Senator Jackie Speier

Remember reading about the Jonestown Massacre? Senator Speier was there, was shot and left for dead on the tarmac for 22 hours! Today she is an important part of the CA State Legislature.

“Jackie Speier led the drumbeat in protecting consumer privacy and consumer health...She’s also been a great role model for women throughout the State,” says Assemblyman Joe Simitian.
Senator Speier was elected to the 5th Senate District on November 3, 1998 with 79.2 % of the vote. Speier first served in the State Legislature as a member of the State Assembly, 1986-96, where18 of her bills were signed into law. The San Jose Mercury News reported in 1996, that “no one comes close to Speier’s remarkable record of getting substantive legislation signed into law.” Her legislative success was rated “Ruthian” by the Los Angeles Times.
Her career-long commitment to public service was nearly cut short in 1978 when, as the 28-year-old legal counsel to California Congressman Leo J. Ryan, she accompanied him to Jonestown, Guyana. They were part of a U.S. fact-find group that was to investigate rumors that people, including many from Bay Area families, were being held hostage by cult leader, the Rev. James Jones. On November 18, at the conclusion of their two-day investigation, gunmen from the People’s Temple cult ambushed, shot and killed Congressman Ryan and four others while they were preparing to leave. Jackie was struck by five bullets and was “left for dead” on the runway for 22 hours. The next day, she was found barely alive. Two bullets are still lodged in her body. The day she was shot, 911 cult members committed mass suicide or were murdered. Jackie has stated that “the Jonestown tragedy is a daily reminder that no one is guaranteed tomorrow...this has absolutely molded my philosophy and my zest for work and life.”
Senator Speier serves as chair of the Senate Insurance Committee which is responsible for developing laws and overseeing government regulation affecting California’s $80 billion insurance market. She is also a member of Senate committees on Appropriations; Education; Transportation; the Select Committee on Bay Area Transportation and the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. Senator Speier recently won a three-year battle for the passage of her bill, SB 773, which prohibits insurers and financial institutions from sharing a customer’s personal information with other business concerns without the permission of the customer.
She continued her tenacious approach to representing her constituents and legislating during her first three years (1996-2001) in the Senate where she had 59 bills signed into law by Governor Davis. (These are the most recent figures available.)
Senator Speier’s presentation was in two parts. She discussed Women’s Healthcare in California: Making the Personal Political. She also gave us the Ten Commandments of Women’s Health - a Perscription for Mind Body Balance and Women’s Advocacy. There was also be a question-answer period. Senator Speier speaks on many topics, but her aide informed us that ...Making the Personal Political with the Ten Commandments of Women’s Health are what her female audiences rave about.