Congresswoman Barbara Lee Sworn In as Member of the 114th Congress
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee was sworn in as a member of the 114th Congress. She released the following statement:
“I am honored and humbled to be sworn into the 114th Congress as the representative of California’s 13th Congressional District. It is a privilege to be entrusted with my constituents’ trust to represent them and fight for our shared progressive values.
“As a Member of Congress, I will continue to fight to end social injustice, eliminate poverty, invest in job creation, secure resources for education and job training, protect our social safety net for those still struggling, stop the HIV/AIDS pandemic, re-establish Congressional oversight in matters of war and peace and protect the right to vote for all.
“I am pleased that our Democratic Caucus reflects the diversity of the American people and is comprised of a majority of women, people of color, and members of the LGBT community. Diversity within the Democratic Caucus results in a diversity of ideas and experiences. This wealth of experiences will help our caucus craft legislation to do the most good for the greatest number of American families.
“As a proud progressive Democrat, I will look for every opportunity to work with my colleagues, from both parties, to achieve consensus and work on behalf of the American people. However, I will join my caucus in standing against the Republicans’ special interest agenda. My Democratic colleagues and I will be fighting to increase the minimum wage, stop rewarding companies for sending American jobs overseas, improve our nation’s infrastructure and support pay fairness so hardworking families can earn a living wage.
“Additionally, I was honored today to stand with my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) to be sworn in as a member of the Congressional Black Caucus: the ‘conscience of the Congress.’ For decades, the CBC has led the fight to protect and serve the most vulnerable Americans and people all over the world. As a former CBC Chair, I look forward to working with Chairman G.K. Butterfield (NC-01) and the CBC to enact criminal justice reform, protect the voting rights of all Americans and help end poverty in our nation.”
Background notes:
In the 114th Congress, Congresswoman Barbara Lee will serve as a member of the Appropriations Committee and the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. She will continue to serve as chair of the Democratic Whip’s Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality and Opportunity; a Senior Democratic Whip; Whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC); chair of the Social Work Caucus; vice-chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus and co-chair of several caucuses and task forces including: the Out-of-Poverty Caucus, Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, Congressional Caucus on Sudan and South Sudan, Congressional Black Caucus Poverty (CBC) and Economy Task Force, CPC Peace and Security Task Force and Congressional Asian and Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Health Care Task Force.
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Congresswoman Lee is a member of the Appropriations Committee, the Steering and Policy Committee, is a Senior Democratic Whip, former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and co-chair of the Progressive Caucus. She serves as chair of the Whip’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity.