Press Releases
Congresswoman Barbara Lee to Chair Powerful Foreign Affairs Subcommittee
January 25, 2021Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, was named the new Chair of the House Appropriations subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations (SFOPS). Chairwoman Lee will be the first African American Member of Congress to serve as Chair of the subcommittee, which funds many of the nondefense international affairs activities of the United States. The subcommittee funds the State Department and other Foreign Operations accounts and is… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on President Biden Executive Order Reversing Trump Transgender Service Ban
January 25, 2021Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee issued the following statement on President Biden's Executive Order to reverse the Trump transgender military ban: "President Biden's executive action to reverse the discriminatory and hateful transgender military ban is an important step toward ensuring that all who are qualified can serve in the Armed Forces of the United States. This action also reaffirms that our country thrives in diversity and inclusivity. "The Trump ban was a cruel and … Continue Reading
Pro-Choice Caucus Leaders Recognize 48th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
January 22, 2021Today, U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Diana DeGette (D-CO), co-chairs of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, released the following statement marking the 48th anniversary of the Supreme Court's landmark Roe v. Wade decision: "For nearly 50 years, Roe v. Wade has protected the right to reproductive care. After the last four years of consistent assaults from the Trump administration, it's never been more crucial to renew our efforts to strengthening reproductive rights. "Trump has embolde… Continue Reading
Representative Lee and Senator Warren Applaud White House Effort to Advance Equity in National COVID-19 Strategy
January 22, 2021Washington, D.C.- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) issued the following joint statement applauding the equity provisions included in President Biden's national strategy to address COVID-19: "As we continue to fight a deadly pandemic that has taken over 400,000 lives, communities of color and medically underserved communities continue to be most impacted. The Biden administration's science-based plan addresses racial equity through the establishment of an … Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement on President Biden’s Latest Executive Action to Combat Hunger and Protect Workers
January 22, 2021Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and co-chair of the Majority Leader's Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity, released a statement applauding President Biden's latest Executive Orders aimed at combatting hunger and protecting workers as we continue to fight back the COVID-19 public health and economic crisis. "In the face of this public health and economic crisis and in its first days in office, the Biden-Harris administration is already de… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds White House National COVID-19 Strategy
January 21, 2021Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on President Biden's national strategy to address the COVID-19 pandemic: "Over 400,000 people lost their lives in the past year from this pandemic. Communities of color were especially impacted as a result of systemic racism in our public health system. As millions suffered, we could not look to leadership from the Trump administration to address this crisis. "On his second day in office, President Biden signed e… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds President Biden’s Day One Executive Orders
January 21, 2021Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) today released a statement applauding the Executive Actions taken by President Joe Biden on his first full day in office: "Yesterday, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were sworn in, giving us all hope for a brighter future for our country. "On his first day in office, President Biden singed dozens of executive orders aiming to crush the coronavirus, provide financial relief to struggling families, meet the challenge o… Continue Reading
Rep. Lee Leads Colleagues in Sending a Letter to President Biden Calling for an End to Forever Wars
January 21, 2021Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, led a group of her colleagues, including Reps. Gregory Meeks, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Jim McGovern, Chair of the House Rules Committee, Adam Schiff, Chair of the House Intelligence Committee, and Anthony Brown, Vice Chair of the House Armed Services Committee, in sending a letter to President Joe Biden on his first full day in office urging his support for repealing the outdat… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Celebrates the Inauguration of the 46th President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris
January 20, 2021Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement after the swearing in of the 46th President of the United States Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris: "Today was a historic day: we welcomed President Joseph R. Biden and Kamala D. Harris to the White House, ending the national nightmare of the last four years of the Trump presidency. "Against the backdrop of insurrection and white supremacy, amidst a deadly pandemic, we have reason to smile, because our … Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Reintroduces a Resolution Recognizing No Name-Calling Week
January 19, 2021Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) reintroduced H.Con. Res 4. a Concurrent Resolution recognizing No Name-Calling Week, which takes place January 18-22. This initiative aims to address the impact that bullying and name calling have on LGBTQ+ youth and encourages schools to consider a more comprehensive anti-bullying and harassment policy. Since 2004, No Name-Calling Week has been raising awareness for the millions of students across the country who experience bullying. This is … Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Observes Martin Luther King Jr. Day
January 18, 2021Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: "Today we celebrate the life and legacy of our drum major for justice, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "I am reminded of his April 1967 speech at Riverside Church in New York, where he reminded us that this country must address the three evils of poverty, racism and militarism. "Racism is alive and well in America. Just two weeks ago, the U.S. Capitol was stormed in … Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds Biden-Harris Administration’s COVID Relief Plan
January 14, 2021Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) today released a statement on the announcement from the incoming Biden-Harris Administration outlining their emergency COVID relief package: "From Day one, President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris committed to the American people that they would tackle this virus and recover our economy from all the damage done by the inaction of the Trump administration. Today's plan unveiled by the President-elect will do exactly that. It fol… Continue Reading
Lee, Warren, Colleagues Call on HHS to Provide COVID-19 Relief Funds to Underserved Communities
January 14, 2021The lawmakers urge HHS to follow the model laid out in the COVID Community Care Act, which would empower trusted organizations in underserved communities to address mistrust of public health information and provide timely services to combat COVID-19. "By bringing community leaders to the table, HHS can use its influence to ensure timely and effective messages reach communities that have too often been neglected." Text of Letter (PDF) Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Un… Continue Reading
Coin Redesign Act Celebrating Prominent American Women and Others Signed into Law
January 14, 2021Washington, 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 celebrating their bipartisan legislation, the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, being signed into law. 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 new quarter-dollar coins. The first series of q… Continue Reading
Pro-Choice Caucus leaders’ condemn Supreme Court decision to reinstate Trump mifepristone restrictions
January 13, 2021Washington, D.C. - Barbara Lee (D-CA) and U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO), as co-chairs of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, issued the following statement after yesterday's Supreme Court decision to grant the Trump administration's request to reinstate a harmful FDA policy requiring women to pick-up mifepristone - a pill used to safely and effectively induce an early abortion or treat an early miscarriage - in person: "The Trump administration's outdated policy forcing women to unnecessari… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Lee Votes for Second Impeachment of Donald Trump
January 13, 2021Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee today released the following statement following the passage of H.Res. 24, An Article of Impeachment Charging President Trump with Incitement of Insurrection: "Today, I voted to impeach Donald Trump for a second time on charges of incitement of insurrection. This is historic and unprecedented, and the House took historic and unprecedented action to hold Trump accountable for this sedition. "Donald Trump has been, and continues to be a threat to … Continue Reading
ICYMI: Congresswoman Barbara Lee Delivers Remarks in Congressional Black Caucus Hearing on White Supremacy at U.S. Capitol Riots
January 13, 2021Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) today joined her colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus for a virtual hearing on the deadly events of January 6, titled 'U.S. Capitol Insurrection: White Supremacy on Display.' A transcript and video remarks are available here "Thank you very much, Congresswoman Lawrence and I want to thank our Congressional Black Caucus and our chair, really for first continuing to be the conscience of the Congress and also Chairwoman Beatty, thank you… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Introduces Legislation Supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals
January 12, 2021Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee re-introduced a House resolution supporting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Rep. Lee's H.Res.30 includes seventeen goals that will help end poverty, tackle inequality, and create more inclusive societies. The resolution, whose objectives were adopted by the United Nations in 2015, provides a clear pathway for countries to increase prosperity and peace for all. The resolution also provides a shared blueprint of progressive … Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Continues Efforts to Stop Endless Wars
January 12, 2021Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee two pieces of legislation to stop endless wars. Rep. Lee's legislation would repeal the 2002 AUMF and initiate an eight-month sunset of the 2001 AUMF. In 2001, Rep. Lee was the lone vote against the 2001 AUMF and has spent her career in Congress fighting to put an end to wasteful investment in endless wars. "Nearly 20 years after I cast the sole "no" vote on the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF), both the 2001 and 2002 AUMFs h… Continue Reading
Rep. Lee and Chairwoman DeLauro Introduce the End Diaper Need Act of 2021
January 12, 2021Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, and Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, introduced the End Diaper Need Act of 2021, which would create a demonstration program for distributing diaper in states, communities and nonprofits around the nation. The End Diaper Need Act improves access for children with complex medical challenges, allowing Medicaid to cover at least 200 medically nec… Continue Reading