Press Releases
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
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
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Recognizes the 19th Anniversary of Her Vote Against the 2001 AUMF
September 14, 2020Washington D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on the 19th anniversary of her vote against the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) following the attacks on September, 11th 2001. Congresswoman Lee was the only member of Congress to vote against the measure. "Today marks the 19th anniversary of the post-9/11 AUMF, a blank check to deploy US military personnel anywhere in the world in the name of going after terrorists, which I alone stood in oppositio… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Lee Issues Statement on Anniversary of 9/11
September 11, 2020Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released this statement recognizing the 19th anniversary of September 11, 2001: "Nineteen years ago, the world witnessed a terrible attack against our nation.Today, we honor the thousands lost on that day and those we've since lost to 9/11-related illnesses. As a nation, we continue to extend our deepest sympathies to their families and friends; they forever remain in our thoughts. "We salute the selfless first responders, firefighters, p… Continue Reading
Rep. Lee Joins Senator Markey, Rep. Haaland, Grassroots Coalition in Announcing Economic Renewal Agenda
September 10, 2020Comprehensive "THRIVE Agenda" responds to ongoing crises of COVID-19, climate change, racial injustice, and economic inequity Washington (September 10, 2020) - Today, Rep. Barbara Lee joined U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Congresswoman Deb Haaland (NM-01) and a coalition of grassroots groups; labor unions; Black, Brown and Indigenous leaders from across the country to introduce a bold plan for economic renewal known as the Agenda to Transform, Heal, and Renew by Investing in a Vibr… Continue Reading
Reps. Lee, Bass, Kelly, Chu, Castro, Haaland, Davids Introduce Legislation to Provide COVID-19 Resources to Community Based Organizations in Underserved Communities
September 09, 2020Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Reps. Karen Bass (CA-37), Robin Kelly (IL-2), Judy Chu (CA-27), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Deb Haaland (NM-1), and Sharice Davids (KS-3) introduced the COVID Community Care Act to establish a contact tracing program through community-based organizations and non-profits. Contact tracing is a critical public health resource that helps slow the spread of disease. Contact tracers identify patients and contact all those who may have been infected… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Lee Welcomes the Opening of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 2020 Virtual Legislative Conference
September 04, 2020WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's 2020 Annual Legislative Conference, where she will serve as an honorary co-host for two panel discussions in the first year of the conference's virtual programming due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "This year's Annual Legislative Conference will be extremely unique, like many other things taking place this year due to COVID-19. However, that does not change the goals and obje… Continue Reading
Reps. Lee, Pressley join Senator Warren to Introduce Legislation to Confront the Public Health Impacts of Structural Racism
September 03, 2020The Anti-Racism in Public Health Act would create a "Center on Anti-Racism in Health" at the CDC, improving the federal government's ability to develop anti-racist health policy. Washington, D.C. - Today, Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in introducing bicameral legislation to confront the public health impacts of structural racism through two bold new programs within the Centers for Disease Control and Preventio… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Calls On Postmaster General DeJoy to Stop Removal of Collection Boxes in Downtown Oakland Due to Protests
August 28, 2020OAKLAND, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) sent the below letter to U.S. Postal Service Postmaster General Louis DeJoy regarding the removal this week of up to a dozen collection boxes in downtown Oakland. The USPS notified Congresswoman Lee's office that the boxes were removed for safety reasons due to the possibility of protests in the area. The text of the letter is as follows: August 28, 2020 Mr. Louis DeJoyPostmaster General and Chief Executive OfficerUnited States Postal Service475 … Continue Reading