Press Releases
Barbara Lee Statement on President Obama's Changes to His National Security Leadership Team
Media Contact: Joel Payne, (202) 225-2661 Washington, DC - Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) released the following statement following an announcement from President Obama to nominate current CIA Director Leon Panetta to become the new Secretary of Defense and General David Petraeus replace Mr. Panetta as CIA Director: "As the President makes these changes to his national security team, I believe this is an opportunity for his Administration to shift focus from waging costly … Continue Reading
April 15, 2011
INFORMATION ALERT: Tax Filing Deadline Extended to April 18th
IRS Kicks Off 2011 Tax Season with Deadline Extended to April 18; Taxpayers Impacted by Recent Tax Breaks Can File Starting in Mid- to Late February Video: April 18th Tax Deadline: English | ASL Updated Jan. 14, 2011 - IRS reminds taxpayers that they can now use e-file and Free File for their taxes. Although the IRS is not accepting some tax returns until mid-February because of recent tax law changes, affected … Continue Reading
April 14, 2011
Representatives Barbara Lee and Bobby Scott Meet with House Republican Leadership About Emergency Relief for the Long-Term Unemployed
Media Contact: Joel Payne, (202) 225-2661 Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA) continued the fight to pass HR 589, the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Expansion Act. Reps. Lee and Scott met today with Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), and discussed the possibility of bringing HR 589 to the House floor for a vote. HR 589 extends emergency benefits to long-term unemployed workers by providing 14 … Continue Reading
April 13, 2011
Representative Barbara Lee, Along with Rev. Jim Wallis and CAP President John Podesta, Announces 112th Congress Kickoff of the Out of Poverty Caucus
Media Contact: Joel Payne, (202) 225-2661 Water-Only Briefing This Morning to Continue Hunger Fast Against Budget Cuts That Hurt Efforts to Curb Poverty Washington, DC - Representative Barbara Lee, along with Rev. Jim Wallis, Founder of Sojourners, and John Podesta, President and CEO of the Center for American Progress (CAP), announced the kickoff of the Congressional Out of Poverty Caucus for the 112th Congress. They also met this morning to discuss the need to preserve and … Continue Reading
April 12, 2011
Barbara Lee Statement on Equal Pay Day
Media Contact: Joel Payne, (202) 225-2661 Washington, DC - Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) released the following statement today in recognition of Equal Pay Day: "Equal Pay Day is an important time to reflect upon the notable advances that have been made to shrink the gap in gender pay inequity and the long road that remains ahead of us to completely eliminate this disparity. Although the wage gap between men and women has narrowed since the passage of the Equal Pay Act in 1963, … Continue Reading
April 09, 2011
Representative Barbara Lee Statement on Short-Term FY 2011 Continuing Resolution
Washington, DC - Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement this morning following a House vote on a short-term continuing resolution. Representative Lee voted against this measure: "I am relieved that a government shutdown was averted tonight, but I am disappointed with the continued Republican efforts to strip funding for critical programs and services that millions of people depend on. Republicans want to finance their unpaid-for tax breaks for the wealthy … Continue Reading
April 09, 2011
Congresswoman Barbara Lee to be Honored during the Grand Opening of the Ed Roberts Campus
Media Contact: Ricci Graham, (510) 763-0370 Berkeley - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-09) will speak and be honored during the ribbon-cutting ceremony commemorating the grand opening of the Ed Robert Campus, located at 3075 Adeline Street, Berkeley, CA, on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 1 p.m. Congresswoman Lee has been a longstanding supporter of the Ed Roberts Campus project, working to direct $5.4 million in appropriated funding from 2004 to 2010 through six separate federal earmark … Continue Reading
April 08, 2011
INFORMATION ALERT: Potential Government Shutdown
Potential Government Shutdown: Information and Resources With a government shutdown looming, we've created this information and resource page. We want the 9th District to have an idea of what to expect and to help you and your family if the government shuts down. If Congress cannot agree on or pass a budget for the remaining 2011 fiscal year, the government will shut down Friday, April 8, 2011 at midnight. How Does the Shutdown Affect You? Services will continue that are deemed … Continue Reading
April 08, 2011
Congresswoman Lee Vows to Hold Administration Accountable on Iraq Deadline
Media Contact: Joel Payne, (202) 225-2661 Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement in response to reports that Secretary Gates expressed qualified support for extending the deployment of U.S. military troops in Iraq beyond 2011: "More than 8 years ago, former President Bush embroiled the United States and our brave men and women in uniform in an immoral and disastrous war of choice in Iraq that has cost our nation $900 billion and the … Continue Reading
April 08, 2011
Barbara Lee: Republicans Willing to Shut Down the Government in Order to Deny Women Essential Health Services
Media Contact: Joel Payne, (202) 225-2161 Washington, DC - Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) released the following statement in reaction to Republican threats to shut down the government in order to strip funding from the federal budget that would provide women with essential health services: "I oppose a shut down because it would jeopardize our economy, deny vital services to Americans, and leave millions of people without paychecks - and all because Republicans want to deny women … Continue Reading
April 07, 2011
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Supports Remote Area Medical and Encourages Local Medical Professionals to Volunteer for Four-Day Clinic
Media Contact: Ricci Graham. (510) 763-0370 Oakland - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-09) would like to encourage local medical professionals to volunteer for the Remote Area Medical (RAM) four-day free clinic that starts Saturday, April 9 at the Oakland Coliseum, 7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland, CA at 11 a.m. This will be the 640th clinic undertaken by RAM, which has issued a call for volunteer support. RAM is a public-supported, all-volunteer charitable organization devoted to delivering … Continue Reading
April 07, 2011
Barbara Lee Joins Coalition of Faith Leaders to Participate in Day-Long Hunger Fast to Oppose Budget Cuts That Would Hurt the Poor and the Hungry
Media Contact: Joel Payne, (202) 225-2661 Lee Participating in Hunger Fast Supported by Dozens of Organizations That Represent Over 30,000 People including Sojourners, The Alliance to End Hunger and Bread For the World Washington, DC - Today, Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) will be participating in a day-long Hunger Fast to raise awareness on the issue of protecting programs that benefit the poor and the hungry. This Hunger Fast was organized by Rev. Jim Wallis, Ambassador Tony … Continue Reading
April 05, 2011
Barbara Lee: Republican Budget Plan a 'Roadmap to Ruin' for Our Most Vulnerable Communities
Media Contact: Joel Payne, (202) 225-2661 Washington, DC - Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) released the following statement today in reaction to the budget plan introduced by Chairman Paul Ryan and Republicans that would threaten Medicare and Medicaid and hurt our nation's most vulnerable communities: "Budgets are not just dollars and cents; they are moral documents that signal who we are and what we believe in. The budget that Chairman Ryan and Republicans unveiled today is an … Continue Reading
April 05, 2011
Congresswoman Lee to Host 31st Annual High School Arts Competition
Media Contact: Ricci Graham, 510 763-0370 Oakland - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) will host the 31st Annual "An Artistic Discovery" 2011 reception and awards ceremony on Saturday, April 9, 2011 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street, Oakland, CA. "An Artistic Discovery" is an annual Congressional art competition that recognizes emerging high school artists throughout the country. High school students from throughout the 9th Congressional … Continue Reading
April 01, 2011
Barbara Lee: Decrease in National Unemployment Rate Encouraging, But Communities of Color Still Waiting for Their Recovery
Media Contact: Joel Payne, (202) 225-2661 Washington, DC - Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) released the following statement today in reaction to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' announcement of monthly unemployment figures this morning: "It's encouraging to learn that the national unemployment rate is moving in the right direction, and we must take steps to ensure that this trend continues. But the recovery is not reaching every community. The African-American unemployment rate went … Continue Reading
March 31, 2011
Congresswoman Lee, In Letter with Colleagues, Urges Speaker Boehner to Hold Floor Debate and Vote on U.S. Military Action in Libya
Media Contact: Joel Payne, (202) 225-2661 Washington, DC - Last night, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) was joined by Reps. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Michael Honda (D-CA), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) and Maxine Waters (D-CA) in sending a letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner urging him to take immediate steps to hold a robust floor debate and vote on the President's authority to continue use of military force in Libya. The letter highlights that both the Constitution and The War Powers Act of … Continue Reading
March 31, 2011
Barbara Lee Statement on the Passing of Former Staff Member Chris Crowe
Media Contact: Joel Payne, (202) 225-2661 Washington, DC - Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) released the following statement today after learning of the passing of former staff member, Chris Crowe. Mr. Crowe worked in Representative Lee's Washington, DC office in 2006: "I was heartbroken to learn of the recent passing of Chris Crowe, a trusted aide to Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson. Chris began his career on Capitol Hill in my office as an intern and staff assistant, and he remained a … Continue Reading
March 29, 2011
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on President Obama's Speech on U.S. Military Action in Libya
Media Contact: Joel Payne, (202) 225-2661 Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement today in reaction to President Obama's speech at National Defense University last night regarding recent U.S. military action in Libya: "The President's speech yesterday was an important opportunity to address many of the unanswered questions about U.S. military involvement in Libya, and he was able to explain why his Administration felt compelled to intervene in … Continue Reading
March 23, 2011
Lee, In Letter with Colleagues, Urges U.S. Postal Service To Issue Postage Stamp to Commemorate Life and Legacy of Shirley Chisholm
Media Contact: Joel Payne, (202) 225-2661 Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) was joined by 121 House colleagues, including 35 Republicans, to send a letter to the United States Postal Service requesting that they issue a commemorative postage stamp to honor the life and legacy of former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. Shirley Chisholm represented New York's 12th Congressional District for 14 years, and she holds the distinction of being the first female … Continue Reading
March 23, 2011
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement Following the Passing of Elizabeth Taylor
Media Contact: Ricci Graham, (510) 763-0370 "Today, I offer my condolences as the nation mourns the passing of Elizabeth Taylor, an Academy Award-winning actress and pioneering activist in the fight against HIV/AIDS. "Ms. Taylor's work against HIV/AIDS began following the death of her longtime friend Rock Hudson, who died of HIV/AIDS in 1985, a time when few understood the insidious nature of the disease. Ms. Taylor used her celebrity to bring widespread attention to HIV/AIDS and … Continue Reading