Press Releases
Barbara Lee Statement on the End of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
For Immediate Release Contact Kristal DeKleer, (202) 225-4783 Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) released the following statement on the official repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", a policy that prevented openly gay and lesbian service members from serving in the military: "Today, we celebrate the end of a discriminatory era against gay and lesbian service members in America with the official repeal of … Continue Reading
September 20, 2011
Barbara Lee Announces Over $6.5 Million in Transportation Funds for Oakland Airport Taxiway Rehabilitation
For Immediate Release Contact: Ricci Graham (510) 763-0370 Oakland - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) announced today that the Port of Oakland will receive $ 6,547,045in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) funding to rehabilitate taxiways at the Oakland International Airport. The funding will be used for necessary maintenance of the airport's W and U taxiways, which help the airport serve more than 14 million travelers annually. "I am pleased that the Port of Oakland has … Continue Reading
September 19, 2011
Lee Releases Statement in Honor of Hispanic Heritage Month
For Immediate Release Contact Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 WASHINGTON D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement today in observance of Hispanic Heritage Month, which is observed from September 15 to October 15: "Every year, Americans honor Hispanic Heritage Month to commemorate the remarkable and immeasurable contributions that Latinos have made to our nation. I have the privilege of serving a vibrant and dynamic community of … Continue Reading
September 19, 2011
Barbara Lee: Ignoring the long-term unemployed is hurting economy
For Immediate Release Contact Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement in response to figures released by the Department of Labor showing that unemployment rates rose in a majority of states across the country in August: "We must take immediate action to address the rising rates of unemployment across the country. As Americans struggle to meet the basic needs of themselves and their families, … Continue Reading
September 16, 2011
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds Decision to Improve Outreach to Small and Disadvantaged Businesses for CA High Speed Rail Projects
Contact: Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 Oakland, CA- Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement in response to the order from the U.S. Department of Transportation requiring that the California High Speed Rail Authority make greater efforts to ensure minority-owned businesses have an opportunity to take part in California's largest infrastructure project in over 50 years: "As an advocate for our small and disadvantaged businesses and their full participation in … Continue Reading
September 16, 2011
Lee, McDermott and Franks Launch Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus
Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 Washington, D.C.- Administration officials, experts and advocates joined Representatives Barbara Lee, Jim McDermott and Trent Franks, co-chairs of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, to launch the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus. Thirty years after the first discovery of AIDS in the U.S., it remains one of the greatest humanitarian crises of our time. An estimated 33.4 million people worldwide live with HIV/AIDS and more than 25 million people have died since … Continue Reading
September 16, 2011
Barbara Lee, Tri-Caucus Members Introduce the Health Equity and Accountability Act
Contact: Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 Washington, D.C.-Today, Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) introduced the Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2011, a bill that complements the efforts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and focuses on eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities. The bill was formally introduced today by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Chair of CAPAC's … Continue Reading
September 14, 2011
Barbara Lee Receives Honor from MS Society
Contact Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 Washington, D.C. - On Wednesday, September 14, 2011, Congresswoman Barbara Lee was honored by the National MS Society for her relentless dedication to end Multiple Sclerosis. Upon accepting the award, Congresswoman Lee said, "Thank you to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for this award. Thank you so much for your dedication to this very important, life affirming cause. Your support means so much to so many and we all are deeply grateful … Continue Reading
September 14, 2011
Barbara Lee, Congressional Progressive Caucus Present Plan to Rebuild American Dream
Contact Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement at the Congressional Progressive Caucus press conference: "While I am pleased that the President made a strong case for his bill last week, I certainly think that we need to go bigger and bolder. After touring the country and listening to the American people on this summer's Speak Out for Good Jobs! Tour, the Congressional Progressive Caucus is determined to … Continue Reading
September 13, 2011
Barbara Lee Comments on USDA Hunger Report
Contact: Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement on the U.S. Department of Agriculture report, "Household Food Security in the United States in 2010": "It is tragic that in the wealthiest and most powerful country in the world, millions of Americans continue to struggle with hunger each and every day. Due to the commitment by the President to reduce child hunger and the hard work of thousands of federal, … Continue Reading
September 08, 2011
Lee: Proposed Troop Reduction in Iraq Shows Progress Within Administration
For Immediate Release Contact: Kristal DeKleer, (202) 225-1882 Washington, D.C.- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement in response to Department of Defense Secretary Leon Panetta's announcement that the Obama Administration is considering reducing the troop level in Iraq to three or four thousand by the end of 2011: "I believe the Administration is headed in the right direction as leaders consider dramatically shrinking the military force in Iraq. As … Continue Reading
September 07, 2011
Barbara Lee, Congressional Out of Poverty Caucus Call on President: Invest in Projects That Better Country, Put Americans to Work
For Immediate Release Contact Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 Washington, D.C.- As President Obama prepares to present a national plan for job creation to a Joint Session of Congress, the Congressional Out of Poverty Caucus sent a letter to the President urging him to use this opportunity to address the needs of low-income families and those families facing or living in poverty. The letter urged the President to meet our national moral and economic obligation to help the … Continue Reading
September 06, 2011
Barbara Lee Comments on Ten Year Observance of 9/11
Contact: Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement on the ten year observance of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001: "Ten years ago, our Nation mourned the deaths of thousands killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. We still mourn. We still feel the hurt and the pain that we felt following that dreadful day. Our hearts remain heavy and we still hold the victims and their loved ones close to us. … Continue Reading
September 02, 2011
On Labor Day, Congresswoman Honors America's Workers and Calls for GOP Cooperation in Quick Action on Job Creation Measures in September
Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 August Jobs Report Underscores Jobs Crisis As National Emergency Oakland, CA - On this Labor Day, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) calls on Republican leaders in the House to address the jobs crisis by enacting key pieces of legislation and encourages Americans to speak out in favor of the fundamental rights of American workers. After decades of protesting and organizing, American workers secured basic rights such as the minimum wage, the 40-hour work … Continue Reading
September 02, 2011
Congresswoman Lee Congratulates Castro Valley Organizations on Drug Free Communities Grant Awards
Contact: Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 Washington, D.C.- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) released the following statement announcing that the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has awarded grants to three local organizations participating in the Drug Free Communities Support Program: "I am pleased ONDCP and SAMHSA recognized the efforts of three East Bay community organizations by … Continue Reading
August 28, 2011
Barbara Lee Hopeful that the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Inspires Visitors
Contact Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 "It is my hope that we are emboldened by the words of Dr. King to put our weapons down and pick our people up: The bombs in Vietnam explode at home; they destroy the hopes and possibilities for a decent America. Yet, still today, our war machine is fed while our children go hungry. I hope the Memorial reminds us to end today's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and Libya and tomorrow's war, too. I hope the Memorial reminds us to reach out to … Continue Reading
August 25, 2011
Barbara Lee Calls on President to Help Jobless Workers and Their Families
Contact Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 Washington, D.C.- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA) sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to address the needs of jobless workers in his forthcoming jobs plan. The letter urged the President to not only maintain the current extension of unemployment benefits to America's jobless workers, but to also incorporate H.R. 589, The Emergency Unemployment Extension Act. Congresswoman Lee sponsored the bill to … Continue Reading
August 21, 2011
Barbara Lee Condemns 8-year Sentence to U.S. Detainees in Iran
For Immediate Release Contact Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement in response to the Iranian court decision on Saturday sentencing U.C. Berkeley graduates Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer to eight years in prison under charges of espionage: "I am outraged and saddened by the decision yesterday. We must and will continue to do everything we can to support the immediate release of Shane and … Continue Reading
August 19, 2011
Barbara Lee Comments on the Tragic Increase in Child Poverty in America
For Immediate Release Contact Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) released the following statement in response to the KIDS COUNT Data Book released today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which offered state-by-state rankings on child well-being in the United States and revealed that the official child poverty rate for the United States increased 18 percent from 2000 to 2009: "This report confirms what we all have seen in our communities … Continue Reading
August 19, 2011
Barbara Lee Applauds Administration Decision to Suspend Deportations of Law Abiding Immigrants
For Immediate Release Contact Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882 Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement in response to the Obama Administration's announcement on Thursday that it would suspend deportation proceedings against many undocumented immigrants who pose no threat to national security or public safety: "Yesterday, the Obama Administration took an important step toward fixing our broken immigration … Continue Reading