Doris Matsui

Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui is proud to represent the city of Sacramento, California and its surrounding areas. As an established and informed Representative, Congresswoman Matsui has emerged in Washington as a forward thinking, resourceful and influential advocate for the people of the Sacramento region. Sacramento is the seat of government for the largest state in the country, a diverse and growing region that Congresswoman Matsui represents with strength and a vision. As a recognized leader in the Sacramento community and in Congress, Congresswoman Matsui is focused on utilizing federal resources to improve the lives of her constituents. As state and local budgets have continued to suffer as a result of the economic downturn, Matsui’s role in delivering federal funding to the region has only become more important, and is critical to providing good jobs for Sacramento families. Congresswoman Matsui was appointed to the powerful and exclusive House Committee on Energy and Commerce in 2008. As a member she helps to craft legislation to address the most critical challenges facing hard-working Americans today, ranging from health care and clean energy, to expanding access to broadband and creating jobs. In each of these areas, Congresswoman Matsui is committed to investing in a safe, healthy and sustainable future for Sacramento and the country and reinvigorating our local economy. Since taking office, Congresswoman Matsui has made increased flood protection a key focus of her work in Congress, successfully advancing legislation to upgrade and modernize the region's levee, dam and water management systems. In conjunction with other flood control initiatives on both the Sacramento and American Rivers, Congresswoman Matsui is building an impressive record of collaboration and innovation to protect her district from harmful flooding, and making affordable flood insurance a reality for Sacramento homeowners. In Fiscal Year 2010, Congresswoman Matsui secured a record $86.5 million dollars to improve the region’s flood protection infrastructure. Congresswoman Matsui has worked to expand access to mass transit, and bring some of Sacramento's most successful initiatives to the national dialogue. She is engaged in the planning and execution of an intermodal transportation center in Downtown Sacramento, which will improve air quality, ease roadway congestion, and strengthen Sacramento's Light Rail system. She has also introduced Complete Streets legislation in Congress that would provide bike lanes and sidewalks in urban areas to help ensure safe transportation alternatives for our seniors, our children, and the active bicycle community in Sacramento. Congresswoman Matsui is also deeply committed to transforming the Sacramento region into a clean-tech capital. Matsui understands that Sacramento can no-longer rely on the State for employment and economic security, and that there is a need to diversify our local economy. As the sponsor of a series of legislation in Congress to promote, expand and support local clean-tech businesses, Congresswoman Matsui continues to work to recruit new clean energy businesses to the Sacramento region, which will create new jobs for Sacramento residents and provide a much-needed boost to the local economy. Moreover, by providing support for new and existing companies that produce renewable energy and clean-tech products, we can reduce our reliance on foreign oil that threatens both our national security and our environment. For her work on the issues most important to Sacramento - clean energy, flood protection, health care, education, and transporation - Congresswoman Doris Matsui was named the 2011 Regional Champion by Valley Vision. Before coming to Congress, Congresswoman Matsui served on numerous advisory boards, community organizations, and honorary committees. She was President and Chairwoman of the Board for the KVIE public television station in Sacramento, and she served in leadership capacities for the Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento Children's Home, Meridian International Center, Arena Stage, and Woodrow Wilson Center Board of Trustees. Congresswoman Matsui has maintained this commitment to civic involvement while serving in Congress. The Congresswoman was named a Co-Chair of the National Service Caucus as a direct result of her support of these service-related initiatives. Additionally, Congresswoman Matsui served on the Smithsonian Institute's Board of Regents from 2006 to 2011, and was also named as a Board Member of the National Symphony Orchestra in 2010. After growing up on a farm in California's Central Valley, Congresswoman Matsui met her husband, the late Congressman Bob Matsui, while earning her Bachelor's Degree from the University of California at Berkeley. During President Bill 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 is the proud mother of one son, Brian. She has two young grandchildren, Anna and Robby.