Press Releases
Congressional Pro-Choice leaders condemn anti-choice efforts to exploit coronavirus
March 27, 2020WASHINGTON, DC - Pro-Choice Caucus Chairs Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Diana DeGette (D-CO) and taskforce leads Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Judy Chu (D-CA), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Norma Torres (D-CA), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Julia Brownley (D-CA) and Katherine Clark (D-MA) released the following statement today after multiple state governments attempted to limit abortion services during the COVID-19 crisis: "We are in the midst of an unprecedented global health cris… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds Passage of Families & Workers-First Coronavirus Legislation and the Emergency Relief it Sends to the East Bay
March 27, 2020WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee applauded the passage of the CARES Act, which will now go to the President's desk for his signature. "I am proud to support this important bill, which will bring urgently needed relief to families and small businesses all across this country. During this time of stress and uncertainty, everyone needs to know that the government will support them without hesitation. This latest piece of legislation is an essential step in our ongoing effort to a… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on Third Coronavirus Response Package
March 25, 2020OAKLAND, CA - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on the Senate's coronavirus legislation: "Our country, our workers, and our families are facing an unprecedented crisis. Yet, it's not just financial security that's on the line - it's workers' very health and safety. Any package Congress passes needs to be centered on the needs of families, not executives. "Let me be clear: Senate Republicans put forward a bill that put big corporations first, and failed the work… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds the Introduction of the Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act
March 23, 2020OAKLAND, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement in support of House Democrats' new stimulus bill, the Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act, a bold and comprehensive phase three coronavirus response bill that injects more than $2.5 trillion into the American economy. "As the coronavirus continues to spread and the crisis deepens, it is our job to ensure that every family, every worker, and every person in the United States has the resources they need to maint… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Marks 10th Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, Calls on Trump Administration to End ACA Lawsuit
March 23, 2020OAKLAND, CA - Today, on the 10th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Congresswoman Lee called on the Trump Administration to end its Texas v. U.S. lawsuit, which would strike down the entirety of the ACA, as well as pre-existing condition protections for 130 million Americans, including more than 6 million Californians, amid the coronavirus pandemic. "For a decade, Democrats have stood strong against the GOP's all-out assault on the health and financial security of hard-working famili… Continue Reading
Representatives Lee, García introduce bill Prohibiting Rental Evictions During COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
March 23, 2020OAKLAND, CA - Representatives Barbara Lee (CA-13), Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04), and 39 additional cosponsors introduced the Rental Eviction Moratorium Act today to prohibit landlords from evicting rental tenants during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The bill will be part of the third COVID-19 stimulus package introduced by the House of Representatives, the Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act. "As more workers are losing their jobs or having their hours limited,… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Hails Passage of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
March 14, 2020Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee voted to pass H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, a robust federal spending package to address the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic. "As we continue to see the spread of coronavirus, we can and must use all the tools we have to respond to this public health crisis. That is why, in addition to the recently enacted $8.3 billion emergency coronavirus supplemental, we acted today to address the impact of the virus o… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee update on the Grand Princess Cruise at the Port of Oakland
March 08, 2020Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released an update on the Grand Princess Cruise at the Port of Oakland. "I am proud of my State, City, County, and Port of Oakland for stepping up during this public health crisis to work with the federal government to aid thousands of people trapped on the Grand Princess Cruise. Protecting the public health of the passengers and our community can and will be central to this effort. The ship will only dock during disembarkment and passengers w… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee, East Bay Students Embark on Civil Rights Pilgrimage to Alabama
March 06, 2020Montgomery, AL - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee and students from the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center will travel to Alabama and Tennessee to participate in the Faith & Politics Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage. "Each year, the Faith & Politics Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage provides a life-changing experience by reminding us of our nation's civil rights history and the lessons we must embrace if we want to truly confront the legacy of racism in America," said Congr… Continue Reading
Congresswomen Lee, Roybal-Allard, Chairwoman DeLauro Celebrate Landmark Hearing on Child Poverty
March 03, 2020Washington, D.C. - Today, the House Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee hosted a hearing on a study from the National Academy of Science titled "A Roadmap to Reducing Child Poverty." This landmark study was commissioned by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40) with support from then-Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) and then-Chairman Tom Cole (OK-4) in the Fiscal Year 2016 LHHSE Appropriations bill, as the first-ever federally funded stud… Continue Reading
Congresswomen Lee, González Colón Reintroduce Bill to Decriminalize and Destigmatize HIV/AIDS
March 03, 2020Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Congresswoman Jenniffer González Colón, Co-Chairs of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, reintroduced the Repeal Existing Policies that Encourage and Allow Legal (REPEAL) HIV Discrimination Act, which would modernize laws and policies to eliminate discrimination against those living with HIV/AIDS. Federal and state laws, policies, and regulations should not place a unique or additional burden on individuals solely as a result o… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Slams the Trump Administration’s So-Called Afghanistan Peace Deal
February 29, 2020Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement in response to the signing of the U.S.-Taliban Violence Reduction Deal: "After nearly two decades of endless war, it's become clear that there is no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan. But this so-called ?'peace deal' is anything but. "It leaves thousands of troops in Afghanistan and lacks the critical investments in peacebuilding, human-centered development, or governance reform needed to rebuil… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Votes to Pass Antilynching Legislation
February 26, 2020Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee voted to pass H.R. 35, the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, long overdue legislation to explicitly designate lynching as a hate crime under federal law. "It is fitting that this bill was named after Emmett Till. This promising, young, African American boy was only 14 years old when he was brutally murdered for allegedly flirting with a white woman. He was one of thousands who have been brutally murdered simply because of the color of their skin. … Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Introduces Landmark Fellowship for Women in STEAM
February 19, 2020Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on her introduction of the Ronald V. Dellums Memorial Fellowship for Women of Color in STEAM and National Security Act: "I am pleased to reintroduce the Ronald V. Dellums Memorial Fellowship for Women of Color in STEAM and National Security Act, which will help open opportunities for women of color in the STEAM and national security sectors. Under this bill, 30 students, particularly women and students of color, would… Continue Reading
Rep. Lee, Sen. Menendez Lead Bicameral Gun Safety Bill to Mandate Preservation, Disclosure of Federal Gun Data
February 14, 2020Washington, D.C. - U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.-13) and Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today introduced bicameral legislation to greatly enhance the ability of law enforcement to investigate and solve gun crimes, crackdown on gun trafficking and negligent gun dealers, and allow researchers-for the first time-to study gun violence and its impact on communities across the country. The Gun Records Restoration and Preservation Act would require the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and F… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Votes for Gender Equality, Removing the ERA Deadline
February 13, 2020Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee voted yes on H.J.Res. 79, a resolution to remove an arbitrary deadline previously set by Congress for the States to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). The Equal Rights Amendment simply states: "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex," enshrining the principle of women's equality and an explicit prohibition against gender discrimination in the Constitution. "One… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds the Senate Vote on War Powers, Urges Further Action
February 13, 2020Washington, D.C. - Today, the U.S. Senate approved a bipartisan War Powers Resolution to curb President Trump's military authority against Iran. In response, Congresswoman Lee released the following statement: "Just weeks after the House passed my legislation to repeal the 2002 Iraq AUMF, the Senate took another important step forward to stop endless war and curb Trump's warmongering - but there's still more work to be done. "Since day one, Trump and his administration have fanned the flames o… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Votes to Protect America’s Wilderness
February 12, 2020Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee voted to pass H.R. 2546, Protecting America's Wilderness Act, which designates approximately 1.3 million acres of wilderness and incorporates more than 1,000 river miles into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System across California, Colorado, and Washington. "Our public lands are one of the best resources we have to respond to the climate crisis. The Protecting America's Wilderness Act is an essential piece of House Democrats' commitment t… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Lee Slams Trump’s Immoral and Dangerous Budget
February 10, 2020Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement after President Trump released his FY21 budget proposal. "Trump's budget proposal is a direct reflection of his values and amounts to an all-out assault on everyday people. It slashes Medicaid, Medicare, nutrition assistance and vital programs that Americans rely on to make ends meet. Instead it funnels billions into a xenophobic border wall, and hundreds of billions more to unnecessary and already bloated Pent… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Votes to Strengthen Workers’ Power in the Workplace
February 06, 2020Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee voted to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, a bold proposal that strengthens workers' power to stand together and negotiate for bigger paychecks, better benefits, and safer working conditions. The PRO Act, which is the most significant upgrade to U.S. labor law in 80 years, is a direct response to the struggle that many hardworking families are facing to keep pace with the rising costs of education, child care, housing, and ot… Continue Reading