has cosponsored legislation to close the “gun show loophole” by requiring background checks on all handgun sales, ban high capacity ammunition magazines, prohibit individuals who have been convicted of a hate crime from buying or possessing guns, and increase our federal investment in a national background check infrastructure.
The Congresswoman also strongly believes that to tackle the crippling effects of gun violence on our communities, we need to research it as a public health epidemic. The Congresswoman supported the establishment of a Firearm Violence Research Center at UC Davis’ Sacramento campus, which supports efforts to generate new scientific evidence for more effective firearm violence prevention policies and programs. Congresswoman Matsui also cosponsored legislation that would authorize the appropriation of funds to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for conducting or supporting research on firearms safety or gun violence prevention.
Congresswoman Matsui is a member of the House Democratic Caucus Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, which is led by Congressman Mike Thompson.
Congresswoman Matsui cosponsors:
H. Res. 275 - Condemning the horrific shootings in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 16, 2021, and reaffirming the House of Representatives commitment to combating hate, bigotry, and violence against he Asian-American and Pacific Islander community
H.Res. 746 - Original National Domestic Violence Awareness Month Resolution of 2021
H.R.8 - Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021
H.R.748 - Ethan’s Law
H.R. 350 - Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2021
H.R. 1808 - Assault Weapons Ban of 2021
H.R. 1843 - COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act
H.R. 3480 - Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2021
H.R.3929 - Disarm Hate Act
H.R. 4118 - Break the Cycle of Violence Act
As Co-Chair of the High Tech Caucus and a member of the Energy & Commerce Communications & Technology Subcommittee, Congresswoman Matsui is working to address the pressing tech issues of today and tomorrow while increasing the accessibility and affordability of communications services.
Almost one third of Americans have not adopted broadband at home – and the cost of subscribing to service is most often the highest barrier preventing non-adopters from fully participating in our digital economy. As a result, these Americans are at a competitive disadvantage when it comes to employment, education, and other opportunities. The Congresswoman authored the first piece of federal legislation to address this problem by expanding the Lifeline program, a program that has helped low income Americans get telephone service since President Reagan’s Administration, to cover broadband access.
Congresswoman Matsui has also 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.
During her time in Congress, the Congresswoman has continuously advocated for policies that allow our wireless economy to grow. As Congresswoman Matsui likes to say, the airwaves, known as spectrum, are the invisible infrastructure of our mobile society. Congresswoman Matsui champions an all of the above approach to improve the efficiency of how we use this finite resource – everything from creating new opportunities for WiFi to improving the way the federal government uses spectrum. For example, the Federal Spectrum Incentive Act of 2015 will ensure consumers can make wireless connections on their smartphones, tablets, and devices now and into the future – and give federal agencies the opportunity to improve their missions. The legislation won unanimous approval from the House Energy & Commerce Communications and Technology Subcommittee in 2015.