Press Releases
Congressional Pro-Choice Leaders Blast White House over Dangerous and Discriminatory Rule Gutting Affordable Care Act Protections
May 24, 2019Washington, D.C. - In response to the Trump Administration's proposed rule that would gut Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which protects individuals from discrimination in health care on the basis of race, color, national origin and sex, including gender identity, pregnancy, age or disability, Representatives Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Diana DeGette (CO-01), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus issued the following statement: "The Trump Administration's proposed rule is … Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Commends the Passage of the FY2020 Interior Appropriations Bill
May 23, 2019WASHINGTON, DC - In response to the House Appropriations Committee's passage of the fiscal year 2020 appropriations bill for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) issued the following statement: "This important bill provides $37 billion in funding, which is $1.73 billion over FY2019 levels. "I am also pleased that this bill provides funding for important programs, including $10 million for competitive grants for Historically Black Colleges and Unive… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Praises Commitments in the FY2020 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill
May 23, 2019WASHINGTON, DC - In response to the House Appropriations Committee's passage of the fiscal year 2020 appropriations bill for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS), Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) issued the following statement: "I am pleased to see a large increase in the FY2020 CJS Appropriations bill, which provides almost $74 billion in spending - a much-needed increase of close to $10 billion from FY2019 spending levels. This is funding for essential justice programs a… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Lee Applauds the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill Passed out of Committee
May 23, 2019WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In response to the FY2020 Energy and Water Appropriations bill, which passed committee on Tuesday, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement: "As a member of the House Appropriations, I am pleased to see an Energy and Water bill that will ensure that America continues to build its energy infrastructure and that we protect our bodies of water for future generations. The bill is funded at $46.4 billion, an increase of $1.8 billion from fiscal year 2019 … Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Sen. Bernie Sanders Introduce Inclusive Prosperity Act to Curb Wall Street Greed
May 22, 2019WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representative Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced the Inclusive Prosperity Act along with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and more than a dozen House Democrats. The legislation imposes a tax of a fraction of a percent on the trades of stocks, bonds, and derivatives. This tax on Wall Street speculation, also known as a financial transaction tax, is estimated to generate up to $2.4 trillion in public revenue from wealthy investors ov… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Passes Defense Amendment That Would Repeal 2001 Endless War Authorization
May 21, 2019WASHINGTON, DC - Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) successfully offered and passed an amendment today to the Defense Appropriations Act that would repeal the 2001 AUMF in eight months from the passage of the Act. The eight-month period will allow Congress time to draft new legislation to address ongoing wars. Rep. Lee has offered this amendment several times over the years and has long championed the need to repeal the outdated and overly broad authorization and force a debate and a vote on current wars.… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Introduces the Improving Access to Nutrition Act
May 17, 2019Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, Barbara Lee introduced the Improving Access to Nutrition Act, which will lift SNAP's 3-month time limit and ensure that all people have access to nutrition assistance and stay healthy while seeking full-time work. Under current law, adults ages 18-49 without children, and without a documented disability, are subject to a harmful and arbitrary three-month time limit of SNAP benefits unless they are working 80 hours a month. Congresswoman Lee released the following st… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Votes to Pass Historic Equality Act to End Discrimination Against All LGBTQ Americans, Introduces Resolution Recognizing International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia
May 17, 2019WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) voted to pass H.R. 5, the Equality Act, to ensure that all LGBTQ Americans are granted the full protections guaranteed by federal civil rights law, in addition to introducing a resolution in support of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOT). "Through struggles and sacrifices, generations of tireless LGBTQ Americans have worked to forge a more just and equal future for themselves and all Americans,"… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Responds to Trump Administration’s Escalation of Tensions With Iran
May 15, 2019WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), issued the following statement on the reported claims of threats from Iran by the Trump Administration: "It appears the Trump Administration is setting the stage for an unconstitutional, unauthorized and ideologically-driven war with Iran. This dangerous escalation of tensions with Iran is happening without congressional input or authorization. "We have been down this road with Iraq - a war that was orchestrated based on false … Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Introduces Bill to Fight Back Against Trump’s Attempts to Impose Abstinence-Only Sex Education
May 14, 2019WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), issued the following statement on the re-introduction of the Real Education for Healthy Youth (REHYA) Act: "REHYA fights back against the Trump's Administration's efforts to impose abstinence-only-until-marriage (AOUM) programs by ensuring that our young people have the access they deserve to comprehensive, age-appropriate, developmentally and culturally appropriate sex education that is medically accurate. "Research shows… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee responds to Trump Administration’s Cruel Rule Change on Calculating Poverty
May 13, 2019Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), Chair of the Majority Leader's Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity, released the following statement in response to the Trump Administration's recently proposed change to the formula to determine the national poverty threshold: "The Trump Administration's cruel-hearted proposal to change the Official Poverty Measure (OPM) would take away basic assistance from millions of struggling families. Let me be clear - this is a direct attack on families living… Continue Reading
Lee Amendment Undermining Trump-Pence Refusal Rule Passes in 2020 Appropriations Bill
May 09, 2019Washington D.C. --- Last week, the Trump-Pence administration finalized a refusal of care rule that would allow virtually any health care entity, provider or worker to use their personal beliefs to dictate patient care. Congresswoman Lee successfully offered an amendment to attack this dangerous and discriminatory rule, now the FY20 LHHS bill that will prohibit funding for the implementation of the rule. "Women of color - who are more likely to live in areas with hospitals that claim objections… Continue Reading
Washington D.C. Services held today and tomorrow for the late Congressman Ron Dellums
May 09, 2019WASHINGTON, DC - Services for the warrior for peace and justice, the Honorable Ronald V. Dellums, began today with interment services with Military Honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Friends and family will gather for the next two days to celebrate the life of the devoted father, husband, Congressman, Oakland Mayor, and Marine-turned-antiwar activist. "Ron was my boss and mentor, and yet, like the brother I never had," said Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who succeeded hi… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Secures $26 Million For Alameda VA Clinic and Big Wins on Military Housing and Veterans Services
May 09, 2019WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on the passage of the FY2020 Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill today: "The FY20 MilCon-VA funding bill honors our nation's commitment to our veterans and military families. I am particularly pleased that this bill includes $26 million to continue progress in the building of a state-of-the-art VA Outpatient Clinic and National Cemete… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Lee’s Statement Celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
May 02, 2019Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Lee released the following statement to mark the beginning of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. "This May, I am proud to join communities across the country in celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, commemorating the history, contributions, and achievements of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI). "By opening new businesses, participating in the arts, serving in elected office, and pioneering new scientific discoveries, the contributi… Continue Reading
Congressional pro-choice leaders blast White House over dangerous refusal of care rule
May 02, 2019Washington, D.C. - In response to the Trump Administration's issuance of a final rule that would allow healthcare providers the ability to refuse to provide patients standard health care services if they have a moral or religious objection, Representatives Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Diana DeGette (CO-01), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus and issue the following statement: "The Trump Administration's final rule is a dangerous - and illegal - expansion of existing refusal of care law… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Lee Statement on Today’s Equal Rights Amendment Hearing
April 30, 2019Washington, D.C. - In response to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Civil Rights meeting on the Equal Rights Amendment held on April 30, 2019, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-D) released the following statement: "Today is a historic day for America where, for the first time in 36 years, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Civil Rights will have its first hearing on the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). The ERA will enshrine women's equality in the Constitution by prohibiting discrimination based on… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Lee Statement on the Passing of Rep. Ellen Tauscher
April 30, 2019Oakland, CA - Today, Congresswoman Lee released the following statement in response to the passing of former California Rep. Ellen Tauscher: "I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Rep. Ellen Tauscher. "I came to know Ellen as a friend and colleague while serving together as representatives for Northern California. She was a passionate, principled public servant, and I always admired her incredible dedication to her constituents, California, and the nation. Ellen was also a champion o… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Lee Statement on the Passing of Legendary Filmmaker John Singleton
April 29, 2019Oakland, CA - Today, Congresswoman Lee released the following statement in response to the passing of legendary filmmaker John Singleton: "I am deeply saddened by news of the passing of legendary filmmaker John Singleton. "John was a trailblazer who opened doors for countless African American filmmakers. His work brought the richness and nuance of the black experience to big and small screens, allowing African Americans to see themselves represented where they had not before. Films like "Boyz … Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on Mueller Report
April 18, 2019"Even in its redacted form, the Special Counsel's report makes clear that Trump took actions that could be considered obstruction of justice - and that AG Barr's initial characterization of Mueller's findings was misleading at best. It remains paramount that the Attorney General release the full, unredacted report so that Congress and the American people can make their own decisions. It's also critical that Mueller testifies before Congress and that Trump is held accountable for his actions. "F… Continue Reading