Military Issues

The role of the military has changed in the post Cold War era, but the U.S. still needs a strong, vital military presence so that we may fulfill our role as the last remaining superpower. Senator Feinstein's record on the military includes:

Defense Department Appropriations - Senator Feinstein has consistently supported Defense Department authorizations and appropriations, including authorizations and appropriations for the B-2 Bomber, the F-22 jet fighter, the Trident II D-5 submarine, the F/A-18 aircraft,   the Blackhawk Helicopters, the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM), the C-130J Cargo Aircraft, and improved Avionics Intermediate Test Stations for the F-16, among other projects.  The development and production of these weapons systems employs tens of thousands of Californians.

The California National Guard - Senator Feinstein has helped secure federal funding for the California National Guard, and in 1999 she helped secure funding for eight UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopters, which are used by the California National Guard for emergency response, including response to floods, wildfires and law enforcement emergencies.

Military Base Closures - Senator Feinstein consistently voted in opposition to military base closures in California. In 1999 and 2000, Senator Feinstein opposed starting a new round of military base closures, and she opposed the previous rounds of base closures.

Defense Downsizing - Senator Feinstein sponsored legislation to establish and make permanent the Defense Loan and Technical Assistance Program (DELTA), which is a Small Business Administration (SBA) program to help small businesses that have been negatively impacted by defense downsizing.  DELTA has loaned over $60 million to California companies and saved hundreds of jobs in California.

Defense Conversion - Senator Feinstein sponsored the small business defense conversion loan guarantee program. The legislation, enacted in 1994, provided $50 million in loan guarantee assistance, which permitted small businesses to leverage $2 billion in private loans and create jobs in areas hard hit by defense downsizing.

Military Pay Raises - Senator Feinstein has consistently voted for military pay raises.

NASA - Senator Feinstein is a strong supporter of funding for NASA, which has three major facilities in California (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Ames Research Center and Dryden Flight Test Center), including funding for the international space station and the Cassini mission to Saturn.

U.S. Flag

Flag-burning - Senator Feinstein supports a Constitutional Amendment that would protect our national flag from physical desecration by giving Congress, and Congress alone, the authority to draft a statute to prohibit desecration of the flag.

Veterans Issues

Senator Feinstein recognizes the important contributions that the men and women of our armed forces provide this nation.  Her record on veteran's affairs includes strong support for programs which benefit veterans, such as:

Compensation for Tobacco-Related Illness - Senator Feinstein supports compensation for tobacco-related illnesses to veterans that became addicted to tobacco while in the military.

Increased Funding for Health Care - Senator Feinstein has consistently voted to increase funding for health care for veterans, including support for an amendment to the Defense Reauthorization Act this year to extend military health care benefits beyond retirement.

VA Hospital at Travis Air Force Base - Senator Feinstein helped secure funding for the construction of a new Veterans Administration hospital at Travis Air Force Base.

Veterans Readjustment Benefits - Senator Feinstein voted against slashing Veterans' Readjustment Benefits to give tax breaks to the wealthy.