Doris Matsui

Doris Matsui is a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives, currently representing California's 7th Congressional District. Born Doris Kazue Okada on September 25, 1944, in the Poston War Relocation Center internment camp in Arizona, she grew up in California's Central Valley. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1966. Before her legislative career, Matsui served in the Clinton administration as a deputy assistant to the president and deputy director of public liaison from 1993 to 1998. She also worked as a government relations consultant in Washington, D.C. Matsui was first elected to Congress in a special election held on March 8, 2005, to fill the seat left vacant by her late husband, Robert Matsui, who had served for over 25 years. Since entering office, she has become a senior member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Her key accomplishments include authoring the Excellence in Mental Health Act, which strengthened the national mental health safety net, and the CHIPS for America Act, which provided significant investment in the U.S. semiconductor industry. She is also widely recognized for securing over $4 billion in federal funding for flood protection and infrastructure projects in the Sacramento region.

Doris Matsui's policy positions focus on healthcare expansion, environmental protection, and technological innovation. She is a strong supporter of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and has consistently advocated for mental health reform and the expansion of telehealth services. In terms of energy and the environment, Matsui promotes a transition to renewable energy, aiming for at least 25% renewable sources by 2025, and opposes offshore drilling and subsidies for oil and gas exploration. She is a vocal proponent of net neutrality and has worked to expand broadband access for low-income families. On immigration, she supports comprehensive reform, including the American Dream and Promise Act to provide a path to citizenship for Dreamers, and has actively opposed the construction of a border wall. Economically, she emphasizes growth through investments in clean energy manufacturing, semiconductor production, and infrastructure development.