Press Releases
Reps. Lee, DeGette, Pressley, Schakowsky Reintroduce EACH Act for Reproductive Justice
Washington, DC - Reps. Barbara Lee (CA-12) and Diana DeGette (CO-1), Co-Chairs of the Pro-Choice Caucus, Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA-7), Chair of the PCC Abortion Rights and Access Task Force, and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-9), Chair of the PCC Providers and Clinics Task Force, led a group of 163 members in reintroducing the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Healthcare (EACH) Act, bold legislation to guarantee abortion coverage regardless a patient's health insurance. The EACH Act ends the … Continue Reading
January 24, 2023
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on Series of Mass Shootings in California
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee issued the following statement after the shootings in Monterey Park, Half Moon Bay and Oakland, CA: "24 hours ago we were mourning the tragic loss of life in Monterey Park, and now yet another mass shooting in Half Moon Bay and one in Oakland. "I'm heartbroken for the families and loved ones of the victims. I'm mourning with them and sending my deepest condolences and prayers to them at this time. "If we joined every other developed nation on … Continue Reading
January 23, 2023
Pro-Choice Caucus Co-Chairs Mark Roe Week in Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, released the following statement: "This week, on what should have marked the 50th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we are fighting for more. Together with our Pro-Choice Caucus colleagues, we are fighting for true reproductive freedom and abortion access for all people, regardless of income, insurance, race, or zip code. As people across the nation … Continue Reading
January 23, 2023
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on Deadly Mass Shooting in Monterey Park
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee issued the following statement on the deadly mass shooting that occurred on Sunday in Monterey Park, California: "Lunar New Year should be a safe, joyous day of culture and community. On a day we are supposed to be celebrating, we must mourn yet another tragic loss of life. My deepest condolences go to the family & loved ones of the victims, and I am praying for a full & speedy recovery for those injured in the mass shooting yesterday in … Continue Reading
January 22, 2023
Congresswoman Lee Joins Vice President Harris, Pro-Choice Colleagues in Florida on 50th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
Tallahassee, FL - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12), Co-Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus, joined Vice President Kamala Harris in Tallahassee, Florida on Sunday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Congresswoman Lee was joined by members of the Florida Congressional delegation as well as other members of the Pro-Choice Caucus. "Today, we should be celebrating 50 years of progress in the fight for reproductive justice. But in the 8 months since an extremist right-wing Court … Continue Reading
January 16, 2023
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) issued the following statement in recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which is observed annually as a national day of service on the third Monday of January in honor of the civil rights leader's birthday on January 15, 1929. "Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of the great Dr. King, a man whose message and life's mission could not be more pertinent to the present moment. "This year will mark the 60th anniversary of Dr. King's … Continue Reading
January 13, 2023
Rep. Lee Joins Colleagues in Urging President Biden to Issue a Major Disaster Declaration for California
Oakland, CA - U.S. Representative Barbara Lee (CA-12), alongside Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) and the rest of the California Delegation, authored a bipartisan letter urging President Joe Biden to issue a major disaster declaration for the State of California in response to recent severe weather. A major disaster declaration for California would provide a wide range of federal assistance programs for individuals and public infrastructure, including funds for both emergency and permanent … Continue Reading
January 11, 2023
Democrats introduce resolution condemning all acts of political violence in U.S.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) introduced legislation today to condemn all forms of political violence in the U.S., regardless of its target or intent. The resolution comes as a direct response to a measure House Republicans plan to vote on Wednesday condemning recent attacks on anti-choice facilities, but ignores similar attacks on those seeking or providing abortion care in the U.S. Sponsors of the Democratic-led … Continue Reading
January 06, 2023
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Sworn-In to U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee was officially sworn in as United States Representative for California's 12th Congressional District, representing the people of the East Bay in the 118th Congress. "I am honored that the people of the East Bay have entrusted me with the great responsibility of representing them in Congress, and deeply grateful to have such engaged and enlightened constituents. As a result of the 2020 Census and redistricting, our beautiful 13th district's number is … Continue Reading
January 06, 2023
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Recognizes Second Anniversary of January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) today released the following statement to recognize the second anniversary of the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021: "Today marks two years since a deadly assault was waged on the U.S. Capitol, the Congress and the Constitution. As we enter the 118th Congress with a Republican majority in the House, we must not allow anyone to rewrite history or whitewash the gravity of what took place. It was a truly harrowing experience - I barely made it out of … Continue Reading
January 04, 2023
Chairwoman Lee Secures Provision that Assists in Addressing Humanitarian and Recovery Needs Arising from the Artsakh Conflict
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, led an effort to include a provision in the final Fiscal Year 2023 spending bill that directs the Department of State and US Agency for International Development to provide Congress with an assistance strategy for addressing humanitarian and recovery needs arising from the Artsakh conflict and identifies the US "resources and programs," available for this … Continue Reading
January 04, 2023
Chairwoman Barbara Lee Applauds FDA Action on Access to Medication Abortion
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) issued the following statement applauding the Federal Drug Administration's action to expand access to the medication abortion drug mifepristone. As Co-Chair of the Pro Choice Caucus, Lee lead members in urging the FDA to approve the drug. "In a huge win for reproductive freedom, retail pharmacies in states like California can now stock abortion pills. As Co-Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus, I'm proud we were part of the fight to lift harmful in-person … Continue Reading
December 23, 2022
Rep. Lee Secures $18 Million for Local Projects in California’s 13th District
Oakland, CA - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) announced $18,408,778 in Community Project Funding for California's 13th District in the Fiscal Year '23 House spending bills. Among the projects advocated for by Congresswoman Lee that received funding are improvements to Asian Health Services in Oakland, the Martin Luther King Junior Youth Services Center, Covenant House California Homeless Youth Services Center, and much more. "The recipients of this funding are doing critical work … Continue Reading
December 23, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds Passage of FY23 Omnibus Government Funding Legislation
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, released the following statement after House passage of omnibus government funding legislation for Fiscal Year 2023: "Today is a momentous day for the East Bay, for Californians, and for the nation," said Congresswoman Lee. "This $1.7 trillion piece of legislation delivers historic investments in American families and workers while … Continue Reading
December 15, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Recognizes California Statewide Convening on Poverty
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), Chair of the Majority Leader's Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity, today recognized the Poor People's Campaign California Statewide Convening on Poverty on the House Floor. Congresswoman Lee, alongside Bishop William Barber of the Poor People's Campaign, called the 20 million people living in Poverty in California a "moral disgrace," and uplifted the launch of an initiative called "Close the Gap California." "Extreme poverty affects over 20 million … Continue Reading
December 14, 2022
Lee, Hoyer, Clyburn, Thompson, and House Democrats Praise Passage of Legislation to Remove Hate from the Halls of Congress
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) joined House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), House Majority Whip James Clyburn (SC-06), Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Congressman G.K. Butterfield (NC-01), Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02), Congressman John Sarbanes (MD-03), Congressman Anthony Brown (MD-04), Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Congressman David Trone (MD-06), Congressman … Continue Reading
December 09, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Rejoins House Leadership Team
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) was renamed Co-Chair of the House Steering and Policy Committee for the 118th Congress by incoming Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. She will be joined by Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Shultz of Florida and Congressman Dan Kildee of Michigan. The Steering and Policy Committee assigns members of Congress to their committees for the Congressional session. Congresswoman Lee served as Steering and Policy Co-Chair in the 117thCongress as the … Continue Reading
December 08, 2022
Congresswoman Lee Applauds Passage of Respect for Marriage Act
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Vice-Chair and Founding Member of the LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, issued the below statement on House passage of the Respect for Marriage Act. "The right to marry is a fundamental issue of justice. Today, I proudly voted to strengthen protections for same-sex and interracial couples with passage of the Respect for Marriage Act, an essential step to guard against the increasingly extremist, right-wing Supreme Court-a Court that just this year threatened … Continue Reading
December 01, 2022
Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus Co-Chairs Call for End to Health Disparities on 34th Annual World AIDS Day
Washington, DC - Representatives Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Jenniffer González-Colón (PR-AL), Co-Chairs of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, recognized World AIDS Day by introducing a resolution supporting its goals on the 34th annual World AIDS Day. The theme of the 34th annual World AIDS Day is "Tackling Inequalities Which Perpetuate the AIDS Pandemic," which recognizes the urgent need to address health inequities and the need to lift up experiences, solutions, and innovations … Continue Reading
November 29, 2022
Congresswoman Lee Statement on Passing of Congressman Donald McEachin
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee issued the below statement on the passing of Congressman Donald McEachin. "I am devastated at the loss of my colleague and friend, Congressman Don McEachin. From his decades of service in the Virginia legislature to starting the first environmental justice taskforce in Congress, Don was a consummate public servant and champion for the marginalized. "Don was truly an 'honorable.' He was kind, smart, truthful, a warrior for justice and a great human … Continue Reading