Barbara Boxer

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Barbara Boxer
Junior U.S. Senator from California
In office 1993–Present
Preceded by	Alan Cranston
Succeeded by	Incumbent (2011)
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 6th district
In office 1983–1993
Preceded by	Phillip Burton
Succeeded by	Lynn C. Woolsey
Born	November 11, 1940 (age 66) Brooklyn, New York
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Stewart Boxer
Profession	Stockbroker, Journalist
Religion	Judaism

Barbara Levy Boxer (born November 11, 1940) is an American politician and the current junior U.S. Senator from the State of California.

A member of the Democratic Party, Boxer was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1992. Throughout her career, Boxer has been a vocal advocate for environmental issues, abortion rights, gun control, and medical research. She is generally classified as a progressive or liberal in the left wing of her party and is often in conflict with conservative groups. Her electoral margins have increased each time she has sought re-election. With the 110th Congress convening, Boxer has taken position as Chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. She is the first woman to chair the Committee.

She has held the position of Chief Deputy Whip in Minority, and as of January 4, 2007 is currently the new Chief Deputy Whip in Majority.

Contents 1 Early life and family 2 U.S. Representative 3 U.S. Senator 3.1 Elections 3.2 2010 Election 3.3 Bills and policy positions 3.3.1 Health care 3.3.2 Education 3.3.3 The economy 3.3.4 The environment 3.3.5 Abortion rights 3.3.6 Victims of violence 3.3.7 Social Security 3.3.8 National security 3.3.9 Contesting official election results 3.3.10 Election reform 3.3.11 Bush nominees 3.3.12 Foreign policy 3.3.13 The Internet 3.3.14 Gun control 3.3.15 Same-sex marriage 3.3.16 Hate crimes 3.3.17 India-US nuclear deal 3.3.18 Indian gaming 3.3.19 Censuring President 4 Ideological ratings 5 Criticizing Condoleezza Rice's Character 6 Lecturing Colleague at Congressional Hearing 7 Awards and honors 8 Senate Committee assignments 9 Major speeches and statements 10 Trivia 11 Electoral history 12 Footnotes 13 External links

[edit] Early life and family

Boxer was born Barbara Levy in Brooklyn, New York to Jewish parents Sophie Silvershein (who was born in Austria) and Ira Levy.^[1] She attended public schools, and graduated from Wingate High School in 1958. She also attended Camp Kinder Ring in Hopewell Junction, New York.^[2] Levy graduated from Brooklyn College in 1962 with a degree in Economics. She was a member of the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority, in the Phi chapter. Later the same year she married Stewart Boxer.

Boxer worked as a stockbroker for the next three years, while her husband went through law school. Later, the couple moved to Greenbrae, Marin County, California, and had two children, Doug and Nicole. During the 1970s Boxer worked as a journalist for the Pacific Sun and as a congressional aide.^[3] In 1976, Boxer was elected to the Marin County Board of Supervisors, serving for six years.^[4] During part of this time she served as the first woman president of the board.^[5]

In 1994, her daughter, Nicole Boxer, married Tony Rodham, brother of then-First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, in a ceremony at the White House. The couple had one son, Zachary, and divorced in 2000.^[6]

Boxer's first novel, A Time to Run, published in 2005 by San Francisco-based publishing company Chronicle Books was released to mixed reception.^[7]

[edit] U.S. Representative

Boxer was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1982, defeating Louise Renne. Her slogan was "Barbara Boxer Gives a Damn." In the House, she represented California District 6 (Marin and Sonoma County) for five terms.^[8]

During this time she focused on human rights, environmental protection, military procurement reform, and abortion issues, from a pro-choice stance. She was also involved in seeking protection for whistleblowers in government and pushed for higher budget allocations for health, biomedical research, and education.

Boxer, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, exposed, with the help of the Project on Military Procurement (now POGO), the '$7,600 Pentagon coffee pot' and successfully passed more than a dozen procurement reforms.

However, Boxer also was involved in the House banking scandal in which Congressional representatives, herself included, wrote bad checks in large amounts, an issue that the Sacramento Bee covered in a March 1, 1992 article quoting Boxer as admitting she didn't pay enough attention to her House bank account. More specifically, that meant 143 bad checks totaling $41,417 over a three-year period that she had written on the House bank.

In 1991, during the Anita Hill Senate hearings, where Hill accused U.S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment, Boxer led a group of women House members to the Senate Judiciary Committee -- demanding that the all-white, all-male Committee of Senators take Hill's charges seriously.^[9] This helped propel Boxer's candidacy for the U.S. Senate in 1992, when a record number of women ran for the U.S. Senate.

[edit] U.S. Senator

[edit] Elections

Senator Boxer's predecessor, Democrat Alan Cranston, retired in 1992. She won the open seat contest in the U.S. Senate election, 1992, defeating Bruce Herschensohn, a conservative television commentator, by 3 percentage points after a last-minute revelation that Herschenson had attended a strip club.^[10] In 1998 she was re-elected for a second term, beating Matt Fong, a former state treasurer, by 10 percentage points.^[11] She had decided to retire in 2004 but says she decided to recontest to "fight for the right to dissent" against conservatives like Tom DeLay. After facing no primaries opposition in the 2004 election, Boxer decisively defeated Republican candidate Bill Jones, a former California Secretary of State, by a margin of 20%, garnering the highest number of votes in the history of direct elections for the U.S. Senate (with 6,955,728 votes^[12]) in the nation's most populous state, and the third highest vote total in the country in 2004 (behind only presidential candidates George W. Bush and John Kerry).^{[citation needed]}

[edit] 2010 Election

On February 19, 2007, Boxer announced that she will seek a fourth term in 2010.^[13] "You can't wait until the last minute", she said. She estimates that she will need $20 million for the campaign. The announcement was made at a fundrasier hosted by her Senate colleague, Barack Obama. It is unlikely that she will face a major challenger in the Democratic primary. There is speculation that many prominent California Republicans are considering running against Boxer, most notably, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Others include Congressmen David Drier and Darrell Issa and possibly State Senator Tom McClintock.

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[edit] Bills and policy positions

[edit] Health care

Senator Boxer is part of a coalition to increase medical research to find cures for diseases.^{[citation needed]} Boxer authored successful bipartisan legislation to accelerate global HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.^{[citation needed]} She authored a Patients' Bill of Rights in 1997. She has written a bill to make health insurance tax deductible and another bill to let any American buy into the same health insurance program that members of Congress have.^{[citation needed]} She supports comprehensive prescription drug coverage through Medicare and the right of all consumers to purchase lower-cost prescription drugs re-imported from Canada.^{[citation needed]}

In October, 2002, Boxer urged the Bush Administration to take specific steps to address the causes of the steep increase in autism cases in California.^[14] She wrote Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy Thompson to establish a common national standard for the diagnosis of autism; instruct the CDC and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry to convene a task force to review the current literature on autism and conduct its own study if necessary; and direct the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to work with the states to create a national chronic disease database.

Boxer is an advocate for stem-cell research, which she believes has the potential to help those with diabetes, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, spinal cord injuries, and other diseases.^[15]

[edit] Education

Boxer introduced legislation providing Federal funding for local after-school programs, which have been shown to increase student performance while decreasing juvenile delinquency, crime, and drug use.^[16] Her 'Computers in Classrooms' law encourages the donation of computers and software to schools.

Boxer supported the No Child Left Behind Act. Since its passage in 2001, she claims that the bill has been underfunded by billions of dollars. She vows to work towards a goal that assures it will be fully funded going forward, as originally pledged by President Bush.

Boxer has voted to increase the maximum award for the Pell Grant program, which provides grants to lower income students for college. In addition, she has supported tax benefits which she claims will help more families pay for higher education.

Boxer has co-introduced legislation which she claims is designed to allow college graduates to refinance their student loans at market rate, in order to ease the financial burden on those starting their careers.

Boxer established the Excellence in Education award to recognize teachers, parents, businesses and organizations that are working to make positive changes in education. Since 1997 Senator Boxer has presented the Excellence in Education Award to 38 recipients.^[17]

[edit] The economy

Senators Boxer and John Ensign (R-NV) are the authors of the Invest in the USA Act. This legislation, which was signed into law in October 2004, is intended to encourage American companies to bring overseas profits back to the United States, to create jobs in the U.S., and stimulate domestic economic growth. According to one economic estimate, the Invest in the USA Act will create over 600,000 new American jobs.[2]

In March 2004, Boxer offered an amendment to the Federal budget to create a $24 billion jobs reserve fund. The amendment would set aside funds for a variety of investments to improve the economy and create jobs by establishing a manufacturing jobs tax credit for companies that create jobs in the United States, expanding investment in science research and development, providing a tax credit to small businesses to pay for health insurance for their employees, and expanding trade adjustment assistance to help those who lose their jobs because of foreign trade. The Boxer amendment would also end the tax break that companies receive after moving plants overseas.

[edit] The environment

Boxer successfully led the 2003 Senate floor battle to block oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.^[18] In 2005, Boxer voted again to block oil drilling at ANWR.

Boxer has introduced the National Oceans Protection Act (NOPA) of 2005.^[19] Some of the provisions of this act are: strengthen ocean governance; protect and restore marine wildlife and habitats; address ocean pollution; improve fisheries management. The bill also addresses needs regarding marine science, research and technology, marine mammals, coastal development, and invasive species.

Boxer is an original co-sponsor of Senator Jim Jeffords’ (I-VT) Clean Power Act.^[20] This legislation would reduce emissions of four pollutants coming from power plants; sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide and mercury.

As the new head of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in January 2007, Boxer wants to reduce energy consumption. She is trying to curb global warming by leading pilot programs. The few things that she and some of her fellow Senators are doing could cut electricity consumption by as much as 50 percent in their Capitol Hill offices.^[21]

In 1997 she voted against the ratifiation of the Kyoto Treaty on Resolution S. 98.

[edit] Abortion rights

Boxer authored the Freedom of Choice Act of 2004 and participated in the floor fight for passage of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.

Boxer is an original cosponsor of the Title X Family Planning Services Act of 2005, S.844, by Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY). This legislation aims to reduce unintended pregnancies, reduce the number of abortions, and improve access to women's health care. It authorizes funding for family planning services grants; allows states to provide such services to individuals who may not be eligible for Medicaid; prohibits health insurance providers from excluding contraceptive services, drugs or devices from benefits; establishes a program to disseminate information on emergency contraception; requires hospitals receiving federal funding to offer emergency contraception to victims of sexual assault; provides grants to public and private entities to establish or expand teen pregnancy prevention programs; and requires that federally funded education programs about contraception be medically accurate and include information about health benefits and failure rates.

Boxer does not support restrictions on the availability of abortion, such as late term ("partial-birth") abortion procedures, and parental notification requirements.

[edit] Victims of violence

As a member of the House of Representatives, Boxer authored the original Violence Against Women Act. Later in 1994, she co-sponsored, and the Senate passed, the Violence Against Women Act, which provided reforms to the criminal justice system to better prosecute violent crimes against women, and provided Federal funding to local law enforcement agencies for training and equipment necessary for prosecution. Boxer has also authored the Violence Against Children Act, based on the successful VAWA.

[edit] Social Security

Boxer supports the current system of Social Security, and opposed President Bush's plan for partial privatization of Social Security.^[22][23] She introduced the 401(k) Pension Protection Act to protect retirement by requiring the diversification of 401(k) plans. A modified version of the bill was signed into law as part of the 1997 tax bill.

Following the Enron scandal, Boxer again worked to ensure that retirement plans are diversified. She also introduced a bill to prohibit accounting firms from auditing and consulting for the same company.

[edit] National security

After the September 11th attacks, Boxer authored a bill to protect commercial airliners against attacks by shoulder-fired missiles, and wrote the law allowing airline pilots with special training to carry guns in the cockpit.

Boxer wrote the High-Tech Port Security Act, and sponsored the Chemical Security Act to address terrorist threats against chemical plants. Senator Boxer also cosponsored comprehensive rail security legislation.

In October 2002 Boxer voted against the joint resolution passed by the U.S. Congress to authorize the use of military force by the Bush Administration against Iraq. [3], [4], [5] Later on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart she characterized that vote as "The best vote of my life."

In June 2005, Senators Boxer and Russ Feingold (D-WI) cosponsored Senate Resolution 171 calling for a timeframe for U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq.

Boxer's petition demanding an exit strategy from Iraq drew 107,218 signatures. [6].

[edit] Contesting official election results

On January 6, 2005, Boxer joined Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio in filing a Congressional objection to the certification of Ohio's Electoral College votes in the 2004 U.S. presidential election.[7] She called the objection her "opening shot to be able to focus the light of truth on these terrible problems in the electoral system".[8], [9], [10] The Senate vote on the objection was 1 Yea - 74 Nay, the House vote was 31 Yea - 267 Nay.[11] It was only the second Congressional objection to an entire State's electoral delegation in U.S. history, the first instance was in 1877. [12], [13]

Boxer later said that she objected to the certification after having seen Fahrenheit 9/11, a Michael Moore movie that pointed out that after the 2000 Florida election debacle, not a single Senator joined the Congressional Black Caucus to object to the electoral college -- despite massive allegation of ballot box chicanery. Boxer explained that, after viewing the movie, she was embarrassed and vowed that such a disgrace would never happen again without a fight.

As a gesture of appreciation and support for her stands on the Presidential election irregularities and Condoleezza Rice's confirmation hearings, Stacy Davies of California began, via email, the "Barbara Boxer Rose Campaign", wherein people collaborated to buy Senator Boxer roses. The campaign drew an impressive response, and 4,500 roses were sent en masse to Senator Boxer's office on Valentine's Day, 2005.

[edit] Election reform

On February 18, 2005 Senators Barbara Boxer, Hillary Clinton, and Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones introduced the Count Every Vote Act of 2005, which would provide a voter verified paper ballot for every vote cast in electronic voting machines and ensure access to voter verification for all citizens. The bill mandates that this ballot be the official ballot for purposes of a recount. The bill sets a uniform standard for provisional ballots so that every qualified voter will know their votes are treated equally, and requires the Federal Election Assistance Commission to issue standards that ensure uniform access to voting machines and trained election personnel in every community. The bill also improves security measures for electronic voting machines. In contrast, she does not support a national identification program which would require voters to positively identify themselves prior to voting.

[edit] Bush nominees

During the confirmation hearings for the Secretary of State nominee Condoleezza Rice in January 2005, Boxer challenged her to admit to alleged mistakes and false statements made by the Bush Administration in leading the United States into the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and ultimately voted against confirmation, along with twelve other senators. [14], [15] The dissent comprised the highest vote against a Secretary of State nominee since 1825^{[citation needed]} when Henry Clay was so named.

Boxer voted against John Bolton's nomination for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and filibustered him on the Senate floor. As a result of the strong Democratic opposition Bolton could not obtain Senate approval. However, President Bush bypassed the Senate by employing the constitutional right of recess appointment, only the second time such an appointment has been used for a United States ambassador to the United Nations since the UN's founding in 1945. Recess appointments themselves have been used numerous times by various presidents.

Boxer voted against the confirmation of Chief Justice of the United States nominee John Roberts, and against the confirmation of Associate Justice nominee Samuel Alito.[16], [17] Her votes against these two nominees were motivated by concerns over their record on abortion, women's rights, and the proper role of executive authority.

[edit] Foreign policy

In 1997 the Senate passed a Boxer resolution calling on the United States not to recognize the Taliban as the official government of Afghanistan because of its human rights abuses against women. In October 2001, Boxer successfully authored a resolution calling for the inclusion of women in the temporary government of Afghanistan.

In 2002, Senator Boxer voted against the U.S. invasion of Iraq. She has subsequently referred to that vote as the best vote of her career.

In March 2005 the Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed Boxer's amendment to the Foreign Affairs Reauthorization Bill strongly urging Saudi Arabia to permit women to run for office and vote in all future elections.

Boxer is a cosponsor of S. 495, or the Darfur Accountability Act of 2005, which would impose sanctions against perpetrators of crimes against humanity in Darfur. Sanctions under this legislation include imposition of a military no-fly zone in Darfur, a coordinated effort between the U.S. and Sudanese governments to track down and prosecute individuals in Sudan in any way involved with genocide or other war crimes in Darfur, a call for the Sudanese Government to take an active roll in combating Janjaweed forces within its borders, and a policy of sanctions against the Sudanese government, including sanctions which will affect the petroleum sector, and individual members of the Sudanese government whose actions support the crimes of violent militias in Darfur.

[edit] The Internet

Along with former Republican Senator George Allen (R-VA), Boxer authored the Jumpstart Broadband Act. This bill would make more spectrum available for use by devices that incorporate new broadband technology, such as WiFi. The Federal Communications Commission is now implementing the Boxer-Allen bill. Boxer is also supporting legislation to provide a 20% tax credit for expanding broadband to rural areas.

Boxer opposes access and sales taxes on the Internet, co-authoring a bill with Republican Sen. George Allen in 2001 to extend the Internet tax moratorium for five years. She is also the co-author of bipartisan legislation to protect stock options.

Boxer has joined in introducing the Spy Block Act of 2005, S. 687, in the U.S. Senate. The bill would regulate the unauthorized installation of computer software; require disclosure of software features that may pose a threat to privacy; prohibits false/misleading representations about software that cannot be uninstalled or disabled through usual program removal functions.

[edit] Gun control

Boxer authored legislation to require child safety locks on guns.

Senator Boxer joined colleagues to pass a Federal ban on various semi-automatic firearms and established the COPS program. She supports reauthorization of both programs. She also supports a ban on so-called 'cop-killer' bullets (with hard metal cores which can penetrate protective vests).

Senator Boxer introduced legislation which would require American-made handguns to meet the same quality and safety standards as imported guns, in an attempt to get these "Saturday night special" guns off of the "street". These so-called "junk guns" are inexpensive, easily concealable, and are often purchased by those who cannot afford higher quality weapons.

She has drawn criticism from gun owners and gun rights groups for her hypocrisy on gun legislation in light of the fact that she possesses a California permit to carry a concealed weapon, a rarity given the considerable difficulty in obtaining a permit in her home state.

[edit] Same-sex marriage

Boxer has been a strong voice in support of equal rights for gays and lesbians. She has publicly spoken out against the Federal Marriage Amendment and has been a strong supporter of domestic partnership rights for same-sex couples and their protection from workplace discrimination. In 1996, she was one of fourteen senators to vote against the Defense of Marriage Act.

Boxer is a cosponsor of the Uniting American Families Act, a bill which would allow US citizens and legal residents to sponsor their same-sex partners for residency.

Boxer does not support same-sex marriage.

[edit] Hate crimes

Senator Boxer is a cosponsor of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which would aid Federal authorities in assisting local hate crime investigations and prosecutions and would expand the federal definition of hate crimes to include crimes based on the victim's gender, sexual orientation, or disability.

[edit] India-US nuclear deal

Barbara Boxer is one of the most outspoken critics of the Nuclear energy deal between USA and India. Boxer is of the opinion that India should not get help from the US in the civilian nuclear energy sector until it breaks its relationship with Iran.^[24]

[edit] Indian gaming

The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, formerly the Federated Coast Miwok, was officially recognized by the U.S. government on December 27, 2000, pursuant to an act of Congress. California 6th District Representative Lynn Woolsey introduced the Graton Rancheria Restoration Act (105th CONGRESS, 2d Session, H.R. 4434) August 6, 1998. It was ultimately approved and signed by President Clinton as Title XIV of the Omnibus Indian Advancement Act (Public Law No. 106-568).

Representative Woolsey's original bill (H.R. 4434, later H.R. 946) would not have permitted the FIGR to have an Indian casino. Senator Boxer removed that prohibition when she included Woolsey's bill in the Omnibus Act.

[edit] Censuring President

Sen Boxer is, along with Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, one of only two Senate Democrats to come out in favor of Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold's resolution to censure President George W. Bush, although Congress has not determined culpability in the issue.

[edit] Ideological ratings

The American Civil Liberties Union has given her 75%. [18]

The League of Conservation Voters has given her 100% on environmental issues. [19]

The American Conservative Union has given her a lifetime rating of 3%[20]

[edit] Criticizing Condoleezza Rice's Character

Boxer has criticised United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's judgement in relation to the war in Iraq: "I personally believe — this is my personal view — that your loyalty to the mission you were given, to sell the war, overwhelmed your respect for the truth."^[25]

In January 2007, Boxer was in the news for comments she made when responding to Bush's plans to send an additional 20,000 troops to Iraq. "Who pays the price?" Boxer asked Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. "I'm not going to pay a personal price. My kids are too old and my grandchild is too young. You're not going to pay a personal price, as I understand it, with an immediate family. So who pays the price? The American military and their families ... not me, not you." When Rice interjected, Boxer responded by saying, "Madam Secretary, please. I know you feel terrible about it. That's not the point. I was making the case as to who pays the price for your decisions. And the fact that this administration would move forward with this escalation with no clue as to the further price that we're going to pay militarily ... I find really appalling."^[26]

The New York Post and White House Press Secretary Tony Snow considered this an attack on Rice's status as a single, childless female and referred to Boxer's comments as "a great leap backward for feminism."^[27] Debra J. Saunders, a commentator with the San Francisco Chronicle responded to Boxer's comments: "In citing Rice's childlessness, Boxer was doing what many lefties do -- coming up with conditions that others must meet in order to be entitled to dissenting opinions. It makes about as much sense as arguing, before the war, that only people whose children had to live in Iraq under Saddam Hussein had a right to oppose U.S. troops in Iraq." Saunders continued her response to Boxer by stating, "Anyway, if not paying a personal price on Iraq means that your opinion is not particularly legitimate, then by her own logic, Boxer should cork it.".^[28]

Keith Olbermann accused the commentators, particularlly Rush Limbaugh, of making Boxer's comments into an issue when the same people were not outraged when "Laura Bush said Secretary Rice would never be elected president because she was not married."^[29]

[edit] Lecturing Colleague at Congressional Hearing

During a congressional hearing on global warming on March 21, 2007 with Al Gore, Sen. Boxer lectured Senator James Inhofe on procedures for questioning the former vice president.

The exchange:

Senator James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma): "I mentioned this in my opening statement about they’re, they’re criticizing you for some of your, your being too alarmist and hurting your own cause. Now, I’ll ask you to respond in writing for that one because that would be a very long response, I’m afraid. Now, it seems that everybody– Global warming in the media joined the chorus last summer–"

Former Vice President Al Gore: "Well, I would like to– May I– May I–"

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-California): "Excuse me, Senator Inhofe. We’ll freeze the time for a minute."

Inhofe: "Oh, yes."

Boxer: "I’m just trying to make–"

Inhofe: "Take your time. We’re freezing the time."

Boxer: "No, no. We're freezing the time just for a minute. I want, I want to talk to you a minute, please. [ Laughter ] Would you, would you agree, would you agree to let the Vice President answer your questions? And then if you want an extra few minutes at the end, I'm happy to give it to you. But we're not going to get anywhere."

Inhofe: "Why don’t we do this– Why don’t we do this– At the end, you can have as much time as you want to answer all the questions?"

Boxer: "No, that isn’t the rule. You’re not making the rules, you used to when you did this. [Boxer holds up the gavel.] You don’t do this anymore. Elections have consequences."

[edit] Awards and honors

Boxer has been honored in Congress by:

• Consumer Federation of America
• The Coalition to Stop Government Waste
• Planned Parenthood
• The League of Conservation Voters
• Public Citizen
• Sierra Club
• The Center for Environmental Education
• The Center for Defense Information
• The American Association of University Women

Boxer has been recognized as a champion of human rights by:

• The Anti-Defamation League
• The Human Rights Campaign
• The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
• Women's Image Network, The WIN Awards Lifetime Achievement Honoree 2006
• The Family Violence Law Centre
• Division of Women's Issues of the New York State Psychological Association
• NETWORK, National Catholic Social Justice Lobby

Boxer has been presented with various other honors:

• The Trustees of Mills College in the State of California - Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa
• The Trustees of Dominican University of California - Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa

[edit] Senate Committee assignments

Barbara Boxer serves on the:

• Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where she is Chairwoman of the Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs Subcommittee and a member of the Subcommittees on International Operations and Terrorism, and the Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Narcotics Affairs.
• Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, where she is Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on National Oceans Policy Study, and a member of the Subcommittees on Aviation, Communications, Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine, and Competition, Foreign Commerce, and Infrastructure.
• Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, of which she is chairwoman and also she is Chairwoman on the Superfund and Waste Management Subcommittee and a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee.

A member of the Senate Democratic Leadership, Boxer serves as the Democratic Chief Deputy Whip, which gives her the job of lining up votes on key legislation. She also serves on the Democratic Policy Committee's Committee on Oversight and Investigations.

[edit] Major speeches and statements

• Excerpts from Senator Boxer's Senate Floor Statement on the Resolution Authorizing the Use of Military Force against Iraq, October 10, 2002
• On Her Objection to the Certification of Ohio’s Electoral College Votes, January 6, 2005
• Transcript from the Confirmation Hearing of Condoleezza Rice, January 18, 2005
• Senate Floor Debate on the Confirmation of Condoleezza Rice as Secretary of State, January 26, 2005
• On the Nomination of Alberto Gonzales to be Attorney General, February 1, 2005
• On the President's Budget, February 7, 2005
• On Social Security, February 11, 2005
• Senate Floor Debate on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, March 16, 2005
• Statement on Earth Day, April 20, 2005
• On the Iraq War, July 6, 2005
• On Karl Rove's CIA Leak, July 20, 2005
• On the Energy Bill, July 29, 2005
• On Her Opposition to the Confirmation of Chief Justice Nominee John Roberts, September 21, 2005
• Addressing World Affairs Council of Northern California (Video), October 13, 2006

[edit] Trivia

• Boxer, along with Barbara Mikulski,^[30] is one of the two shortest United States Senators currently in office, standing at 4'11".^[31] She uses a box (known as the Boxer Box) for height when speaking at a lectern.^[32]

• Boxer appeared in a cameo on the third season premiere of Gilmore Girls playing herself as Paris Geller tried to engage her in debate. Annoyed with the girl's relentless viewpoints, Boxer then passed Paris off to Rep. Doug Ose (R-CA), much to his chagrin and confusion.

• In October 2006, Radar magazine placed Boxer at number 5 on its list of "America's Dumbest Congressmen".[21]

[edit] Electoral history

2004 California United States Senatorial Election

Barbara Boxer (D) (inc.) 58%

Bill Jones (R) 38%

Marsha Feinland (Peace and Freedom) 2%

James P. Gray (Lib.) 2%

1998 California United States Senatorial Election

Barbara Boxer (D) (inc.) 53%

Matt Fong (R) 43%

1992 California United States Senatorial Election

Barbara Boxer (D) 47.9%

Bruce Herschensohn (R) 43%

Genevieve Torres (Peace and Freedom) 3.5%

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] External links

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• United States Senator Barbara Boxer official Senate site
  • List of Bills Sponsored
• Barbara Boxer's PAC for a Change
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Federal Election Commission - Barbara Boxer campaign finance reports and data
• Newsmeat - Campaign contributions to Barbara Boxer
• Newsmeat - Campaign contributions by Barbara Boxer
• New York Times - Barbara Boxer News collected news and commentary
• On the Issues - Barbara Boxer issue positions and quotes
• OpenSecrets.org - Barbara Boxer campaign contributions
• Project Vote Smart - Senator Barbara Boxer (CA) profile
• SourceWatch Congresspedia - Barbara Boxer profile
• Washington Post - Congress Votes Database: Barbara Boxer voting record
• Barbara Boxer speaks at The World Affairs Council of Northern California video

Articles

• Barbara Boxer on Darfur humanitarian crisis
• Elena Ong's Woman of the Year 2005
• Progressive Magazine: Barbara Boxer Interview
• Hero for a New Generation of Democrats
• NPR: Barbara Boxer: Rice Hearings and the 2004 Vote

Political offices
Preceded by Phillip Burton	United States Representative for the 6th District of California 1983–1993	Succeeded by Lynn C. Woolsey
Preceded by Alan Cranston	United States Senator (Class 3) from California 1993–Present	Succeeded by Incumbent

California's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators: Dianne Feinstein (D) · Barbara Boxer (D) Representative(s): Mike Thompson (D) · Wally Herger (R) · Dan Lungren (R) · John T. Doolittle (R) · Doris Matsui (D) · Lynn C. Woolsey (D) · George Miller (D) · Nancy Pelosi (D) · Barbara Lee (D) · Ellen Tauscher (D) · Jerry McNerney (D) · Tom Lantos (D) · Pete Stark (D) · Anna Eshoo (D) · Mike Honda (D) · Zoe Lofgren (D) · Sam Farr (D) · Dennis Cardoza (D) · George Radanovich (R) · Jim Costa (D) · Devin Nunes (R) · Kevin McCarthy (R) · Lois Capps (D) · Elton Gallegly (R) · Howard McKeon (R) · David Dreier (R) · Brad Sherman (D) · Howard Berman (D) · Adam Schiff (D) · Henry Waxman (D) · Xavier Becerra (D) · Hilda Solis (D) · Diane Watson (D) · Lucille Roybal-Allard (D) · Maxine Waters (D) · Jane Harman (D) · Juanita Millender-McDonald (D) · Grace Napolitano (D) · Linda Sánchez (D) · Ed Royce (R) · Jerry Lewis (R) · Gary Miller (R) · Joe Baca (D) · Ken Calvert (R) · Mary Bono (R) · Dana Rohrabacher (R) · Loretta Sanchez (D) · John Campbell (R) · Darrell Issa (R) · Brian Bilbray (R) · Bob Filner (D) · Duncan Hunter (R) · Susan Davis (D) All delegations: Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming — American Samoa • District of Columbia • Guam • Puerto Rico • U.S. Virgin Islands