...more recent posts
Friday, Nov 02, 2001
Di Fi
November 2, 2001
Well, I finally got a response from Feinstein to my "let's keep God out of this" letter. Glad to see she took the time to address my concerns.
From: senator@feinstein.senate.gov
Subject: Senator Dianne Feinstein responding to your message
Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2001 22:55:29 -0500
October 31, 2001
Thank you so much for contacting me to share your thoughts and concerns. As I am sure you know, letters containing anthrax disrupted Congress by forcing the closure of the House and Senate office buildings. We are also deeply saddened to learn of the deaths and illnesses of Postal workers and other innocent victims infected by anthrax.
Through these trying times, the Capitol has remained open and legislative work is continuing. Also, some of the other office buildings are being reopened. Unfortunately, it appears the Hart Senate Office Building, which is where my office is located, may remain closed for an undetermined length of time. During this period, I am working out of a one-room office with many of my staff in the basement of the U.S. Capitol with only one computer having access to our Senate network.
In the average week, we receive approximately 30,000 letters and e-mails, but the mail is being held up by the Capitol police pending the establishment of a better screening process. And even when the mail service is resumed, because of the closure of my Senate offices, it is simply not possible to respond individually to the letters and e-mail I am continuing to receive.
Because of these unprecedented events, I have asked my constituents who require a specific response, need assistance with a Federal agency or have a specific request for information, to call or write one of my California offices. The lead staff member at each office is listed below along with the address and telephone. I plan to have a conference call every day with my California offices specifically to be updated on the issues raised by these calls and letters and staff will continue to respond to specific casework requests.
And while it is not possible at this time for me to respond precisely to the issues and questions you have raised in your letter, I thought you might be interested in what is happening in Congress and what is apt to happen in the coming weeks.
Currently, we are in the process of completing the remaining appropriations bills that provide the funding for most of what the Federal government does, be it health care, transportation projects, defense, foreign affairs or law enforcement.
As chair of the Technology, Terrorism and Government Information Subcommittee and a member of the Select Committee on Intelligence, I have been actively involved in legislative efforts to strengthen our country's defenses against terrorism and I hope to see passage of measures to provide protection on our airlines, at our ports of entry and from bioterrorism. I am also hopeful that a new economic stimulus package will be approved, providing a careful balance of tax cuts and financial relief.
Finally, I want to thank you for your patience and understanding at this time of great certainty. I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you. Below is a list of my California offices and contact information:
San Francisco
One Post Street, Suite 2450
San Francisco, CA 94104
Russ Lowe, Office Manager
415-393-0707
Los Angeles
11111 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 915
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Guillermo Gonzalez, Acting State Director
310-914-7300
Fresno
1130 "O" Street, Suite 2446
Fresno, CA 93721
Juliette de Campos, Office Manager
559-485-7430
San Diego
750 "B" Street
San Diego, CA 92101
Mike Richmond, Office Manager
619-231-9712
Let's all pull together and get through this.
Sincerely yours,
Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator
http://feinstein.senate.gov