Press Releases
UC Berkeley Awarded $1.5 Million EPA Grant to Study Factors in Childhood Leukemia
For Immediate Release Contact: Ricci Graham 510-763-0370 Washington D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-09) is pleased to announce that the University of California, Berkeley has been selected to receive a $1,511,876 grant from the United States Environment Protection Agency (EPA) to support the work of the University's Integrative Research-Childhood Leukemia and Environment Center. The funding will be used by the Integrative Research-Childhood Leukemia and Environment Center to examine … Continue Reading
December 06, 2011
Oakland Police Department Welcomes New Recruits
Class recruited for OPD secured through federal funding For Immediate Release Contact: Ricci Graham 510-763-0370 Washington D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-09) issued the following statement today in recognition of the 10 police recruits who were welcomed into the Oakland Police Department (OPD) by Oakland Mayor Jean and OPD Chief Howard Jordan. The city of Oakland and OPD were able to hire the recruits as a result of a $10 million grant Congresswoman Lee worked to … Continue Reading
December 02, 2011
Lee Statement on November Jobs Report
For Immediate Release Contact Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 Washington, D.C.- Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following response to the figures released by the Department of Labor showing a slight decline in unemployment rates: "The U.S. gained 120,000 new jobs in November and the national unemployment rate fell to 8.6 percent from 9.0 percent. While I am pleased that jobs are slowly returning, immediate action must be taken to create the millions of new … Continue Reading
December 01, 2011
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Participates in Panel Discussion with Obama, Clinton, Bush for World AIDS Day
Contact: Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 Lee Commends Administration for New Commitments; Says Congress Must Act to Fully Fund AIDS Programs Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), a founding co-chair of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, observed World AIDS Day by participating in a panel discussion with President Barack Obama, who announced new commitments for fighting domestic and global AIDS. The Congresswoman joined leading AIDS advocates including former presidents … Continue Reading
November 30, 2011
Lee Demands Relief for Long-Term Unemployed
Contact: Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 Washington, D.C.- Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement at a press conference with unemployed workers, labor activists, Labor Secretary Solis, and members of the House and Senate to call for a renewal of federal unemployment insurance programs, scheduled to expire at the end of the year: "Thank you to Ranking Member Levin, Congressman Doggett, Whip Hoyer, Assistant Leader Clyburn, Senator Harkin, Senator Reed, … Continue Reading
November 23, 2011
Oakland Unified School District One of 23 Districts Named as 2011 Grant Recipients by U.S. Department of Education
Contact: Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 Oakland, CA- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-09) is pleased to announce that U.S. Department of Education has named Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) one of the 23 highest-rated Investing in Innovation grant applicants in the nation, setting the district up to receive vital federal funding to improve student performance. OUSD was among 600 applicants for the 2011 Investing in Innovations funding. As a highest-rated applicant, OUSD stands to … Continue Reading
November 22, 2011
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Joined by 100+ Members in Calling on Appropriators to Preserve Essential Global AIDS Programs
Contact: Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 Washington, D.C.- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) was joined by 102 Members of the House of Representatives in sending a letter to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations requesting robust funding for vital global health programs in Fiscal Year 2012. Specifically, the Members requested that appropriators support the Senate's proposed funding level for bilateral and multilateral global health programs, including $5.25 billion for the U.S. … Continue Reading
November 21, 2011
Lee Statement on Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction
Contact: Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 Oakland, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement after the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (Super Committee) announced that an agreement was not reached: "If there was ever any doubt that Republicans were in the pocket of the Tea Party, that doubt is gone with the failure of the Super Committee. Congress has missed yet another opportunity to create jobs because the number one priority for Republicans is … Continue Reading
November 16, 2011
Lee, Congressional Progressive Caucus Hold Hearing on Job Creation
Contact: Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 Congresswoman Lee urges extension of unemployment benefits for jobless workers Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) joined members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus at an ad hoc hearing to discuss America's top priority: job creation. The hearing is in response to the secret meetings of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (Supercommittee) over the last few months. The Supercommittee has been tasked with finding … Continue Reading
November 10, 2011
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Hosts Jobs Event in Oakland
Contact Ricci Graham (510) 305-2954 Oakland - Congresswoman Barbara Lee hosted the "Good Jobs Now!" Jobs Fair at the Oakland Coliseum on Thursday, November 10, 2011. More than 100 employers seeking to fill current job openings participated in the event, which also featured workshops on using the Internet to enhance job-seeking techniques and on-site resume review and critique. Job seekers had the opportunity to meet directly with employers to discuss the more than 500 positions … Continue Reading
November 09, 2011
Barbara Lee Honors Troops, Veterans on Veterans Day
Contact Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 Oakland - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-09) offered the following statement in support of America’s troops and veterans in honor of the 92nd Veterans Day: "In light of President Obama's recent decision to follow through on his commitment to execute a complete withdrawal of troops in Iraq, it is essential that we continue to work to provide quality housing, health care, and education for our veterans as they return home. Let us further … Continue Reading
November 04, 2011
Lee Statement on October Jobs Report
Contact: Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following response to the figures released by the Department of Labor showing a slight decline in unemployment rates: "The U.S. gained just 80,000 new jobs in October and the national unemployment rate remains distressingly high at 9.0%. We must target investment and focus our efforts at rapidly reducing unemployment, especially among those hardest hit which continue to be … Continue Reading
November 04, 2011
Lee Statement on Occupy Oakland
Contact: Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement on Occupy Oakland and the Day of Action: "I want to applaud the historic showing of the thousands of people who marched peacefully on Wednesday in Oakland for economic justice and for reigniting the American Dream. The destructive actions of a small minority of protestors are unacceptable. I continue to call for non-violence and support the free … Continue Reading
November 03, 2011
Barbara Lee Stands Behind Women Affected by Climate Change
Contact: Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today introduced a Congressional resolution to bring attention to the greater economic, agricultural, and health-related hardships faced by women arising from climate change. H.Con.Res. 84 recognizes the disparate impact of climate change on women and the efforts of women globally to address this issue. "The direct and indirect effects of climate change continue to have a disproportionate impact … Continue Reading
November 02, 2011
Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Senator Frank R. Lautenberg Introduce Bill to Expand Comprehensive Sex Education
Contact: Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 WASHINGTON - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today introduced the Real Education for Healthy Youth Act, legislation that would give America's youth the knowledge they need to make educated decisions about their health. The bill would expand comprehensive sex education programs in schools, while ensuring that federal funds are spent on effective, age-appropriate, medically accurate programs. "Comprehensive … Continue Reading
November 02, 2011
Barbara Lee Introduces Legislation to Cut Poverty in Half in Ten Years
Contact Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) announced the introduction of H.R. 3300, a bill to help create pathways out of poverty and realize the goal of cutting poverty in half in a decade. In 2008, the House of Representatives unanimously passed H. Con. Res. 198, which called on Congress to commit to cutting poverty in half in a decade. The Half in Ten Act of 2011 provides the plan to help accomplish this goal. "Americans … Continue Reading
November 01, 2011
Barbara Lee Stands in Solidarity with Occupy Oakland Day of Action
Contact: Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 Washington, D.C.- Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement on Occupy Oakland Day of Action: "Occupy Oakland's November 2nd day of action is aimed at bringing attention to the great inequalities that exist in the United States. I join in solidarity with Occupy Oakland to confront the greed of Wall Street and the major banks and demand that the 1% pay their fair share. "As the movement grows, we are likely to see … Continue Reading
October 27, 2011
Barbara Lee Joins Faith Leaders in Taking the Food Stamp Challenge 2011
Contact: Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 or (202) 225-4783 Washington, D.C.- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) joined national faith leaders from the Fighting Poverty with Faith coalition, senior members of the Obama Administration, and many of her Democratic colleagues at a Washington, D.C. supermarket to announce the start of the Food Stamp Challenge 2011. The Food Stamp Challenge is a nationwide event intended to preserve funding for vital nutrition benefits during a time of … Continue Reading
October 27, 2011
Barbara Lee Comments on Occupy Oakland
Contact Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 Washington, D.C.- Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement on Occupy Oakland: "I shared my outrage and grave concern about the police brutality in Oakland directly with the Mayor. My thoughts go out to the injured and especially Scott Olsen. I strongly support the occupy movement and continue to stand with the peaceful protesters in this struggle for economic justice and equality." ### Follow Barbara Lee … Continue Reading
October 21, 2011
Huge Victory! Troops Coming Home from Iraq!
Contact: Kristal DeKleer 202-225-1882 Barbara Lee Applauds News that Obama Administration Will Bring Troops in Iraq Home by Year's End Washington, D.C.- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement in response to the President Obama's announcement that the U.S. will honor the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with Iraq that called for all U.S. troops to leave Iraq by Dec. 31, 2011: "This is a huge victory for those of us who have been pushing for an end to … Continue Reading