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Congresswoman Barbara Lee
Congresswoman Barbara Lee was first elected to represent California's 9th Congressional District in 1998 in a special election to fill the seat of retiring Congressman Ron Dellums.
A member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, Congresswoman Lee serves on the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, the State and Foreign Operations and the Financial Services Subcommittees. Additionally, she serves on the Foreign Affairs Committee on the subcommittees on Western Hemisphere and Africa and Global Health.
A member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, Congresswoman Lee serves on the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, the State and Foreign Operations and the Financial Services Subcommittees. Additionally, she serves on the Foreign Affairs Committee on the subcommittees on Western Hemisphere and Africa and Global Health.
Congresswoman Lee was sworn in as the Chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) on January 6, 2009. The 42-member CBC is one of the longest standing caucuses in Congress and is often referred to as the “conscience of the Congress” for their willingness to tackle the most serious social and economic issues facing minorities in the United States.
Congresswoman Lee's accomplishments in promoting effective bipartisan legislation to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS and bring treatment to the infected have earned her international recognition as a leader in the fight against global HIV/AIDS. She has authored or co-authored every major piece of legislation dealing with global HIV/AIDS issues since she was elected to Congress, including legislation that created the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria, and the position of Special Advisor for Orphans and Vulnerable Children. She is a co-author of legislation recently enacted that re-authorizes PEPFAR and US global tuberculosis and malaria programs at a cost of $48 billion over 5 years. She has also been a leader in the fight to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS in the U.S., particularly in the African American community. In 1998, she helped declare a state of emergency in Alameda County to secure more funds to fight the disease. In 2005 the House passed her resolution recognizing the goals of National Black AIDS Awareness Day, and she is now leading the fight to create and develop a National AIDS Strategy to coordinate and guide the implementation of HIV prevention, care and treatment programs throughout the country.
Congresswoman Lee's willingness to stand on principle earned her international acclaim when she was the only member of Congress to vote against giving President Bush a blank check to wage war after the September 11th attacks. In addition to being one of Congress' most vocal opponents to the war in Iraq, Congresswoman Lee has been a leader in promoting policies that foster international peace, security and human rights. In 2006, she successfully blocked funds from being used to establish permanent military bases in Iraq. She sponsored legislation disavowing the doctrine of preemptive war and has been a leader in the bipartisan effort in Congress to end the ongoing genocide in Darfur, Sudan, including the passage of legislation she authored to allow divestment from companies doing business in the region.
As co-chair of the Congressional Out of Poverty Caucus, Congresswoman Lee is committed to eradicating poverty, fostering opportunity and protecting the most vulnerable in our society. In the wake of hurricane Katrina, she wrote the poverty section of the Congressional Black Caucus’ Gulf Coast reconstruction legislation and introduced a package of bills designed to make poverty eradication a priority for Congress. Her resolution affirming the goal of cutting the poverty rate in half within ten years was passed by Congress in 2008.
California's ninth Congressional District encompasses most of Alameda County, including the Cities of Albany, Ashland, Berkeley, Castro Valley, Cherryville, Emeryville, Fairview, Oakland and Piedmont.
Born in El Paso Texas, Congresswoman Lee graduated from Mills College in Oakland and received her MSW from the University of California, Berkeley. She began her political career as an intern in the office of her predecessor, former Congressman Ron Dellums, current Mayor of Oakland, where she eventually became his Chief of Staff. Before being elected to Congress, she served in the California State Assembly from 1990-1996 and in the California State Senate from 1996-1998.
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Official Photo
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Work in Congress
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On the Issues
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News & Media
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Awards
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