Senator Dianne Feinstein, 90, had suffered from extensive health issues for more than a year before she died Friday
California Senator Dianne Feinstein has reportedly passed away at the age of 90, according to sources from Fox News. Senator Feinstein had faced significant health challenges for over a year, raising questions about her ability to carry out her duties. The exact cause of her death remained unclear as of Friday morning.
Notably, Senator Feinstein was present in the Senate on Wednesday and participated in a vote at 11:45 a.m. ET, as documented in the congressional record.
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However, she was absent for two subsequent votes later in the afternoon.
Democratic Majority Whip Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., reflected on Feinstein’s legacy, remembering her as both a friend and colleague for over two decades. Durbin emphasized her unwavering commitment to causes she believed in, noting her significant contributions in areas such as the assault weapons ban and addressing violence against women. He described her as a true leader in the Senate.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., expressed his sorrow, stating that it was a very sad day for all. He announced that he would be delivering remarks on the Senate floor at 10:00 a.m. ET.
Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who served alongside Feinstein on the Senate Committee on Intelligence, praised her as a political pioneer with a historic career in public service. Rubio described her as intelligent, hardworking, and always treating everyone with courtesy and respect. He concluded with a wish for her eternal rest.
Dianne Feinstein, who served as the longest-serving female senator in U.S. history, was initially elected to this role in 1992.
According to her official biography, Senator Feinstein led a bipartisan group of senators in passing legislation aimed at significantly increasing the fuel efficiency of automobiles. She was a prominent advocate for legalizing gay marriage and securing rights for the LGBTQ+ community.
Feinstein was recognized for her commitment to preserving natural areas such as the Mojave Desert, Lake Tahoe, and California’s forests. Her contributions included the establishment of the nationwide AMBER Alert network, efforts to criminalize border drug tunnels, and a sustained focus on enhancing California’s water infrastructure and mitigating wildfire risks. She also championed the cause of implementing commonsense gun control laws.
Dianne Feinstein’s biography highlights several of her most notable achievements and milestones in her distinguished career:
- Federal Assault Weapons Ban: She is credited with the enactment of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban in 1994.
- CIA Detention and Interrogation Program Review: Feinstein led a six-year review of the CIA’s detention and interrogation program. This effort culminated in the release of the executive summary of the report in 2014 and the passage of legislation to ensure that certain post-9/11 interrogation methods are never used again.
Before her tenure as a senator, Feinstein had an extensive political career in California:
- San Francisco County Supervisor: She served as a San Francisco County Supervisor for nine years, starting in 1969.
- Mayor of San Francisco: Feinstein became the mayor of San Francisco in 1978 and was elected to two consecutive four-year terms.
Throughout her career, Senator Feinstein achieved a series of significant firsts:
- She was the first woman to hold the position of president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
- Feinstein was also the first woman to become mayor of San Francisco.
- She became the first woman to be elected as Senator from California.
- Feinstein was not only the first woman member but also the first woman-ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- She made history as the first woman to chair the Senate Rules and Administration Committee.
- Additionally, Feinstein served as the first woman to chair the Senate Intelligence Committee.
These accomplishments underscore her pioneering role in breaking barriers and her contributions to American politics and governance.
In February, Senator Feinstein made the decision not to seek a sixth term as California’s senior senator in the 2024 general election. Shortly after this announcement, she faced health challenges when she was absent from the Senate for over two months while recovering from a case of shingles.
Amid growing concerns about her health, Feinstein relinquished her position as the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee following the 2020 elections, just as her party was set to assume the majority in the Senate. In 2023, she also opted not to serve as the Senate president pro tempore, a role typically assumed by the most senior member of the majority party. This position involves opening the Senate’s daily sessions and performing other ceremonial duties.
As a gesture of recognition and respect, members of Senator Feinstein’s staff have placed flowers on her desk on the Senate floor as of Friday morning.