Press Releases
Congresswoman Lee: CBO Estimate for Senate Trumpcare Bill is a ‘Warning to the American People’
June 26, 2017Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on the Congressional Budget Office's estimate on the Senate plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act: "The Congressional Budget Office's report on the Senate Republican 'health care' bill is a warning to the American people. If we do nothing - and allow this heartless bill to become law - 22 million of our neighbors and loved ones will lose lifesaving health coverage. "Families would be forced to choose between filling… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Leads Call to Uber, Tech Industry to Address Diversity Deficit in Leadership
June 26, 2017Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee along with the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) - led by Chairman Cedric Richmond and Representatives G.K. Butterfield and Emanuel Cleaver- sent a letter to Uber, calling on the ride-share service company and other technology firms to prioritize diversity when filling senior leadership positions. "When the Congressional Black Caucus Diversity Task Force launched CBC TECH 2020 in May 2015, we cautioned leaders in the tech community that its lac… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Marks One Year Anniversary of House Gun Violence Sit-in
June 23, 2017Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement today on the first anniversary of House Democrats gun violence sit-in on the House Floor: "One year ago today, I was proud to join my colleagues on the House Floor to demand action on the epidemic of gun violence in America. Democrats, led by Congressman John Lewis, sent a message loud and clear to Republicans: enough is enough, Americans deserve to be safe in their own communities." "Sadly, instead of working with D… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Cosponsors Voting Rights Advancement Act
June 22, 2017Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee cosponsored the Voting Rights Advancement Act (VRAA), legislation which restores protections for voters in states with a recent history of discrimination. Four years after the Supreme Court's decision to gut the Voting Rights Act in Shelby County v. Holder, the VRAA addresses discriminatory voter ID laws, racial gerrymandering, and other voter suppression tactics enacted across the country. "Voting is the bedrock of our democracy. No American … Continue Reading
Rep. Barbara Lee Slams Senate Republicans’ Heartless Anti-Health Legislation
June 22, 2017Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on Senate Republicans' Trumpcare bill: "It appears that Senate Republicans have done the impossible: they've made a morally bankrupt, heartless health care plan even worse. "Once again, President Trump and his Republican friends have shown just how out-of-touch they are with the needs and concerns of the American people. This bill would kick struggling families off of Medicaid and disproportionately devastate communiti… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Members of Congress File Largest Congressional Lawsuit in History Against President Trump
June 20, 2017Washington, D.C. - Last week, Congresswoman Barbara Lee along with nearly 200 Members of Congress filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against President Trump, whose ongoing failure to disclose his foreign business dealings violates one of the Constitution's critical anti-corruption provisions: the Foreign Emoluments Clause. Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement after Members of Congress held a press conference providing updates on the l… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Lee Marks 152nd Observance of Juneteenth
June 19, 2017Oakland, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement in observance of Juneteenth: "Today we pause to celebrate and commemorate Juneteenth - the day in 1865 when news of slavery's end finally made its way to Galveston, Texas. More than two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, news of the Proclamation and the Union's victory in the Civil War had not reached Galveston, Texas. On this day, 152 years ago, all African Americans could finally claim their freed… Continue Reading
Statement from Bipartisan Cuba Working Group on President Trump's Plan to Roll Back Cuba Normalization Efforts
June 16, 2017Washington, D.C. - The Bipartisan Co-Chairs of the Cuba Working Group (CWG), Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR), Congresswoman Kathy Castor (D-FL), and Congressman Tom Emmer (R-MN), released the following statement regarding President Trump's announcement that he intends to roll back the policies that expanded travel to and trade with Cuba: "We strongly disagree with the decision to reinstate failed isolationist policies towards Cuba. Restricting travel and trade… Continue Reading
Rep. Barbara Lee Slams President Trump’s Backwards Decision on Cuba
June 15, 2017Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on the Trump Administration's reported decision to reverse Obama-era policies normalizing U.S. relations with Cuba: "I am appalled and saddened by the reports that President Trump will reinstate failed isolationist Cuba policies. Instead of considering the best interests of the American and Cuban people, the president has made a political decision to squander jobs, severely restrict travel, and undermine our internati… Continue Reading
Lee, Pelosi, Harris, Feinstein Introduce Resolution Congratulating Warriors Epic Championship Run
June 15, 2017Washington, D.C. -Representatives Barbara Lee and Nancy Pelosi and Senators Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein (all D-Calif.) today introduced a bicameral congressional resolution congratulating the Golden State Warriors on their NBA Finals victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. "As a proud member of Dub Nation, I am excited to celebrate this remarkable victory for the Warriors, securing their second NBA Championship in three years," Representative Lee said. "The outstanding lineup led by Team C… Continue Reading
Rep. Barbara Lee: Republicans Voted to Rig Economy for the Wealthy
June 08, 2017Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Lee released the following statement after Republicans in Congress passed H.R. 10, the Financial "CHOICE" Act, repealing financial protections for families and consumers: "Our nation is rooted in the belief that those who work hard should be able to find a good-paying job, purchase a home, and comfortably raise a family. No event in recent history has put this vision in greater jeopardy than the Great Recession. Millions of innocent Americans paid the pri… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Lee Leads Letter Demanding Long-Term Military Strategy from President Trump
June 06, 2017Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee led 20 of her Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to President Donald Trump asking him to present a long-term national security strategy to Congress. Given the recent U.S.-led bombing against the Assad regime in Syria, as well as heightened military engagement in the Middle East and Africa, the Members of Congress urged President Trump to brief Congress and the American public on his plans to address the ongoing and emerging conflicts in … Continue Reading
Congresswoman Lee Demands Real Investments in American Infrastructure
June 06, 2017Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Lee, member of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on President Trump's announced "Infrastructure Week": "During President Trump's toothless 'Infrastructure Week,' all we have seen are more promises from this administration to place the financial interests of billionaires above the needs of the American people. "Instead of presenting a plan to help the people of Flint poisoned by their own pipes, who are the undeniable face… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Lee Celebrates Grand Opening of Howard West
June 05, 2017Oakland, CA - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee attended the grand opening of Howard West at Google's Mountain View Campus. Google has partnered with Howard University to create Howard West, an immersive computer science-learning summer program designed for students of Historically Black Colleges and Universities to expand the pool of Black technologists and accelerate inclusion at Google and throughout the tech sector. "I am excited to join in celebrating this innovate partnership between Goog… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Lee Celebrates LGBT Pride Month
June 02, 2017Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, a founding member and Vice Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, released this statement in honor of LGBT Pride Month: "As a founding member and Vice Chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus, I am proud to join East Bay residents, Americans across those country and people around the world in celebrating LGBT Pride Month. "In recent years we have made tremendous strides in the struggle against discrimination and the fight for equal rights… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Celebrates Caribbean American Heritage Month
June 01, 2017Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement celebrating the start of Caribbean American Heritage Month: "I am proud to join the East Bay and people across the country in celebrating June as Caribbean American Heritage Month. This month is a wonderful time to reflect on our shared past and future. Every day, I see the critical role that Caribbean Americans play in building and enriching our culture and values. The historic relationships between the U.S. and the … Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on Reported Decision to Withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement
May 31, 2017Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement responding to reports that President Trump plans to remove the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement: "The president's reported decision to remove the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement is yet another reckless abdication of American leadership on the global stage by this Administration. Over 150 countries have committed to combatting the effects of climate change in meaningful and unprecedented wa… Continue Reading
Rep. Barbara Lee Statement for Memorial Day
May 26, 2017Oakland, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement in observance of Memorial Day: "Memorial Day is a time to reflect on the heroic service of our men and women in uniform, as well as pay tribute to our fallen heroes. "As the daughter of a veteran, I am deeply committed to ensuring all returning service members and their loved ones receive the benefits they have earned. As a member of the spending committee overseeing veterans' affairs, I will fight to ensure every veteran… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Slams ‘Heartless’ Trump Budget
May 23, 2017Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on President Trump's proposed cuts in the FY2018 budget: "The federal budget is, at its heart, a moral document. It puts on paper the principles and priorities of a nation. In all my time in Congress, I have never seen a budget so devoid of compassion and empathy for families struggling to make ends meet. "This Republican agenda is Robin Hood in reverse. Their morally bankrupt budget steals health care from children … Continue Reading
Rep. Lee: We Must Invest in Computer Science for All
May 22, 2017Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee reintroduced the Computer Science for All Act, which would ensure that all students receive the critical computer science education necessary for success in the 21st century economy. The bill would authorize $250 million in new grants to advance computer science education for pre-K to 12th graders, with a focus on girls and students of color. "When it comes to being prepared for the 21st century economy, our young people, especially girls and … Continue Reading