Press Releases
Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus Co-Chairs Recognize 32nd Annual World AIDS Day
December 01, 2020Washington, D.C. - Reps. Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Jenniffer González (PR-At Large), co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, today released a statement marking December 1st as World AIDS Day. The theme of the 32nd annual World AIDS Day is "Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic: Resilience & Impact," which celebrates the achievements of the past four decades in the fight against HIV/AIDS, while recognizing the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the strain on our global pu… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on Transgender Day of Remembrance
November 20, 2020Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) released this statement in honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance: "On Transgender Day of Remembrance, our nation honors and mourns the countless members of the transgender community who have faced violence, discrimination, and lost their lives for living authentically. On this day and always, we must remain committed to ensuring that the transgender community is granted the dignity, safety, and respect that they deserve in the workplace and… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds the Passage of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020
November 20, 2020Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) today released the following statement of support for H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, upon its adoption by the House of Representatives. This legislation will grant $3.9 billion over five years to expand registered apprenticeships through grants and modify the approval process for apprenticeship programs. The U.S. is facing a dire economic crisis, with more than 11.1 million unemployed and an estimated 7 million of the… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Holds Special Order Hour on Impact COVID-19 has on Communities of Color
November 17, 2020Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, Congresswoman Barbara Lee delivered remarks on the House floor emphasizing the need for COVID-19 testing and tracing, and the disproportionate impact on Black, Brown, Latinx, and Indigenous people. Congresswoman Lee's full remarks can be found here: "Thank you very much. First, I wanted -- thank you, Mr. Speaker, for yielding. And also to the Chair of our Congressional Black Caucus, I want to thank Chairwoman Bass who has helped organize this tonight and f… Continue Reading
Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus Co-Chairs Introduce World AIDS Day Resolution
November 16, 2020Washington, D.C. - Reps. Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Jenniffer González (PR-At Large), Co-Chairs of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, today introduced a bipartisan resolution supporting the goals of World AIDS Day. This includes continued efforts to prevention, care and treatment services, and research programsfor communities impacted by HIV and people living with HIV in the United States and globally. Tuesday, December 1, 2020 marks the 32nd annual World AIDS Day. This year's World AIDS D… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Lee Statement on Veterans Day
November 11, 2020Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) released the following statement commemorating Veterans Day: "On Veterans Day, we honor the brave servicemembers who risked their lives and continue to serve our country. As the proud daughter of a veteran, I'm committed to working in Congress to ensure we keep our promises to our veterans and military families who have served selflessly and answered our nation's call of duty. "My father, Lieutenant Colonel Garvin Tutt, served in both W… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on Supreme Court Oral Arguments for Trump-GOP Lawsuit to End Health Care Coverage for Millions
November 11, 2020Washington, D.C. -Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on the Supreme Court hearing of the Trump-Republican backed lawsuit to strip away health care protections from millions during a global pandemic: "From day one, the Trump administration has stopped at nothing to strip away health care from millions in need. Today, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of California v. Texas, and the GOP motive is clear: take health care away from families in the middle of… Continue Reading
Congressional Cannabis Caucus Co-Chairs Urge Colleagues to Pass Federal Cannabis Reform Following Sweeping Ballot Measure Victories
November 10, 2020WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), co-chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, sent a letter to their House colleagues urging strong support of comprehensive federal cannabis reform legislation that will be voted on this year. The letter comes after resounding victories last week in Arizona, Montana, New Jersey, South Dakota and Mississippi, where voters approved a series of cannabis ballot measures. Cannabis will now be legalized for adult use in … Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on President- elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris Winning the 2020 Presidential Election
November 07, 2020Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) released this statement following President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris' victory in the 2020 Presidential Election. "This is a historic day. It is clear that President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris are the right leaders for the right time, as they've earned the highest popular vote count in American history. As we fight back a dangerous pandemic and economic disaster, systemic racism, and… Continue Reading
Lee, Lowey, and Fellow Appropriators Urge Administration to Rescind Order Pausing Diversity and Inclusion Training Programs at USAID
October 30, 2020Washington, D.C. - In a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Vice Chairwoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), and Subcommittee Members Grace Meng (D-NY), David Price (D-NC), Lois Frankel (D-FL) and Norma Torres (D-CA) urged the Trump Administration to suspend their decision to pause all diversity and inclusion training at State Department and USAID. "We write to express our deep concern re… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Awarded UNA-East Bay’s UN Champion of the Decade and UNA-NCA Edison W. Dick Advocacy Leadership Award
October 27, 2020Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement after receiving two awards recognizing her advocacy. She served four terms as a congressional representative to the UN General Assembly. "I am deeply honored to receive the UNA-East Bay's first ever UN Champion of the Decade and UNA-NCA Edison W. Dick Advocacy Leadership Award, said Congresswoman Barbara Lee. "This global crisis has only reinforced health and economic inequalities around the globe for low-in… Continue Reading
Pro-Choice Caucus Leaders’ Statement on Confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to Supreme Court
October 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 after the Senate voted tonight to confirm Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court: "This entire confirmation process has made a mockery out of the highest court in the land. Today's vote to confirm Judge Barrett to the Supreme Court is an affront to democracy as we know it - women, vulnerable communities, and working families are going to … Continue Reading
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