Press Releases
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Amendments to Stop Endless Wars Adopted by House Appropriations Committee
July 14, 2020WASHINGTON, DC - The House Appropriations Committee today adopted the Fiscal Year 2021 Defense spending bill including three amendments by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) to end authorizations for endless wars passed nearly 20 years ago and to reassert Congressional authority over any use of military force against Iran. The Appropriations Committee included Rep. Lee's amendments in the Defense bill to do the following: End Congress' 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) gran… Continue Reading
Lee, Hoyer, Clyburn, Bass, Thompson, and Butterfield Introduce Bill to Remove Bust of Chief Justice Roger B. Taney and Statues of Defenders of Slavery
July 13, 2020WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Barbara Lee (CA-13), House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (SC-06), Congressional Black Caucus Chair Karen Bass (CA-37), Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (MS-02), and Rep. G.K. Butterfield (NC-01), introduced H.R. 7573, a bill to replace the bust of Chief Justice Roger B. Taney in the Old Supreme Court Chamber with one of Justice Thurgood Marshall and to remove other shameful reminders of slavery and se… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement on House Appropriations Committee Approval of Fiscal Year 2021 Energy and Water Development Funding Bill
July 13, 2020Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on the approval of the fiscal year 2021 Energy and Water Development Funding Bill. The House Appropriations Committee today approved the fiscal year 2021 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies bill on a vote of 30 to 21. The legislation funds the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of the Interior programs, the Department of Energy, and ot… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement on Appropriations Committee Approval of Fiscal Year 2021 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill
July 10, 2020Washington, D.C. -Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on the approval of the Fiscal Year 2021 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill. The legislation includes funding for programs within the Department of theInterior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other related agencies, including the Indian Health Service. In total, the draft bill includes $36.76 billion in regular appropriations, an increase … Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement on Fiscal Year 2021 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill
July 10, 2020Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), member of the House Appropriations Committee, released a statement following the approval of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The legislation increases discretionary funding by $5.1 billion above the enacted 2020 level, upholding our commitment to servicemembers, Veterans, and military families; legislation also includes $12.5 billion in emergency spending for VA to a… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Joins Over 100 Members of Congress Urging Trump Administration to Extend Unemployment Benefits
July 09, 2020Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) and 100 of her colleagues sent a letter to Donald Trump urging his administration to extend federal unemployment insurance benefits, which are set to run out at the end of July without action by the White House and U.S. Senate. The CARES Act extended unemployment insurance by providing an additional $600 weekly federal unemployment benefit for those who lost their job due to the coronavirus pandemic. While the House acted to subse… Continue Reading
Lawmakers Move to Repeal Trump’s Birth-Control Rule After SCOTUS Rules in Favor
July 08, 2020Washington, D.C. - In an immediate response to the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Trump administration's controversial rule that allows employers to refuse to cover their employees' birth control under their company health insurance plan, a group of federal lawmakers announced today they will be filing new legislation tomorrow to repeal the rules before they can take effect. The legislation, known as the Protect Access to Birth Control Act and led by Barbara Lee (D-CA), U.S. Reps. Dian… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement on Fiscal Year 2021 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Funding Bill
July 08, 2020Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, issued a statement in response to the introduction of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) funding bill. The LHHS bill designates $196.5 billion in funds to some of the nation's most critical programs, including Early Head Start Education and Social Security. The… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement on Fiscal Year 2021 Agriculture-Rural Development-FDA Funding Bill
July 07, 2020Washington, D.C. -Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), member of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, issued the following statement in response to the introduction of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Agriculture, Rural Development-FDA Funding legislation. This legislation provides $23.98 billion in discretionary funding to agencies and programs within the Department of Agriculture, the Farm Credit Administration, the Commo… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement on the Approval of the Fiscal Year 2021 State and Foreign Operations Funding Bill
July 07, 2020Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Vice Chair of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Subcommittee, yesterday released a statement in response to the approval of the subcommittee's Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 bill. In total, the bill provides $65.87 billion in funding for State Department, USAID, and related programs, an increase of $8.467 billion above the FY 2020 enacted level and $21.158 billion above the request. "This legislation restores funding fo… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds Confederate Statue Removal in 2021 Legislative Branch Funding Bill
July 07, 2020Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee released the draft fiscal year 2021 Legislative Branch funding bill, which funds the Legislative Branch of the U.S. government, including the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressional Budget Office, and Capitol Police. The bill provides $4.198 billion in resources used by the House of Representatives to develop legislation, conduct oversight, and assist constituents in their interactions with the Federal Government. The fundin… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee supports the Moving Forward Act – legislation to rebuild infrastructure, create jobs, fight the climate crisis and address disparities
July 02, 2020Washington, D.C. - On Wednesday, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) voted to pass H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act - sweeping legislation that will invest more than $1.5 trillion in modern, sustainable infrastructure while creating millions of good-paying jobs, fighting the climate crisis and addressing disparities in housing, health and education in California and nationwide. "The Moving Forward Act addresses disparities in our communities by making much-needed investments in environmental justic… Continue Reading
Reps. Lee, Fudge and Katko along with 161 Members of Congress urge an increase in food assistance benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic
July 01, 2020Washington, D.C. - Congressmembers Barbara Lee (CA-13), Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) and John Katko (NY-24) delivered a letter to Congressional leaders today urging an increase in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to address rising food insecurity and unprecedented demand at food banks across the country. The letter is addressed to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and signed by 164 Memb… Continue Reading
Congressional Pro-Choice Leaders Praise Supreme Court Decision to Overturn Anti-Choice Law in June Medical Services v. Russo
June 29, 2020Washington, DC - Today, Pro-Choice Caucus Chairs Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Barbara Lee (D-CA) released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in June Medical Services v. Russo to overturn the Louisiana law requiring physicians who provide abortion care to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of a clinic. This law is identical to the Texas state law overturned 4 years ago in Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt. "Today's decision reaffirms what we already know… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement Celebrating Caribbean Heritage Month
June 26, 2020Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement celebrating Caribbean American Heritage Month: "It is an honor to once again mark June as Caribbean American Heritage Month. Caribbean Americans have added to our history, culture and communities in countless ways. The unique relationship between the United States and the Caribbean has enriched both regions and this month is a wonderful time to celebrate our shared past and future. "I led the effort to establish June a… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Introduces Legislation Commemorating 75th Anniversary of the United Nations
June 26, 2020Washington, D.C. - Today, on the 75th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations' Charter, Congresswoman Barbara Lee introduced H. Res. 1024, legislation recognizing the 75th anniversary of the UN's establishment. "The United Nations is vital to our global community and essential to realizing a peaceful and prosperous shared future," said Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who is serving her fourth term as a congressional representative to the UN General Assembly. "Since it was established in 194… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Praises Historic Policing Reform Bill Passed by Congress
June 25, 2020Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Lee voted for H.R. 7120, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020, bold police reform legislation led by the Congressional Black Caucus. Congresswoman Lee released the following statement after the bill's passage. "After generations of systematic abuse, violence, and murder, the George Floyd Justice in Policing act will finally hold police accountable, end police brutality, and create structural changes to end systemic racism in policing. "As the… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on the 155th Observance of Juneteenth
June 19, 2020Oakland, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee issued the following statement on the 155th observance of Juneteenth. "We celebrate this Juneteenth as millions of people around the world are crying out against systemic racism and anti-Black violence. On this day in 1865, news of slavery's end finally made its way to Galveston, Texas, more than two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. In that same year, prior to Juneteenth, my grandfather was born under slavery in Galveston. On Jun… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on Supreme Court Ruling on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA)
June 18, 2020OAKLAND, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee issued the following Statement today on U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program. "The Supreme Court's ruling is great news for the almost 700,000 DACA recipients, their families and the entire country. These young people have lived in the United States for decades and have made a life for themselves and for their families. They are active members of our community, contribute to our economy and make America a stronger … Continue Reading
Lee Leads 108 Members of Congress in Urging FDA to Ease Restrictions on Medication Abortion
June 16, 2020WASHINGTON, D.C. - While the Trump Administration has encouraged the use of telemedicine across the health care industry during the pandemic, it has refused to relax rules around medication abortion, a move that experts warn may put both patients and providers at greater risk of contracting the coronavirus. Today, a group of 109 lawmakers, led by U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) are urging the Food and Drug Administration to … Continue Reading