Doris Matsui facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Doris Matsui
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California |
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| Assumed office March 10, 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Bob Matsui |
| Constituency | 5th district (2005–2013) 6th district (2013–2023) 7th district (2023–present) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Doris Kazue Okada
September 25, 1944 Poston, Arizona, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | University of California, Berkeley (BA) |
| Website | House website |
Doris Okada Matsui (pronounced mat-SOO-ee; born Doris Kazue Okada on September 25, 1944) is an American politician. She has been a member of the United States House of Representatives for California since 2005. Her district, which covers the Sacramento area, has changed numbers over the years. It was the 5th from 2005 to 2013, the 6th from 2013 to 2023, and is now the 7th.
In Congress, Matsui works on important issues like improving healthcare, protecting the environment, and supporting new technology. She is a key member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. She also leads a subcommittee that focuses on communications and technology.
Before joining Congress, Matsui advised the government and worked for President Bill Clinton. She helped create a special White House group for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in 1999. She also served on the boards of several non-profit groups.
Contents
Her Early Life and Career
Doris Okada Matsui was born in a camp in Poston, Arizona. Her family later moved to Dinuba, California, in the Central Valley. She studied psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. There, she met her future husband, Bob Matsui. They had one son, Brian.
Before her husband became a politician, Doris Matsui was a homemaker. She was also active in community groups. When her husband was elected to Congress in 1979, they moved to Washington, D.C..
Doris Matsui volunteered for Bill Clinton's presidential campaign in 1992. After he won, she joined his team. She worked at the White House from 1993 to 1998. One of her jobs was to work with the Asian American community. Later, she worked as a lobbyist in Washington. She returned to California in 2005 to run for Congress.
Becoming a Congresswoman
Doris Matsui's husband, Bob Matsui, was a Representative for California. He passed away in January 2005. Just days after his funeral, Doris Matsui decided to run for his open seat. In a special election held in March 2005, she won with 68% of the votes. She was sworn in to finish her husband's term.
Matsui has been re-elected many times since then. Her district has been represented by a Democrat since 1953. This shows it is a strong area for the Democratic Party. She has consistently supported President Joe Biden's policies.
What She Works On
Doris Matsui focuses on several important areas in Congress.
Women's Rights
Matsui supports stem cell research. She was very upset when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. She called the decision "devastating."
In 2021, Matsui helped introduce a bill called the GOALS Act. This act aims to make sure the U.S. women's national soccer team gets paid fairly. It wants their pay to be equal to the U.S. Men's team. The bill even threatens to cut federal funding for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if the U.S. Soccer Federation does not agree.
Technology and Innovation
Matsui is known for her work on technology. She leads a group in Congress that focuses on wireless technology. She works to make sure everyone has access to fast and affordable internet. She has also written laws to help close the "digital divide." This means making sure all families and students can get online.
Energy and the Environment
Matsui is part of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. She also co-leads a group focused on sustainable energy and the environment.
She wants the U.S. to be energy independent. She hopes the country will use at least 25% renewable energy by 2025. Matsui does not support expanding oil production or drilling. She wants to stop giving money to oil and gas companies. Instead, she supports tax breaks for clean energy.
Matsui also supports cleaner water and air. She wants the EPA to control greenhouse gases. She also supports strict limits on pollution for industries.
LGBTQ+ Rights
Matsui is a strong supporter of LGBTQ+ rights. She has a perfect rating from the Human Rights Campaign. She is against discrimination in workplaces and schools based on sexual orientation. She supported ending the "don't ask, don't tell" policy in the military.
Gun Control
Matsui wants stronger gun control laws. She supports stricter rules for buying and selling guns. She also wants to ban large purchases of ammunition. She believes gun makers should be held responsible for how their products are misused.
Health Care
Matsui believes the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act helps many Americans. She has opposed efforts to change or privatize Medicare or Medicaid. She also wants to expand medical care for children and people with mental health issues.
She has worked to improve mental health services. She wrote the Excellence in Mental Health Act, which became law in 2014. This law created special mental health clinics across the country. Matsui also works to help patients with rare diseases. She supports expanding telehealth, which allows people to get medical care remotely.
Taxes and Pensions
Matsui supports a progressive tax system. This means people with higher incomes pay a larger percentage in taxes. She wants to close tax loopholes for businesses that send jobs overseas. She supports keeping Social Security as it is. She does not want to privatize it or raise the retirement age.
Committee and Group Memberships
For the 118th Congress, Doris Matsui is on the:
- Committee on Energy and Commerce
- Subcommittee on Communications and Technology (she is the Ranking Member, meaning the top Democrat)
- Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security
She is also a co-chair or member of many other groups, including:
- Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
- Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC)
- Congressional Food Allergy Research Caucus
- Rare Disease Congressional Caucus
- Congressional High-Tech Caucus
- Congressional Spectrum Caucus
- National Service Congressional Caucus
- Congressional Caucus to Cure Blood Cancers and Other Blood Disorders
- House Democratic Caucus Task Force on Aging and Families
- Smithsonian Board of Regents
- Congressional Mental Health Caucus
- Democratic Women's Caucus
- Congressional Equality Caucus
- Gun Violence Prevention Task Force
Personal Life
Doris Matsui has one son, Brian, and two grandchildren. In 2020, she married Roger Sant, who co-founded a company called AES Corporation.
See also
- List of Asian Americans and Pacific Islands Americans in the United States Congress
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
