Press Releases
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on House Victory in Court Case for Food Assistance
October 19, 2020Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration, issued the following statement after the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled in the case of District of Columbia, et al. v. U.S. Department of Agriculture to block implementation of the Trump Administration's rule that strips Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits away from millions by … Continue Reading
Rep. Barbara Lee Joins Congressional Black Caucus Women and Caucus on Black Women and Girls in Denouncing Trump’s Disrespectful Comments about Senator Kamala Harris
October 09, 2020Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee joined the co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls and the women of the CBC in issuing a joint statement regarding President Trump's disrespectful comment regarding Senator Kamala Harris: "As the leaders of the Caucus on Black Women and Girls, and in concert with our women colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus, we strongly denounce the hurtful and disrespectful comments made by Donald Trump in reference to our sist… Continue Reading
Pro-Choice Caucus Co-Chairs Lee and DeGette, Pro-Choice Caucus Task Force, and 116 Members of Congress Urge Senate to Delay Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings until After Inauguration
October 08, 2020Washington, D.C. - Today, Pro-Choice Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Diana DeGette (D-CO) - along with 11 Pro-Choice Caucus Task Force Chairs - led a letter, signed by 116 members of the House, to Senate leaders once again urging them to delay confirming any Supreme Court nominee to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg until after the next president is sworn into office. "As members of the Pro-Choice Caucus, we know that reproductive health, rights, and justice are at st… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on Trump Ending COVID Relief Negotiations
October 06, 2020OAKLAND, CA -- Congresswoman Barbara Lee issued the following statement today on Trump ending COVID relief negotiations. "As much as the Trump administration has tried to pretend otherwise, the pandemic is not over, as the outbreak at the White House makes clear. Tens of millions of workers are unemployed. The number of families living without enough food has skyrocketed. Businesses across the country, and in my district in the East Bay, continue to close, many of them for good. On October 1, t… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds House Passage of Resolution Condemning Unwanted, Medical Procedures Performed On Immigrant Women Without Their Consent at Georgia Detention Center
October 02, 2020Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) today released the following statement applauding the passage of H.Res. 1153, legislation condemning the unwanted, unnecessary medical procedures-including hysterectomies -performed on immigrant women without their informed consent at the private, for-profit Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla, Georgia. This bill was co-sponsored by 225 members of Congress, including Congresswoman Lee, and was led by U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapa… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds the Passage of the Updated Heroes Act
October 01, 2020Washington, DC - Congresswoman Lee released the following statement following the passage of an updated version of The Heroes Act, addressing needs that have developed since the House passed an earlier version in May and reflecting negotiations between Democrats and Republicans. "Since the start of this crisis, House Democrats have fought tirelessly to put the American people first and provide relief for those have been hit hardest by this pandemic and economic crisis, including Black, Latinx, … Continue Reading
Pro-Choice Caucus Leaders’ Statement on nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to Supreme Court
September 26, 2020WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Diana DeGette (D-CO), as co-chairs of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, issued the following statement on the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court: "The nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court is now the single greatest threat to women's right to abortion care. "As co-chairs of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, we are deeply troubled, not only by Judge Barrett's long record of opposing women's right to repr… Continue Reading
Pro-Choice Caucus Leaders Urge Senate to Abstain from a Vote on Supreme Court Nominee Until After New President is Inaugurated
September 25, 2020Washington, D.C. - Nearly a dozen leaders of Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus - led by caucus co-chairs U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Diana DeGette (CO-01) - sent a letter today to Senate leaders urging them to abstain from a voting on any Supreme Court nominee to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg until after the next president is sworn into office. "Justice Ginsburg's passing creates a vacancy on the Supreme Court at a time when the health of our communities and our fundamental… Continue Reading
Lee, Gonzalez, Cortez Masto, Fischer, Watson Coleman Applaud Passage of Coin Redesign Act Celebrating Prominent American Women and Others
September 23, 2020Washington, D.C. - Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) today joined Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Deb Fischer (R-NE) in applauding the House passage of their bipartisan legislation, the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020. H.R. 1923, the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 allows the Department of the Treasury and U.S. Mint to mint and issue quarter-dollar coins. The first series of quarters in … Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds House Passage of Continuing Resolution to Keep the Government Open
September 23, 2020Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), member of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement applauding the passage of the FY21 Continuing Resolution to extend government funding through December 11, 2020: "I'm glad to see the House pass this Continuing Resolution to keep our government open during this crucial time. "Under Chairwoman Lowey's leadership, the House did its job. We passed ten appropriations bills this summer to meet the needs of the Ameri… Continue Reading
Lee, Pocan Request Congressional Investigation into Pentagon Misuse of COVID Funds
September 22, 2020Today, Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Mark Pocan (D-WI), co-chairs of the Defense Spending Reduction Caucus, sent a letter to Majority Whip James Clyburn and Chairpersons Carolyn Maloney and Adam Smith asking for the House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis, House Committee on Oversight and Reform, and the House Armed Services Committee to conduct oversight investigations and public hearings into the Pentagon's misuse of Congressionally-appropriated funds as reported today in the Washingto… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds the Passage of the CROWN Act to Combat Racial Hair Discrimination
September 21, 2020Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee spoke on the floor in support of H.R. 5309, the CROWN Act, which passed out of the House. This legislation would make it illegal to discriminate against a person based on their hair texture or style if it's commonly associated with a particular race or national origin. See Congresswoman Lee's remarks on the House floor below:… Continue Reading
Pro-Choice Caucus leaders vow to continue Ginsburg’s legacy of fighting for women
September 19, 2020WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Diana DeGette (D-CO), the co-chairs of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, released the following statement today as the group vows to carry on Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's legacy of fighting for women's rights: "We are deeply saddened by the passing of our hero, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Justice Ginsburg was one of our country's most inspirational leaders. She was a brilliant legal mind who used her talents to fundamentall… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on the Passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
September 18, 2020Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on the passing of Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: "Our country mourns the loss of a giant, an icon, and a warrior for democracy, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In her nearly three decades of service on our nation's highest court, she fundamentally changed life for women in America, and changed our entire nation for the better. "Justice Ginsburg was a pioneer for reproductive rights, civil rights, a… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Lee Applauds the Passage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
September 17, 2020Washington, D.C - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee applauded the passage of H.R. 2694, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, a bipartisan bill sponsored by Congresswoman Lee that establishes a pregnant worker's clear-cut right to reasonable workplace accommodations, provided they do not impose an undue burden on their employer. There is currently no federal law that explicitly and affirmatively guarantees all pregnant workers the right to basic accommodations - such as appropriate seating, water … Continue Reading
Congresswoman Lee Statement on the Passage of the Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act
September 16, 2020Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) today released a statement applauding the passage of the Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act. This legislation restores the right of action for students and parents to bring disparate impact claims under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and ensures that each school has at least one employee to investigate discrimination claims. "Today, our schools are segregated at the highest levels since the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed by Congress… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds the Passage of the Strength in Diversity Act of 2020
September 15, 2020Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on the passage of the historic Strength in Diversity Act of 2020: "66 years after the Supreme Court's landmark 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education ruling, school segregation has reached its highest levels since the 1960's. "It has been shown that students attending diverse schools perform better academically because of equal access to resources as white students. School districts with enrollments of predominantly B… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15, 2020WASHINGTON D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement today in observance of Hispanic Heritage Month, which is observed from September 15 to October 15: "Every year, Americans honor Hispanic Heritage Month to commemorate the immeasurable contributions of the of the diverse Hispanic community. "Growing up in El Paso, Texas, I learned from and gained a deep respect for the Latinx community and their heritage. I now have the privilege of serving a vibrant… Continue Reading
Pro-Choice Caucus leaders call for investigation into allegations of mass hysterectomies at ICE detention facility
September 15, 2020WASHINGTON, D.C. - Pro-Choice Caucus Chairs, U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Diana DeGette (D-CO), released the following statement in response to a whistleblower complaint alleging forced sterilization of immigrant women at the Irwin County Detention Center, in Georgia: "The allegations raised in this whistleblower complaint of mass hysterectomies being performed on immigrant women held at an ICE detention facility in Georgia must be investigated immediately. "If true, the severe medical ne… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds $1.2 Billion Federal Grant for BART Transbay Trains
September 15, 2020OAKLAND, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee today applauded a $1.2 billion Full Funding Grant Agreement from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for Bay Area Rapid Transit's (BART) Transbay Corridor Core Capacity Program. Congresswoman Lee, along with other members of California's Congressional Delegation, helped facilitate this grant award, which is the largest grant BART has ever received. "During a time of great hardship for public transit and the economy at large, this grant to pay for n… Continue Reading