Senator Boxer Addresses Californians at Roundtable Luncheon -- California Capitol Hill Bulletin -- Volume 10, Bulletin 25 -- September 12, 2003

On Tuesday, September 9, 2003, Senator Barbara Boxer was the featured speaker at a Golden State Roundtable luncheon in a Capitol Hill banquet room. Senator Boxer's remarks discussed a wide range of subjects. She noted that the nation's land, rivers, forests, and parklands constitute a great resource and stated that Congress must assume a stewardship role to protect them.

Boxer noted that the bipartisan California Congressional Delegation has acted in concert regarding environmental issues -- lauding California's bipartisan support for preventing offshore oil drilling and the delegation's unanimity regarding opposition to mandating the use of ethanol as a fuel additive -- and she also discussed a federal proposal to override state policy on air quality standards for small gasoline and diesel powered engines.

She called the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act "a good bill," but she expressed disappointment in the level of funding budgeted and appropriated for the programs. In particular, she focused attention on after school programs, a major area of personal interest and legislative activity for her.

Regarding Social Security and Medicare, Boxer expressed concern that funding in the trust funds have been declining, which may jeopardize the programs in the future, and she commented that "tax cuts are not doing what they were supposed to do."

Regarding Iraq, and the $75 billion that President Bush has requested for rebuilding, Boxer commented that the country needs "a plan" that addresses troop protection, sharing of responsibility and cost, and an exit strategy. She drew contrasts between the $75 billion figure and various funding totals for federal activities, such as $23.4 billion for higher education, $1 billion for after school, $6.7 billion for Head Start, $31.8 billion for highways, $5.2 billion for the Transportation Security Administration, $6.1 billion for the Coast Guard, $8.1 billion for all environmental programs, $27.1 billion for the National Institutes of Health, and $1.3 billion for superfund.

During questions and answers, Senator Boxer called transportation an important priority and said she has been visiting various sites, with a focus on ensuring the security of the nation's and the state's ports.

To expand communications between Washington and California, the California Institute provides periodic bulletins regarding current activity on Capitol Hill that directly impacts our state. Bulletins are published weekly during sessions of Congress, and occasionally during other periods.

The California Institute for Federal Policy Research
A Source of Information on California and Federal Policy
419 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, D.C. 20003
voice: 202-546-3700   fax: 202-546-2390  ransdell@calinst.org    http://www.calinst.org