Press Releases
Lee, Rush, Cohen, Moore, 75 Democratic Colleagues Urge President Biden To Reverse Trump Administration's Cruel Policy Towards Cuba
March 04, 2021Washington, D.C. -U.S. Representatives Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.) Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), and Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) led a group of 75 Democratic Members of Congress in sending a letter to President Biden urging him to take swift executive action to reverse the Trump Administration's draconian policies towards Cuba, return to the diplomatic path charted by the Obama-Biden Administration, and pursue an ultimate end to the nearly six-decade-long economic embargo. The letter emphas… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Votes to Pass Historic Voting Reform Legislation
March 03, 2021Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) voted to pass H.R. 1, the For the People Act, a sweeping anti-corruption package to clean up Washington, protect and expand voting rights, restore integrity to government and put the needs and priorities of the American people ahead of special interests. "Every election cycle we see rampant voter suppression and efforts to undermine the electoral process and disenfranchise voters, primarily in communities of color," said Congresswoman Lee. "It's past … Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Praises Passage of Landmark Police Reform Bill
March 03, 2021Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and member of the Congressional Black Caucus, voted for H.R. 7120, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021-bold police reform legislation led by the Congressional Black Caucus. Congresswoman Lee released the following statement following the bill's passage: "For generations, law enforcement has systematically abused and tormented communities of color. Today, the House pass… Continue Reading
Congressional Pro-Choice Leaders Urge Biden to Eliminate Abortion Coverage Restrictions from Fiscal Year 2022 Budget
March 02, 2021Washington, D.C. - The Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus - led by U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Diana DeGette (CO-01) - along with the Democratic Women's Caucus leaders, House Appropriations Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro, and pro-choice Senators, sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging the removal of abortion coverage restrictions from the Fiscal Year 2022 budget. In the letter, the lawmakers said that reversing the Trump administration's policies undermining access to sexual and reproductiv… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Celebrates Women’s History Month
March 01, 2021Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee issued the following statement in recognition of the beginning of Women’s History Month: “Women’s History Month is an opportunity to celebrate the immense contributions of women in the East Bay and across the country who paved the way for women to lead in government, science, education, and across all fields. This year, as we recognize generations of trailblazing women, we are also celebrating the monumental achievement of electing Vice President Ka… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Votes to Pass Urgently Needed COVID Relief
February 27, 2021Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, today released a statement following the passage of H.R. 1319, The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which implements President Biden's American Rescue Plan to deliver urgently needed COVID-19 relief to struggling families: "The coronavirus pandemic and economic crises are destroying lives and livelihoods across the country. Tens of millions of Americans have been infected, and on Sunday,… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Introduces Legislation to Uplift Black LGBTQ+ Leaders
February 26, 2021Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, a vice-chair and founding member of the Equality Caucus, today introduced legislation honoring the contributions of Black LGBTQ+ individuals. This resolution seeks to uplift the contributions of Black LGBTQ+ individuals, both past and present, as fearless trailblazers in American culture and society. Black LGBTQ+ Americans have made significant strides in the fields of politics, entertainment, athletics, and more. This resolution recognizes and cele… Continue Reading
Lee, Pressley, Warren, Bass, Kelly Re-Introduce Bicameral Bill to Mandate Federal Government Collect and Report Coronavirus Demographic Data -- Including Race and Ethnicity
February 26, 2021Robust Data Collection on COVID Disparities Will Help Direct Resources to Hardest Hit Communities Bill Text (PDF) | One-Pager (PDF) WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), along with Congresswomen Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Karen Bass (CA-37), Robin Kelly (IL-13), and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), today led their colleagues in reintroducing the bicameral Equitable Data Collection and Disclosure on COVID-19 Act. The bill would require the Department of Health and Human Services … Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement on Recent Air Strikes in Syria
February 26, 2021Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) today released the following statement on the recent air strikes in Syria carried out by the Biden Administration: "The strike in Syria underscores that tensions between the United States and Iran remain dangerously high, and that there is an urgent need to get back to the table to revive the JCPOA. It also highlights the urgent need to repeal the blank checks for endless wars - the 2001 and 2002 AUMFs - which are now almost 20 years old. L… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Votes to Pass Historic Legislation to End Discrimination Against All LGBTQ+ Americans
February 25, 2021Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) released a statement following the passage of H.R. 5, the Equality Act, which ensures that all LGBTQ+ individuals are granted the full protections guaranteed by federal civil rights law. The Equality Act amends existing federal civil rights laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in education, employment, housing, credit, federal jury service, public accommodations, and the use … Continue Reading
Lee, González Colon Reintroduce Bipartisan Resolution to Modernize Laws and Policies to Eliminate HIV/AIDS Discrimination
February 25, 2021Washington, D.C. - Reps. Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Jenniffer González Colon (PR-At Large), Co-Chairs of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, reintroduced a bipartisan resolution to modernize laws and policies, and eliminate discrimination, with respect to people living with HIV/AIDS. Thirty-two states and two U.S. territories have criminal statutes or general criminal laws based on perceived exposure to HIV. Punishments under these laws or statutes include decades-long sentences and sex off… Continue Reading
Representative Barbara Lee and Senator Cory Booker Reintroduce Legislation to Form Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Commission
February 25, 2021Washington, D.C. --Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) announced the reintroduction of their legislation calling for the establishment of the first United States Commission on Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT). The Commission will examine the effects of slavery, institutional racism, and discrimination against people of color, and how our history impacts laws and policies today. "Inequality, systemic racism, and white supremacy are at the heart… Continue Reading
At the Request of Lee, Warren, Booker, and Wyden, Federal Research Agency Will Review the Use of Race-Based Algorithms in Medical Practice
February 24, 2021Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) was joined by United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), in releasing the following statement regarding the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) approving their request to review the use of race-based clinical algorithms in standard medical practices: "The COVID-19 pandemic and its disproportionate impact on communities of color have laid bare that racism is a public health c… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds Biden Executive Actions on Relief for Small Businesses
February 24, 2021Washington, D.C. - Rep. Barbara Lee released a statement applauding executive actions taken by President Joe Biden to increase economic relief for small businesses. President Biden's Executive Actions include several reforms to the Paycheck Protection Program to target relief the hardest hit businesses, including a two-week window for small businesses with fewer than 20 employees to apply for funding. Nearly 98 percent of small businesses have less than 20 employees. These actions also aim to… Continue Reading
Lee, Thompson, Booker Announce Re-Introduction of Bicameral Bill to Remove Confederate Statues From Capitol
February 19, 2021WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), announced the re-introduction of their bicameral bill to remove Confederate statues from the U.S. Capitol. The Confederate Monument Removal Act would remove all statues of people who voluntarily served the Confederate States of America from the National Statuary Hall Collection within 120 days of the bill being signed into law. This bill was originally introduced by … Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s Applauds Investment in Education and Child Care in Biden American Rescue Plan
February 18, 2021Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) today applauded the inclusion of critical funding for education in the FY21 budget reconciliation bill, which enacts President Biden's American Rescue Plan and will be considered on the floor of the House for a vote next week: The American Rescue Plan provides an estimated total of $170 billion in relief for K-12 schools and institutions of higher education. The plan also provides $39 billion in funding for childcare providers to help them … Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Joins Vice President Harris for Roundtable Discussion on Biden-Harris American Rescue Plan
February 18, 2021Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) joined Vice President Kamala Harris, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV), and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) for an official White House press conference and roundtable discussion on the Biden-Harris Administration's American Rescue Plan and its impact on women. The event began with a press availability for the White House press corps followed by a roundtable discussion on the American Rescue Plan (ARP… Continue Reading
Lee and Blumenauer Urge President Biden to Pardon Federal Cannabis Offenses
February 18, 2021WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), co-chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, led 35 lawmakers in urging President Joe Biden to use executive clemency to pardon individuals convicted of federal cannabis offenses. "Until the day that Congress sends you a marijuana reform bill to sign, you have a unique ability to lead on criminal justice reform and provide immediate relief to thousands of Americans," the lawmakers wrote in a letter … Continue Reading
Representative Lee Leads Congressional Democrats in Filing Amicus Brief in ACOG v. FDA
February 12, 2021Today, Representatives Barbara Lee (CA-13), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Jan Schakowsky. (IL-9), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), as well as Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR), led 148 Members of Congress in filing an amicus brief in the case of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists v. United States Food and Drug Administration (ACOG v. FDA). The brief challenges the FDA's in-person dispensing require… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Announces Funding for COVID-19 Funeral Expenses
February 10, 2021Washington, D.C. -- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) today announced $2 billion in special Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds for families to afford proper funerals for their loved ones who passed away as a result of COVID-19. This program replicates the funding used for funeral assistance after Hurricane Katrina, and was inspired by legislation introduced by Congresswoman Lee and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) in May. This program will allow families to be reim… Continue Reading