Senator Dianne Feinstein

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Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat, (@SenFeinstein) is California’s senior U.S. senator and the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

One of her most notable achievements was leading the six-year review of the CIA’s detention and interrogation program. This effort culminated in the 2014 release of the report’s executive summary and passage of legislation banning the use of torture.

In 2017, Senator Feinstein became the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee—the first woman to assume that role—where she helps shape policy on criminal law, national security, immigration, civil rights and the courts. She also oversees judicial nominations and major investigations, including Russia’s interference in the 2016 election.

Senator Feinstein was the first woman to chair the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence—a position she held for six years beginning in 2009. During her tenure as chairman, Senator Feinstein oversaw the passage of six consecutive intelligence authorization bills and the release of a key bipartisan report on the Benghazi attacks. She remains on the committee today.

Senator Feinstein is also a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, where she serves as ranking member on the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development. In that role, she has secured billions of dollars for California communities, including critical transportation, water supply and federal building projects.

She continues to serve on the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, which she chaired during the 110th Congress. In that capacity, Senator Feinstein was the first woman to chair the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies and presided over the inauguration of President Barack Obama in 2009.

In addition to her committee assignments, Senator Feinstein is co-chairman of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, co-chairman of the Senate Cancer Coalition and co-chairman of the Senate Women’s Caucus on Burma. She is also a member of the Anti-Meth Caucus, the Congressional Dairy Caucus and the Congressional Former Mayors Caucus. She has served as a member of the Aspen Strategy Group since 1997.