Press Releases
Chairwoman Lee Supports Ukrainian Emergency Supplemental Funding Bill on House Floor
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, voted in favor of H.R. 7591, a bipartisan supplemental to provide than $40 billion in emergency funding to support the Ukrainian people and defend global democracy in the wake of Russia's unprovoked attack on Ukraine. The bill passed on a vote of 368 to 57. Congresswoman Lee's remarks can be found here. "Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this Emergency … Continue Reading
May 03, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on Reported Draft Supreme Court Decision to Overturn Roe v. Wade
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Co-Chair of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, issued this statement following media reports of a draft Supreme Court decision overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling: "We all knew the odds, but it is nonetheless shocking to see the Supreme Court move towards overturning 50 years of precedent in a stunning revocation of our right to have an abortion. If accurate, this decision will deal a shattering blow to millions, especially low-income … Continue Reading
May 03, 2022
Pro-Choice Caucus statement on draft Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The leaders of the Pro-Choice Caucus, U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Diana DeGette (D-CO), released the following joint statement in response to reports about a draft Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade: "If accurate, tonight's POLITICO report of a draft Supreme Court decision is the clearest indication yet that the court is poised to overturn decades of legal precedent and deal a shattering blow to the right to access abortion care in the U.S. Such a move … Continue Reading
May 02, 2022
Chairwoman Lee Joins Speaker Pelosi, Colleagues on Congressional Delegation to Poland
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, concluded a Congressional delegation to Poland and Ukraine joined by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Rules Committee Chair Jim McGovern, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Gregory Meeks, House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff, House Foreign Affairs and House Armed Services Committee member Congressman Bill Keating, and House Armed Services Committee member … Continue Reading
May 01, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement Commemorating Jewish American Heritage Month
Washington, D.C - Congresswoman Barbara Lee issued the following statement in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month: "This month, we honor Jewish Americans who have emboldened our Nation to strive for justice and equality and celebrate their invaluable contributions and accomplishments." "From the painful history of persistent persecution worldwide to frequent modern-day expressions of antisemitism, we must recognize the resilience of Jewish Americans and their continued fight against … Continue Reading
May 01, 2022
Congresswoman Lee Celebrates Start of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
WASHINGTON, D.C.?- Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement commemorating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, a celebration of the history, the immeasurable contributions, and achievements of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community: "Happy Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! Each year, the month of May is an opportunity to celebrate the rich culture, history, and traditions that the AANHPI community have brought to communities … Continue Reading
April 28, 2022
Reps. Lee, Hoyer Host Poverty Task Force Meeting to Discuss the Role of Universal Pre-K in Reducing Child Poverty
WASHINGTON, D.C.?- Today, House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) and Majority Leader Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity Chairwoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) hosted a Poverty Task Force meeting with experts from the Brookings Institution on the role of universal pre-K and other early interventions in reducing long-term child poverty. Joined by other Democratic Members of the Poverty Task Force, they heard from Dr. Isabel Sawhill, Senior Fellow, Center on Children and Families; Kristen Moore, … Continue Reading
April 28, 2022
Chairwoman Lee Holds Hearing with Secretary Blinken on State Department Budget Request
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, today held a hearing with Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to discuss President Biden's State and Foreign Operations budget request for Fiscal Year 2023. The Department of State is at the forefront of advancing America's diplomatic, development, and humanitarian efforts to save lives of the most vulnerable people, promote stability, democracy and human rights, and … Continue Reading
April 28, 2022
Congresswoman Lee Introduces Advancing Equity Through the Arts and Humanities Act
WASHINGTON, D.C.?- Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee introduced the Advancing Equity Through the Arts and Humanities Act to acknowledge the role that arts and humanities play in dismantling systemic racism in the United States. Specifically, this legislation would create a program under the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities to provide grants to increase engagement with public and nonprofit entities, including faith-based and community-based … Continue Reading
April 27, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee leads HDP CODEL to Barbados, Chairs Regional Summit on Good Governance
WASHINGTON, D.C. - House Democracy Partnership (HDP) Members Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Robin Kelly (D-IL) issued the following statement after leading a congressional delegation visit to Barbados. "Last week, Representative Robin Kelly and I traveled to Barbados where we sought to strengthen and renew our commitment to supporting our longtime friends and allies in the Eastern Caribbean," said Congresswoman Barbara Lee. "For too long the United States has not focused enough attention on this … Continue Reading
April 27, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on Holocaust Remembrance Day
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) today released the following statement in honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day: "On Holocaust Remembrance Day, we mourn and honor the six million Jews and countless other lives lost or forever changed during one of the darkest chapters in human history. "77 years after Allied forces liberated countless Jews from horrific evils, disturbing displays of antisemitism and bigotry are still all too prevalent. From antisemitic or racially … Continue Reading
April 22, 2022
Rep. Barbara Lee Commemorates Earth Day and Calls for Increased Investment in Clean & Renewable Energy
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) released the following statement today celebrating Earth Day and calling for major investment to drive the transition to a clean energy future. "For more than 50 years, Earth Day has been an opportunity to focus on protecting our environment, to celebrate our natural world, and to recommit ourselves to the fight for clean air, clean water, and a livable planet. This year, we also must recognize that we are running out of time to save the planet for our … Continue Reading
April 20, 2022
Congressional Cannabis Caucus Co-Chairs Issue Statement Calling for Cannabis Reform on 4/20
WASHINGTON, D.C.?- Today, Congressional Cannabis Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Lee (D-CA), Blumenauer (D-OR), Joyce (R-OH) and Mast (R-FL) released the following statement celebrating recent progress on cannabis reform: "When the Congressional Cannabis Caucus was founded in 2017, it set out to create a forum where members from both parties could engage, discuss, and learn about the need to establish a more rational approach to federal cannabis policy. In the years since, we have watched cannabis … Continue Reading
April 08, 2022
Congresswoman Lee Reintroduces Legislation Marking National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
WASHINGTON, D.C.?- Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), co-chair of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, reintroduced legislation marking April 10th as National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NYHAAD). "Engaging youth in the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS is absolutely critical, especially given the rise in transmissions among this demographic. Historically, young people have been less likely than any other group to be retained in care, with Black and Latino youth constituting a … Continue Reading
April 07, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Celebrates Historic Confirmation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court
WASHINGTON, D.C.?- Congresswoman Barbara Lee today released the below statement on the confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. "Today, the dream of our ancestors and the trailblazers that came before us was realized with the historic confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court. "As a jurist, Justice Jackson's poise, intellect, and extensive qualifications are unmatched. She has proven herself to be an … Continue Reading
April 07, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Votes to Provide Critical Relief for Restaurants and other Hard Hit Small Businesses
WASHINGTON, D.C.?- Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee spoke on the House floor and voted to pass the Relief for Restaurants and other Hard Hit Small Businesses Act of 2022. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan Democrats passed May 2020, Congress provided $28.6 billion for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF). This program provided desperately needed relief to more than 100,000 restaurants and other food and beverage businesses across the nation. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic stretches … Continue Reading
April 06, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Honors Shirley Chisholm at the Library of Congress Alongside Speaker Pelosi, Dr. Carla Hayden, Members of Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C.?- On Tuesday, April 5th, Congresswoman Barbara Lee hosted a commemorative event at the Library of Congress to honor the legacy of the late Shirley Chisholm. Congresswoman Lee was a mentee of the late Congresswoman Chisholm, and on the 50th anniversary of her presidential run, Congresswoman Lee is honoring her courage and commemorating the example she set for Black women in public service. Speakers at the event included Congresswoman Lee; Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi; … Continue Reading
April 01, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Speaks on House Floor, Applauds the Historic Passage of Comprehensive Marijuana Reform Legislation
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), Co-Chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, today released a statement following the historic passage of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, which aims to correct the historical injustices of failed drug policies, which have disproportionately impacted communities of color and low-income communities. The MORE Act, the most comprehensive marijuana reform bill ever introduced in Congress, would … Continue Reading
March 31, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Votes to Pass Affordable Insulin Now Act
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee voted to pass the Affordable Insulin Now Act, legislation that would cap the out-of-pocket cost of insulin at $35 a month. "Right now, thousands of Americans struggle to afford potentially life-saving medicine due to the skyrocketing cost of insulin. 1 in 4 who rely on it to maintain their health have cut back or skipped doses due to cost, with some even dying from having to ration doses. "There is no reason it should be so expensive. … Continue Reading
March 31, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Celebrates 2023 American Women Quarters Program Honorees
Washington, D.C. - Today, the United States Mint announced the following 2023 honorees for the American Women Quarters program, made possible by Congresswoman Lee's Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020: Bessie Coleman - pilot, advocate, and pioneer who flew to great heights as the first African American and first Native American woman pilot, as well as the first African American to earn an international pilot's license. Jovita Idár - Mexican American journalist, activist, … Continue Reading