January 13, 2008

Barbara Lee Delivers Millions In Federal Funds To District Programs

(Oakland, CA) – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9), a member of the Appropriations committee, who sits on the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Subcommittee, the State Foreign Operations Subcommittee and is Vice Chair of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee, highlighted over $58 million in federal spending she has delivered to her Congressional District during a bus tour today.


Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, Emeryville Mayor Ken Bukowski, Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, Councilmember Nancy Nadel, Director of Chez Panisse Foundation Alice Waters, Supervisor Nate Miley, Port of Oakland Executive Director Omar Benjamin, Peralta Community College District Chancellor Elihu Harris, Unity Council CEO Gilda Gonzalez, CEO, La Clinica de La Raza CEO Jane Garcia and other leaders joined Congresswoman Lee at various stops to support the community programs that have benefited.

During the tour, Congresswoman Lee told her constituents:


“When I first started in State Assembly I pledged that I would work to bring government closer to the daily lives of people. I am still working to do that – just now at the federal level. This tour is part of that process. The purpose is to highlight the issues that are impacting communities and how in some small way, the funding we are able to secure is addressing those needs.


“I understand that the dollar amounts are a drop in the bucket compared to the need. Just imagine for a moment if we did not have a war in Iraq costing $10.8 billion dollars per month or billions more in unnecessary tax cuts for the wealthy eating away at the funding so badly needed to address the needs right here in our community.


“I’m pleased I was able to bring this funding to the District.”


The bus tour, which included Oakland, Fruitvale, Emeryville, Berkeley and Hayward, made stops at the McClymonds Youth and Family Center, CALPEP, the Alice Waters Edible School Yard, the Cultural Arts Center in Emeryville, La Clinica de La Raza at the Fruitvale Transit Village and the Cherryland Elementary School.


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Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) sits on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, where she serves on the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Subcommittee, the State Foreign Operations Subcommittee and the Legislative Branch Subcommittee. She is Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus; a Senior Democratic Whip; co-founder of the Out of Iraq Caucus and the Out of Poverty Caucus, and; First Vice-Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), where she serves as Chair of the CBC Task Force on Global HIV/AIDS and Co-Chair of the CBC Haiti Task Force.