In the News
House Democrats Push To Defund Failed Abstinence-Only Education Programs
A group of nine House Democrats have introduced a measure that would end federal funding to states that run abstinence-only education programs in public schools. The lawmakers say that this current approach to sex education has failed, and the government should better allocate its funds. "We need to get serious about educating our young people about sex. Abstinence-only programs fail to address the challenge of unplanned pregnancies and sexually-transmitted infections among our youth, which … Continue Reading
December 11, 2013
SOCIAL WORKERS TALK TO CONGRESS ABOUT LINK BETWEEN POVERTY AND CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
On Thursday, December 12, 2013, social work researchers and child welfare experts from across the nation briefed lawmakers and congressional staff on the strong correlation between poverty and child abuse and neglect. The briefing was timely, considering U.S. poverty levels have risen in the past six years and January 2014 marks the 50th Anniversary of the War on Poverty. The briefing was sponsored by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the Council on Social Work Education … Continue Reading
December 11, 2013
UPDATE 1-Boehner erupts at conservative groups ahead of U.S. budget vote
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner erupted in anger at conservative groups who oppose a rare bipartisan two-year budget deal on Thursday as lawmakers prepared to vote on the measure in the lower house. The Republican Boehner said groups had "lost all credibility" and stepped "over the line" by urging lawmakers to oppose the bill, which would avoid showdowns for about two years and blunt some of the automatic budget cuts known as the … Continue Reading
December 10, 2013
Barbara Lee says 60 percent of people on food assistance are working
Following President Barack Obama's recent speech on the economy, CNN's Crossfire roundtable debated how to shrink the income gap. Talk centered mostly on the minimum wage. U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., told host Newt Gingrich she supports a raise to $10 an hour so that people can support themselves and their families. "First of all, $7.25 an hour. Can anyone live off that?" Lee said. "Secondly, I just have to say, 60 percent of people on food assistance are working. … Continue Reading
December 10, 2013
US representative meets with student-veterans about easing transition from military
Rep. Jackie Speier, a Democrat from California's 14th district, discussed ways to ease the transition for former service members into civilian life during a meeting with UC Berkeley student-veterans Monday. Speier, whose district includes localities such as South San Francisco and San Mateo, spoke to about 30 people in a question-and-answer event sponsored by the Cal Veterans Group. The event, located in the Cesar Chavez Center, was centered on ways to reintegrate student-veterans into campus … Continue Reading
December 10, 2013
Pursuing a Lifelong Passion for Justice
The following essay is part of a series in which dozens of women will reveal what women they most admire. The series is part of "Women Rule," a unique effort this fall by POLITICO, Google and The Tory Burch Foundation exploring how women are leading change in politics, policy and their communities. In today's political climate, where politics can trump policy, finding people who are spending their time and effort for good can be hard to come by. That's why I'm so grateful to have Sen. … Continue Reading
December 06, 2013
Yemen Drone Victims Come to DC Seeking Unlikely Accountability
"I came here to share with you my story and what happened to my family. Who are the ones responsible for the deaths of my relatives? Will anyone be held accountable for their deaths?" A day after his son's wedding, Faisal bin Ali Jaber, a Yemeni civil engineer, mourned the death of his brother-in-law, Salem bin Ali Jaber, an outspoken anti-extremist cleric, and his nephew, Waleed, a policeman, when they were killed without warning by a US drone strike on August 29, 2012. Jaber testified … Continue Reading
December 06, 2013
Deal or no deal? Once again, congressional Republicans and Democrats try to bridge budget differences
'Twas two weeks before Christmas, and all through the Senate and House, not a budget deal was stirring, so the country's citizens did grouse ... Yep. Congress is haggling again over a plan to keep the federal government running, this time past Jan. 15. And many Americans are hoping the deal isn't simply a "continuing resolution" that will have Democrats and Republicans back at the bargaining table -- and at each other's throats -- a few months down the … Continue Reading
December 05, 2013
“Stop spending good money after bad in Afghanistan”, said Rep. Lee
On December 5, 2013 Rep. Barbara Lee of California asked for and was granted permission to address the United States House of Representatives for one minute regarding the war in Afghanistan. What she said was absolutely shocking! "Mr. Speaker, as most of us joined family and friends over Thanksgiving week last week, 2,500 Afghan elders voted on a security agreement that could potentially leave thousands of United States troops in Afghanistan for at least another decade." "If the Afghan … Continue Reading
December 04, 2013
US View of Mandela Changed From Cold War Communist to Anti-Apartheid Hero
At his death, Nelson Mandela was revered in the United States as he was most everywhere else. But it was not always that way. U.S. views of Mandela evolved from Cold War Communist to anti-apartheid hero. Former U.S. President John F. Kennedy said the United States in 1962 stood behind "an extraordinary group" of African leaders building new countries fresh from winning their independence. "This has been an unknown continent to us because it was dominated by Europe. Now … Continue Reading
December 03, 2013
Sen. Coburn & Rep. Barbara Lee's AIDS Treatment Goal Will Save Millions
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) applauded a Congressional call on President Barack Obama to double the number of people on lifesaving AIDS treatment via PEPFAR, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, by the end of fiscal year (FY) 2016. Senator Tom Coburn (R, OK) and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D, CA) led a bipartisan effort joined by 38 other lawmakers from both houses of Congress and both sides of the aisle asking the President to set a new goal of 12 million people on AIDS … Continue Reading
December 03, 2013
Barbara Lee says 60 percent of people on food assistance are working
Following President Barack Obama's recent speech on the economy, CNN's Crossfire roundtable debated how to shrink the income gap. Talk centered mostly on the minimum wage. U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., told host Newt Gingrich she supports a raise to $10 an hour so that people can support themselves and their families. "First of all, $7.25 an hour. Can anyone live off that?" Lee said. "Secondly, I just have to say, 60 percent of people on food assistance are working. … Continue Reading
November 26, 2013
More Money to Treat AIDS Abroad
At a time when partisan bickering has crippled Congress, it is encouraging to find agreement on the important issue of curbing the global AIDS epidemic. Today's Editorials A bipartisan group of 40 senators and representatives has urged President Obama to double the number of people abroad who will be treated for infections with H.I.V., the AIDS virus, by the end of 2016 under an American program that helps foreign governments in poor and low-income countries finance efforts to fight the … Continue Reading
November 24, 2013
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Honored at Lincoln Child Center 130th Anniversary
The Lincoln Child Center recently hosted its "130 Years of History" gala honoring U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee for her longstanding dedication to serving children and families in the Bay Area and throughout the world. "I am very humbled and honored that the Lincoln Child Center chose to honor me at the celebration of their 130th anniversary. Their longevity speaks volumes to the incredible work they do to strengthen children and families as well as for the tremendous need for their … Continue Reading
November 23, 2013
What they’re saying about the Iran nuclear deal
The nuclear deal that the international community has struck with Iran is being met with mixed reactions around the world, and here at home. From House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio: "The interim deal has been and will continue to be met with healthy skepticism and hard questions, not just of the Iranians, but of ourselves and our allies involved in the negotiations. Iran has a history of obfuscation that demands verification of its activities and places the burden on the regime to prove … Continue Reading
November 21, 2013
Palestinians bring plight of Wadi Foquin to Capitol Hill audience
While Israel's right-wing Economy Minister was telling American audiences that the occupation doesn't exist, a Palestinian coordinator for the district of Bethlehem was preparing to utter statements of a much different sort. On November 19th, the coordinator, Raed Samarra, joined three others-two Palestinians from the village of Wadi Foquin and one Israeli-at a briefing in Washington, D.C. to talk about the village near Bethlehem that is beset by settlement expansion and the separation … Continue Reading
November 20, 2013
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Holds Meeting on West Oakland Hazardous Cargo Inspections
Congresswoman Barbara Lee's office hosted a meeting last week so community members could finally talk to the officials who want to bring big rigs into West Oakland to perform inspections of hazardous cargo coming into the Port of Oakland. West Oakland community leaders have been raising concerns that U.S. Customs plans to sign a contract with entrepreneur Tom Henderson to inspect potentially hazardous cargo, including explosives, poisonous gas and nuclear materials, at the old Horizon … Continue Reading
November 19, 2013
PEPFAR Act: AIDS response’s next chapter begins with unanimous Congressional vote
By the time the House of Representatives began to take up the PEPFAR Stewardship and Oversight Act of 2013 Tuesday afternoon, the end was not in doubt. All the same, once lawmakers there were done, with a unanimous vote, guaranteeing the continuation of this country's largest, most ambitious, and most powerful, humanitarian response, they had taken a giant step forward. The bill will extend authorization not only for funding the President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief, but for contributing … Continue Reading
November 19, 2013
Chronicle AM -- November 22, 2013
The momentum for marijuana legalization continues in the US, but Australia's New South Wales rejects medical marijuana even for the terminally ill. There's plenty more news, too. Let's get to it: Coming soon to a legal retail outlet near you (if you live in Colorado). (wikipedia.org) Marijuana Policy World's First-Ever Marijuana Retail License Issued in Colorado. Officials in Central City, Colorado, issued the world's first legal marijuana retail license Thursday. … Continue Reading
November 14, 2013
Sen. Coburn & Rep. Barbara Lee’s AIDS Treatment Goal Will Save Millions of Lives
WASHINGTON (November 14, 2013)-AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) today applauded a Congressional call on President Barack Obama to double the number of people on lifesaving AIDS treatment via PEPFAR, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, by the end of fiscal year (FY) 2016. Senator Tom Coburn (R, OK) and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D, CA) led a bipartisan effort joined by 38 other lawmakers from both houses of Congress and both sides of the aisle asking the President to set a new goal … Continue Reading