After meeting with key business and academic leaders beginning at Stanford University in the summer of 2005, Representative Eshoo worked with House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi to develop the House Democrats Innovation Agenda, which was unveiled in November 2005:

• Create an educated, skilled workforce in the vital areas of science, math, engineering and information technology;
• Invest in a sustained federal research and development initiative that promotes public-private partnerships;
• Guarantee affordable access to broadband technology for all Americans;
• Achieve energy independence in 10 years by developing emerging technologies for clean and sustainable alternatives that will strengthen national security and protect the environment; and
• Provide small businesses with the tools to encourage entrepreneurial innovation and job creation.

To meet the goals of the Agenda, Representative Eshoo joined in introducing the following bills:

• H.R. 5372, the Bioenergy Innovation, Optional Fuel Utilization and Energy Legacy Act;
• Original cosponsor of the 10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds Science and Math Scholarship Act, which increases scholarships for educating mathematics and science teachers. The goal of this legislation is to increase, by up to 10,000 per year, the number of elementary and secondary mathematics and science teachers in our nation’s schools; and
• Cosponsored and pushed for the enactment of the Invest in America Act, in order to modernize and make permanent the Research and Development Tax Credit.

On January 4, 2002, President Bush signed into law landmark legislation authored by Representative Eshoo to help ensure a healthier future for children. By extending the highly successful pediatric exclusivity incentive for an additional six years, The Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act of 2001 grants pharmaceutical companies an additional six months of marketing exclusivity in exchange for their commitment to increase pediatric drug research and the development of child-friendly drug formulations.

Representative Eshoo has long advocated for Medicare reform, calling for an affordable, comprehensive prescription drug benefit for all seniors. She fought against the new Medicare bill that passed in the U.S. House of Representatives in late 2003, believing that the bill weakens Medicare and fails to provide the coverage 40 million Medicare beneficiaries desperately need. Representative Eshoo pointed out that the bill doesn’t lower drug costs, nor does it address the rising costs of prescription drugs. Despite the bill’s passage, she’s committed to working for real Medicare reform in the coming years.

Previously, Representative Eshoo led the successful effort to forestall the implementation of a rule proposed by the Bush Administration to trim Medicaid reimbursement to California public hospitals by one-third over five to eight years, ensuring a loss of at least $300 million annually when fully implemented. Health advocates agreed that the proposal not only threatened the viability of California's Medi-Cal program; it could in fact trigger a devastating ripple effect across the entire healthcare system impacting public, private and children's hospitals.

In 2001, Representative Eshoo and colleagues introduced the Bipartisan Patient Protection Act of 2001 (H.R. 2563), which would have provided all 161 million privately insured Americans with a number of protections, including the ability to file appeals if denied care by an HMO, the right to obtain emergency services without permission from their insurer, and other consumer protections.

In an effort to improve and extend the lives of Americans living with life-threatening diseases, Representative Eshoo authored legislation to ensure that new medical technologies are delivered to patients safely. Her bill (H.R. 5651) amended FDA regulations to provide new resources to help approve life-saving products, including medical devices and pharmaceuticals. The President signed it into law on October 26, 2002.

Representative Eshoo successfully fought off efforts to gut $7 million in federal funds from the Ryan White programs in the Bay Area. Ryan White programs provide health care and supportive services to low-income, uninsured and underinsured persons living with HIV or AIDS.

Representative Eshoo introduced legislation to raise the cap on individual lifetime health insurance payments from $1 million to $10 million. This initiative was designed to improve legislation that prohibits health plans from limiting or denying coverage to people with pre-existing medical conditions.

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Education is an important issue in the 14th Congressional district, and Representative Eshoo has fought to preserve funding for education and to reinforce and improve our public school system.

Anna’s goal is to create and sustain a world-class education system for all America’s children.

President Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act (H.R. 1) into law on January 8, 2002. The bill increases the role of the federal government’s contribution to elementary and secondary education, providing for $24 billion in funding, a 29% increase. It included programs for teacher training and increased salaries, smaller classes, after-school programs, bilingual and immigrant programs, and technology upgrades and facility improvements.

Working hand-in-hand with Representative George Miller, the leading Democrat on the Education Committee, Representative Eshoo helped to ensure the bill would pass. However, since the bill passed, the House of Representatives has not provided the funding called for in the bill, preventing many of the reforms from being implemented. She has vowed to continue the fight to fully fund this critical investment in our country’s future.

Representative Eshoo cosponsored the Mandatory IDEA Full Funding Act (H.R. 823), which requires federal grant payments for education assistance for children with disabilities. Currently, the burden is carried by local schools to fund federally mandated special education. Representative Eshoo has worked to ensure that the federal government fulfills its obligations to students across the country with special needs.

To help parents save for their children’s higher education, Representative Eshoo sponsored the Higher Education Accumulation Program (HEAP) Act (H.R. 53). Signed into law in August 1997, the legislation allows parents to contribute up to $5,000 per year to a special IRA-like bank account for their children’s education. At the time of withdrawal, only interest generated from the account is taxed.

In addition, Representative Eshoo supported the Higher Education Act (HEA) (S. 1762), to expand access to post-secondary education for disadvantaged students. This legislation provides $43 billion in aid to students in the form of grants, loans and work-study programs. It also establishes fixed interest rates for students and their parents borrowing for education.

Representative Eshoo co-sponsored the America’s Better Classroom Act (H.R. 1076), which creates a partnership between the federal government, states and local school districts to repair, renovate and modernize schools. The legislation provides tax credits to pay the interest on school modernization bonds, and under this legislation, California would receive $3.1 billion in aid.

This legislation was badly needed, as the average American school is more than 40 years old. It’s estimated that at least $112 billion is needed to restore our schools, and another $60 billion is needed for new schools to accommodate the 3 million additional students expected to enroll by 2010.

To support the country’s technology industry, Representative Eshoo co-sponsored the Tech Talent Act (H.R. 3130), which passed in the House on July 9, 2002. This bill establishes a grant program at the National Science Foundation for colleges and universities that demonstrate a commitment to fighting the decline in the number of undergraduate degrees awarded in math and science. The grants are given to institutions that demonstrate increases in the number of students who earn degrees in science, mathematics, engineering or technology.

In addition, Representative Eshoo co-sponsored the Teacher Technology Training Act (H.R. 455), which established a grant program for local school districts that train teachers in classroom-related computer skills.

Representative Eshoo introduced the Computer Donation Incentive Act to give greater tax incentives to manufacturers and corporations for donating computers and software to K-12 classrooms.

The 14th Congressional District is rich in natural beauty and resources, and Representative Eshoo has been a fervent advocate for protecting and preserving the environment.

Throughout Anna's years in public service, she has been devoted to exploring alternative energy sources and developing policies to protect the coastline and our Baylands.

Representative Eshoo opposed the Bush Administration’s efforts to increase oil and gas drilling on federal lands and in federal waters, including 36 oil and gas leases off the California coast. She has appealed to the President to buy back oil leases and supported an amendment barring the development of the 36 leases. In December 2002, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court ruling in California’s suit to stop the development of the 36 off-short drilling leases.

In addition, she introduced the California Ocean Protection Act to permanently ban environmentally harmful activities—including offshore oil drilling, mining and toxic incineration—from California's coastal waters.

A longtime advocate for open space, Representative Eshoo co-sponsored "the Golden Gate National Recreation Area Boundary Adjustment of 2001," legislation that would provide for the addition of more than 4,700 acres of undeveloped land in San Mateo County to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. (GGNRA). This effort followed a successful campaign to add the Phleger Estate to the GGNRA in 1994, giving it approximately 1300 acres of redwood forest, which has become a common hiking destination in the mid-Peninsula area. Representative Eshoo also led the fight to secure $5 million in Federal funds for the purchase of Bair Island to be added to the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge.

In addition, Representative Eshoo played a key role in the effort to clean up the contaminated former salt marsh known as Site 25 in Moffett Field, part of South San Francisco Bay. The wetlands in this area of the bay play a vital role in maintaining a healthy environment and sustaining the local ecosystem. Along with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, environmental groups and a number of prominent elected officials, Representative Eshoo urged the Navy and NASA to remove the toxins in the marsh and restore the wetlands.

Representative Eshoo wrote The Act to Save America’s Forests (H.R. 2512) to strengthen the protection of native biodiversity and ban clearcutting on Federal lands. The legislation promotes environmentally friendly and economically sustainable logging and protects our remaining areas of forest biodiversity in the United States. In addition, Representative Eshoo co-sponsored the National Forest Roadless Area Conservation Act (H.R. 4865), which limits logging on approximately 58 million acres of forestland, which are some of the last areas of native biodiversity in the country.

In opposition to the Bush Administration’s Energy Policy Act that would open the Arctic Refuge to drilling, Representative Eshoo was an original co-sponsor of the Morris K. Udall Arctic Wilderness Act (H.R. 770), which would forever protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) from oil and gas drilling. She has fought for this bill because of the ecological and environmental impact on ANWR, but also because drilling in the area would only yield about a six-month supply of oil, leaving no measurable impact on our dependence on foreign oil. She has argued that the country could do much better by increasing automobile fuel economy standards.

Representative Eshoo has long argued that the best way to achieve energy security and reduce our dependence on foreign oil is to invest in energy-efficient technologies and raise fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks. Joining her colleague Representative George Miller, Representative Eshoo introduced legislation, the Safety and Fuel Economy (SAFE) Act (H.R. 2614), to eliminate the SUV loophole and increase Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) to 40 miles per gallon by 2012. Her bill will save 269 billion gallons of gasoline by 2015 and cuts greenhouse emissions by 529 million tons.

Continuing her ongoing efforts to protect Californians from groundwater contamination, Representative Eshoo re-introduced legislation in 2000 on behalf of the entire California delegation to exempt California from a federal mandate that requires the use of oxygenates—either ethanol or MTBE—in gasoline. MTBE is a carcinogen known to pollute groundwater, and federal requirements force refiners to use ethanol additives instead, which could raise prices by up to 50 cents per gallon. Citing California's outstanding record in reducing fuel emissions, her bill allows the state to use its own reformulated gasoline requirements in lieu of federal requirements as long as they "achieve equivalent or greater emissions reductions" than the federal standards they seek to replace. In 2003, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Bush Administration had violated The Clean Air Act when it denied California’s request to producer cleaner-burning gasoline without oxygenates. Later that year, Representative Eshoo again took to the House floor to denounce The Energy Policy Act, which absolves MTBE producers of liability for contaminated groundwater.

Representative Eshoo co-sponsored the Children’s Environmental Protection and Right to Know Act (H.R. 1657), giving communities the right to know about toxic chemicals in their neighborhoods. She also fought to pass the Safe Drinking Water Act including the “Eshoo Provision” to provide $3 million annually to train public health officials to recognize and treat waterborne diseases.

Throughout her years in public service, Representative Eshoo has been a faithful advocate for women and families, sponsoring and supporting landmark legislation to ensure that women receive health care, equal pay, and freedom of choice.

Representative Eshoo has consistently been given a 100% rating by women’s rights and family groups such as NARAL, Planned Parenthood and Children’s Defense Fund.

Representative Eshoo co-sponsored legislation to require insurance companies to cover contraceptives and family planning services.

Representative Eshoo co-sponsored legislation to repeal a ban on military women serving overseas that prevented them from using their own funds to obtain abortions.

Representative Eshoo co-sponsored the Women’s Choice and Reproductive Health Act to preserve a woman’s right to choose with a full range of reproductive health choices. She also co-sponsored the Women's Right to Know Act to prohibit the government from censoring information about reproductive health provided by doctors to women.

Representative Eshoo co-sponsored the Interstate Child Support Act and the Child Support Responsibility Act to improve interstate enforcement and collections of child support.

Representative Eshoo supports family planning services at home and around the globe. She fought for funding for the Title X family planning program, which gives grants to non-profit agencies that provide family planning services. These clinics serve nearly five million Americans, primarily low-income women and teens, through 4,600 clinics nationwide. In addition to contraceptive, infertility and gynecologic services, the clinics also screen women for sexually transmitted diseases and other health risks.

She co-sponsored the Global Democracy Promotion Act (H.R. 755), which allows foreign non-government organizations to use their own funds for family planning and disease prevention services. This was in response to the Bush Administration’s policy forbidding these organizations from receiving U.S. assistance, even if they use their own funds for family planning-related health and medical services. Representative Eshoo also co-sponsored the Microbicide Development Act of 2001 (H.R. 2405), to fund the development microbicide contraceptives, which prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, such as AIDS and syphilis.

As both a representative and a champion of Silicon Valley, Representative Eshoo has been a leader in developing policies to adapt to technological change. She has sponsored and supported legislation to combat SPAM, ensure public safety through better technology in 911 and 211 calls, protect consumer privacy, promote e-commerce and digital signature technology, and encourage free trade.

Anna is committed to protecting and encouraging the industries that have made the district and the country a leader in technological innovation.

Representative Eshoo introduced legislation to help alleviate the proliferation of unsolicited email, known as Spam. The U.S. House of Representatives passed The CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 (S. 877), which authorizes a “Do Not Spam” list, regulates commercial email, and imposes fines on spammers.

With the advent of the Internet, information—including personal information—is more accessible than ever before. To protect online consumers, Representative Eshoo authored the Consumer Internet Privacy Enhancement Act of 2001 (H.R. 237), which is bipartisan legislation designed to protect consumer privacy without impeding the free flow of information through the Internet. The bill ensures that consumers are given clear notice of how their personal information is being used by websites without impeding the growth of e-commerce.

Representative Eshoo has worked to incorporate advances in wireless technology to improve public safety. She introduced the E-911 Implementation Act of 2003, which ensures the ability to precisely locate emergency calls made by wireless phones. This legislation authorizes $500 million in funding to upgrade facilities, establishes the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to improve coordination among agencies, penalizes states that redirect E-911 funds, and authorizes the Federal Communications Commission to verify E-911 is being implemented across the country. Representative Eshoo is especially proud of her success in passing this important, life-saving legislation.

Because 911 operators are flooded with emergency calls, Representative Eshoo has introduced legislation to create an alternate number for citizens to call when they need non-emergency help. The bill, Calling for 2-1-1 Act of 2003, will establish the 211 system that will help people get non-emergency help for a variety of issues, such as a flooded basement, earthquake damage, child care programs, drug and alcohol treatment, and other important social services.

Technological innovation has allowed us to safely and quickly conduct business over the Internet. To enable and protect this type of electronic commerce, Representative Eshoo authored legislation to create a standard for accepting digital signatures, and then proposed an amendment to the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (H.R. 1714) that creates a universal standard for businesses to accept digital signatures for e-commerce. Her amendment allows consumers to choose whether to receive electronic records from businesses.

Representative Eshoo was an original co-sponsor of H.R. 850, the Security and Freedom through Encryption Act (SAFE), which eliminates export restrictions on encryption technology allowing high-tech companies to export higher encryption standards and compete equally with foreign companies.

Understanding the importance of broadband technologies to our economy and to consumers, Representative Eshoo co-sponsored a bill that would provide tax incentives to stimulate rapid deployment of broadband service to rural, low-income and residential areas currently lacking this technology. She also called upon the House and Senate leadership to include such measures in any economic stimulus package.

Representative Eshoo introduced bipartisan legislation to provide greater tax incentives for corporate donations of computers, software and related training to K-12 schools. The legislation also encourages such donations to non-profit and government organizations that provide computer training to people with disabilities.

To help schools get online, Representative Eshoo fought for increased funding for the E-rate program to provide discounts to public and private schools and libraries on telecommunications services, Internet access and internal networking. The savings realized from the E-rate program fosters greater parental involvement, spurs demand for the Internet, foster partnerships among diverse community institutions, and allows schools and libraries to make new investments in technology.

In response to reports that President Bush authorized an illegal wiretapping program, Representative Eshoo joined in introducing the Lawful Intelligence and Surveillance of Terrorists in an Emergency by NSA (LISTEN) Act (H.R. 5371). The legislation clarifies that any attempt to listen in on Americans or collect telephone or email records must be conducted in accordance with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA). It also states that contrary to the President’s views, the Authorization to Use Military Force in Iraq passed by Congress in October 2002 (which Rep. Eshoo opposed), did not constitute authority to engage in electronic surveillance outside of FISA.

In April 2004, Representative Eshoo and Representative Jane Harman of California, along with seven other members of the House Intelligence Committee, introduced the Intelligence Transformation Act (H.R. 4104), an effort to improve the leadership, management and performance of the intelligence community. Some key elements of the legislation include establishing a Director of National Intelligence as the principal intelligence advisor to the President, creating an Alternative Analysis Unit, sharing information among agencies and creating a WMD Proliferation Threat Integration Center to help the intelligence community assess threats of WMD proliferation.

Anna is committed to developing better intelligence methods to protect our country at home and abroad, to protecting human rights, and to supporting international relief and humanitarian efforts.

In April 2004, Representative Eshoo and Representative Jane Harman of California, along with seven other members of the House Intelligence Committee, introduced the Intelligence Transformation Act (H.R. 4104), an effort to improve the leadership, management and performance of the intelligence community. Some key elements of the legislation include establishing a Director of National Intelligence as the principal intelligence advisor to the President, creating an Alternative Analysis Unit, sharing information among agencies and creating a WMD Proliferation Threat Integration Center to help the intelligence community assess threats of WMD proliferation.

In 2002, Representative Eshoo voted against the President’s War Resolution and for an alternative Resolution by Representative John Spratt that would have required the U.S. to work with the United Nations for a diplomatic solution to the crisis. She voted for Congressional Resolution 104, which supports the troops, and she has repeatedly called for a greater commitment to ensure the troops have the protective gear they need and better veteran’s benefits. In May 2003, she traveled to Kuwait and Iraq to visit the troops and assess the conditions and challenges they face. After the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in the country, Representative Eshoo has advocated for an independent commission to examine the intelligence used to justify the war.

Representative Eshoo believes in the importance of the United Nations, which plays a unique role in the world as an advocate for human rights, a forum for developing policy on issues of mutual concern among nations and a supporter of world health. To support the U.N.’s mission, she sponsored H. Con. Res. 40, which is concerned with the U.S. meeting all of its obligations to the United Nations.

Afghanistan
Afghan women and children are some of the most vulnerable citizens of Afghanistan, which is facing incredible challenges in rebuilding its society and institutions. To help and protect Afghan women and children, Representative Eshoo co-sponsored the Afghan Women and Children Relief Act (H.R. 3330), which provides educational and healthcare assistance.

Cuba
Representative Eshoo has been a consistent supporter of efforts to lift the trade embargo on Cuba and begin a dialogue between our two nations. She co-sponsored Bridges to the Cuban People Act of 2001 (H.R. 2138), which provides access to U.S. food and medicine to the Cuban people.

Victims of Torture
Representative Eshoo co-sponsored the Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2001 (H.R. 1405), to fund programs in the United States for victims of torture, including treatment and counseling.

Clean Diamonds
In countries such as Sierra Leone and Angola, the diamond trade has led to crimes against civilians and armed conflicts. Representative Eshoo co-sponsored the Clean Diamonds Act (H.R. 918) to prohibit the importation of diamonds from those countries in which the diamond sales are used for crimes and military activities.

Landmines
Representative Eshoo believes that the U.S. should take the lead in eradicating landmines and clearing the approximately 100 million landmines throughout the world. She co-sponsored the Landmine Elimination and Victim Assistance Act of 2001 (H.R. 948), an effort to prohibit the United States from using landmines.