Press Releases
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Receives Political Leadership Award in her Name from International AIDS Society
Munich, Germany - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, today received an award from the International Aids Society in Munich, Germany that recognizes the extraordinary contributions of elected officials who have demonstrated significant political leadership and commitment in the fight against AIDS. The award was named in honor of Congresswoman Lee as its first recipient. Presented biannually, this award … Continue Reading
July 26, 2024
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Honored with William Monroe Trotter Award
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) this week was presented the William Monroe Trotter Award by the Woodrow Wilson Center. The William Monroe Trotter Leadership Award was established by the Wilson Center to symbolically reject Wilson’s legacy of racism and segregation, and to recognize the critical role that African Americans have played in foreign policy and national security of the United States. “I am deeply honored to be the recipient of an award named after William … Continue Reading
July 26, 2024
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds Announcement of Over $100 Million for Seven California Environmental Justice Community Change Grants
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) applauded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement of $100,541,769 in funding for seven selected applications to help disadvantaged California communities tackle environmental and climate justice challenges. The investment will fund projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity. Made possible by President Biden’s and House Democrats collaboration on Inflation … Continue Reading
July 25, 2024
Representatives Lee, Chu and Senator Hirono Reintroduce Legislation to Create a More Equitable Health Care System
~ Ahead of introduction, the lawmakers hosted a press conference with leaders from national health advocacy organizations. Photos can be downloaded here. Video can be downloaded here ~ WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA), Representative Judy Chu (D-CA), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), and U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) introduced the Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA) of 2024, legislation that would address health … Continue Reading
July 23, 2024
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement on Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Joint Address to Congress
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, today released the following statement announcing her plans to not attend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s joint address to Congress: “I will not be attending Prime Minister Netanyahu’s joint address to Congress. In my opinion, this visit is not a good faith effort to address the deeply concerning conflict continuing to transpire in the … Continue Reading
July 19, 2024
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement on the Passing of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) released the following statement on the passing of her longtime colleague and senior member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18): “I’m deeply saddened and utterly heartbroken to hear that my dear friend, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, has passed away after her second courageous battle against cancer.“Congresswoman Jackson Lee was a woman warrior, a giant of the Congressional Black Caucus, and a … Continue Reading
July 17, 2024
Representatives Barbara Lee and Mark DeSaulnier Commend U.S. Navy Exoneration of Port Chicago 50 on 80th Anniversary of Explosion
Washington, D.C. - Today, eighty years after the devastating explosion at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in Concord, California on July 17, 1944, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) joined with Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) to commend the U.S. Navy’s posthumous exoneration of the Port Chicago 50 - African American sailors who were wrongfully and discriminately charged with mutiny after the incident. The harsh treatment they received, both in their work and in the courtroom, was … Continue Reading
July 09, 2024
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Celebrates $15 Million DOT Investment in Zero-Emissions Bus Project in Alameda County
Oakland, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) today issued the following statement celebrating the Department of Transportation’s announcement awarding $15 million in federal funding for the Alameda County - Contra Costa Transit Zero Emission Bus Implementation Project. The funds will buy new hydrogen fuel cell buses and initiate a workforce development program to train staff on zero-emissions technologies and improve service and reliability while also improving air quality. In April of … Continue Reading
June 28, 2024
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Condemns Extreme SCOTUS Ruling Criminalizing Homelessness
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) released the following statement condemning the Supreme Court’s ruling in the case of City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson. “With today’s shameful decision, this extremist conservative court is charting a dangerous path for a quarter million Americans who are vulnerable and facing housing insecurity. Let's be clear: fining, ticketing and even jailing people for sleeping outside when they have nowhere else to go is cruel and unusual … Continue Reading
June 28, 2024
Ranking Member Lee Statement on House Passage of FY25 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Bill
Washington, D.C. - Today, the House passed Republicans’ harmful and extreme 2025 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs funding bill that unravels the hard-fought credibility and influence the United States has earned to be a global leader. The legislation weakens our national security and puts the American people and public health preparedness at risk. It proposes a 12 percent cut below 2024 to the bill’s overall funding level. “As Ranking Member of the State and Foreign … Continue Reading
June 25, 2024
Rep. Lee Applauds Issuance of Surgeon General Advisory on the Public Health Crisis of Firearm Violence in the United States
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) today applauded United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy for releasing a landmark Surgeon General’s Advisory on Firearm Violence, declaring firearm violence in America a public health crisis. In 2024, Congresswoman Lee led dozens of her colleagues in writing a bicameral letter to HHS urging Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy to publish such a report to help fill gaps in gun violence research and identify areas where data remains … Continue Reading
June 24, 2024
Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Pro-Choice Caucus Joins Democratic Women’s Caucus and Democratic Leadership in Marking Two Years since Supreme Court Dobbs Decision
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12), co chair of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, was joined by Pro Choice Caucus co-chair Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01) and House Democratic Leadership to mark two years since the disastrous Supreme Court Decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. You can find her full remarks transcribed below. To watch the full press conference, click here. Congresswoman Lee: Well good morning everyone. Let me first thank Leader … Continue Reading
June 19, 2024
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Celebrates 159th Observance of Juneteenth
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) released the below statement celebrating the 159th Observance of Juneteenth. "On June 19th, 1865, news of the end of slavery finally reached Galveston, Texas more than two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth has always carried a deep personal significance for me, as my great-grandmother and many of my ancestors were born during slavery in Galveston. Each year, this day represents a time for reflection for … Continue Reading
June 18, 2024
Reps. Lee, Davis, Burgess Introduce Bicameral, Bipartisan World Sickle Cell Awareness Day Resolution
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representatives Barbara Lee (CA-12), Danny Davis (IL-12) and Michael Burgess (TX-26) introduced a resolution to designate June 19th, 2024, as "World Sickle Cell Awareness Day" to increase public awareness about sickle cell disease and the continued need for research, early detection and effective treatments that lead to a cure. U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced the Senate companion bill. Sickle cell … Continue Reading
June 14, 2024
Rep. Lee Leads Amendment to Audit the Pentagon in FY25 NDAA
Washington, D.C. - Representatives Barbara Lee (CA-12), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Eli Crane (AZ-02), and Andy Biggs (AZ-05) today led an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025 requiring the Pentagon to perform an annual independent audit or risk a reduction in the discretionary budget authority available for the Department of Defense by .5 percent. "I’m pleased that my bipartisan amendment to hold the Pentagon accountable for their rampant waste, fraud, and … Continue Reading
June 14, 2024
Congresswoman Lee Statement on FY25 Defense Authorization Bill
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, released the following statement upon passage of the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the House of Representatives. "Once again, this extremist Republican majority has forced through a defense bill that ignores the needs of the American people and our allies while continuing to enable rampant waste, fraud, and abuse at the Pentagon. At … Continue Reading
June 14, 2024
Congresswoman Lee Statement on FY25 Defense Authorization Bill
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, released the following statement upon passage of the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the House of Representatives. "Once again, this extremist Republican majority has forced through a defense bill that ignores the needs of the American people and our allies while continuing to enable rampant waste, fraud, and abuse at the Pentagon. At … Continue Reading
June 13, 2024
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement on Shameless Senate Republican Blockade of Biden Administration Appointments
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12), senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and Congressional Representative to the United Nations, released the following statement on reports of Senate Republicans blocking critical Biden administration nominees as political retribution on behalf of Donald Trump. “I remain undeterred in my duty as Democratic Congressional Representative to the UN General Assembly. This is just the latest example of extremist Republicans … Continue Reading
June 13, 2024
Reps. Lee, Frankel, Meng Introduce Resolution Reaffirming U.S. Commitment to International Reproductive Health and Rights
Washington, DC - Today, Representatives Barbara Lee (CA-12), Lois Frankel (FL-22), and Grace Meng (NY-06) introduced a resolution to reaffirm the goals of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, Egypt, advancing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights. The resolution commends the notable progress made in achieving the goals set in 1994 at the ICPD and subsequent conferences, recognizes that sexual and reproductive health and … Continue Reading
June 13, 2024
Congresswoman Lee Reacts to SCOTUS Decision to Preserve Mifepristone Access
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Co-Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus, released the following statement on the SCOTUS decision handed down today in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine (AHM) v. FDA. “This baseless case was brought by anti-abortion extremists who will try any tactic to attack reproductive rights and freedoms. Mifepristone is extremely safe and effective: the FDA approved its use in 2000, and it has been used by over 5 million people since to safely end their … Continue Reading