Press Releases
Barbara Lee Supports Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act
For Immediate Release Contact: Nicole Y. Williams (202) 225-2661 Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) voted in favor of the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act. This legislation provides a total of $26.1 billion in funding for education jobs ($10 billion) and FMAP ($16.1 billion), more than fully offset by the following: rescissions ($6.7 billion), Medicaid AMP changes ($2.1 billion), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance changes ($11.9 billion), … Continue Reading
August 05, 2010
Barbara Lee Applauds Confirmation of Elena Kagan to Supreme Court
For Immediate Release Contact: Nicole Williams (202) 225-2661 Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) released the following statement following the confirmation of Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the United States Supreme Court: "Today I join my colleagues in applauding the Senate's confirmation of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court - only the 4th woman to hold this position. "As the first woman Solicitor General of the United States and … Continue Reading
August 04, 2010
Barbara Lee Applauds Federal Court's Decision to Overturn Proposition 8
For Immediate Release Contact: Nicole Williams (202) 225-2661 Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) released this statement following a U.S. District Court's decision to overturn Proposition 8, the initiative that banned same-sex marriage in California: "Today's decision by the U.S. District Court to overturn Proposition 8 is a victory for the many thousands of committed couples in the state of California and for equal rights … Continue Reading
July 30, 2010
Congresswoman Lee Introduces Legislation to Require the Safe and Orderly Withdrawal of Troops and Military Contractors From Afghanistan
For Immediate Release Contact: Nicole Williams (202) 225-2661 Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-09) introduced the Responsible End to the War in Afghanistan Act, which would limit funding for Afghanistan to the safe and orderly withdrawal of U.S. troops and military contractors. "On September 14, 2001, I voted against the Authorization for the Use of Military Force in Afghanistan that I knew would be interpreted as a blank check to wage war … Continue Reading
July 30, 2010
Barbara Lee's Statement on One Year Anniversary of the Detainment of U.S. Hikers in Iran
For Immediate Release July 31, 2010 Contact: Ricci Graham (510) 763-0370 Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) issued the following statement today in advance of the one year anniversary of the detainment of three U.S. hikers in Iran on July 31, 2009. "One year ago today, Joshua Fattal, Shane Bauer, and Sarah Shourd were detained by the government of Iran while attempting to hike in the mountain region in Iraqi Kurdistan," said Congresswoman Lee. … Continue Reading
July 29, 2010
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Reminds Constituents that Friday is the last day of the 2010 Census Count
For Immediate Release: Contact: Ricci Graham 510-763-0370 Washington D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-09) issued the following statement on Friday's deadline to be counted in the 2010 Census. "Because the Census count only takes place every ten years, it is of great importance that people take this last opportunity to respond to the Census questions by phone by this Friday," said Congresswoman Lee. "Services such as Head Start programs, public daycare for … Continue Reading
July 29, 2010
One Hundred House Members Join Barbara Lee in Urging President Obama to Support Global Fund to Fight AIDS
For Immediate Release Contact: Nicole Y. Williams (202) 225-2661 Washington, D.C. - Today, one hundred House members joined Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) in sending a letter to President Obama encouraging him to make a three-year commitment of at least $6 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. This pledge would be consistent with the bipartisan Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria … Continue Reading
July 29, 2010
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on the Passage of Fair Sentencing Act
For Immediate Release: Contact: Ricci Graham 510-763-0370 Washington D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) released the following statement after the House on Wednesday passed S. 1789, the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010. The legislation changes a 1986 law under which a person convicted of crack cocaine possession received the same mandatory prison term as someone with 100 times the same amount of powder cocaine. The legislation reduces that ratio to about … Continue Reading
July 27, 2010
Barbara Lee Votes "No" On War Supplemental
For Immediate Release Contact: Nicole Y. Williams (202) 225-2661 Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) released this statement following her vote in opposition to the Supplemental Appropriations package that would fund the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. She released this statement: "Less than a month ago, Congress finally began the debate on the war in Afghanistan that should have been held nine years ago. While evidence continues to mount that our … Continue Reading
July 26, 2010
Barbara Lee Recognizes 60th Anniversary of Korean War, Armistice Signing
For Immediate Release Contact: Nicole Y. Williams (202) 225-2661 Washington, DC - In recognizing the 60th Anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, and commemorating the signing of the Armistice that brought an end to the fighting, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-09) issued the following statement: "This year marks the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War, and the 57th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended the fighting on July 27th, 1953. We must … Continue Reading
July 22, 2010
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Partnership to Receive up to $122 million for Advanced Energy Project to Develop Fuels from Sunlight
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-09) hailed the Department of Energy's announcement that a project led by the California Institute of Technology (Cal Tech), in partnership with the Department of Energy's (DOE) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), will receive up to $122 million over 5 years for the establishment a Fuels From Sunlight Energy Innovation Hub. The partnership project, known as the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis (JCAP), is aimed at … Continue Reading
July 22, 2010
Barbara Lee Joins President Obama for Signing of Bill to Rein In Wall Street, Protect Consumers
For Immediate Release Contact: Nicole Y. Williams (202) 225-2661 Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee joined President Obama as he signed historic legislation to change the way business is done by Wall Street and the big banks. The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act is the most sweeping piece of Wall Street reform legislation in decades. This landmark reform will end the era of abuses by "too big to fail" banks that have cost the American people … Continue Reading
July 16, 2010
Barbara Lee Attends XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna
For Immediate Release Contact: Nicole Y. Williams (202) 225-2661 Washington, D.C. - This weekend Congresswoman Barbara Le will be attending the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna Austria. The International AIDS Conference is the premier gathering for those working in the field of HIV, as well as policy makers, persons living with HIV and other individuals committed to ending the pandemic. It is a chance to assess where we are, evaluate recent scientific developments … Continue Reading
July 13, 2010
Barbara Lee Applauds Announcement of National AIDS Strategy
For Immediate Release Contact: Nicole Y. Williams (202) 225-2661 Attends White House reception to honor work of HIV/AIDS community Washington D.C. - Today Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) applauded the release by the Obama Administration of the first-ever National AIDS Strategy, which aims to reduce the annual number of new HIV infections by 25 percent within five years. She joined President Obama and a number of her colleagues in honoring members of the HIV/AIDS Community … Continue Reading
July 13, 2010
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Urges DOJ Action in the Johannes Mehserle Verdict
For Immediate Release July 13, 2010 Contact: Ricci Graham (510) 763-0370 Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) has called for a thorough and expeditious review of the Johannes Mehserle murder trial by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). Mehserle, a former Bay Area Rapid Transit police officer, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter on Thursday in the Jan. 1, 2009 shooting death of Oscar Grant III. In a letter to Attorney … Continue Reading
July 12, 2010
Barbara Lee Introduces Taxpayer Abuse Prevention Act
For Immediate Release July 13, 2010 Contact: Nicole Y. Williams (202) 225-2661 Washington, D.C. - Recently, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) introduced the Taxpayer Abuse Prevention Act. This legislation seeks to stop predatory Refund Anticipation Loans that target low income Americans. She released this statement: "The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is one of the most effective anti-poverty programs in America. In 2008, the EITC provided critical help to 24 million families, … Continue Reading
July 12, 2010
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Mourns the Death of Bishop Walter Hawkins
For Immediate Release July 12, 2010 Contact: Ricci Graham (510) 763-0370 Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) released the following statement today upon learning of the death of Bishop Walter Hawkins: "Today, we mourn the loss of my friend Bishop Hawkins, an American icon and a gospel music trailblazer who inspired and touched many as a Granny Award-winning singer, composer and pastor. Hawkins started his career as a gospel singer with one of his … Continue Reading
July 08, 2010
Barbara Lee Releases Statement on Verdict in Johannes Mehserle Trial
For Immediate Release July 8, 2010 Contact: Nicole Y. Williams (202) 225-2661 Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-09) released the following statement today after a jury in Los Angeles announced the involuntary manslaughter verdict in the Johannes Mehserle murder trial. "No verdict can ever replace the loss of a son, a father and a friend. Our condolences continue to go out to the family of Oscar Grant during this trying time. "Understandably there is … Continue Reading
July 01, 2010
Barbara Lee Offers Amendment to Responsibly End War
For Immediate Release July 1, 2010 Contact: Nicole Y. Williams (202) 225-2661 Washington, D.C. - Tonight, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) will offer an amendment to the FY10 Supplemental Appropriations package to prevent an escalation of US forces and begin to responsibly end the war by limiting funding to the safe and orderly withdrawal of our troops and military contractors from Afghanistan. She released this statement: "A few months from now, the war in … Continue Reading
June 30, 2010
Barbara Lee Votes to Rein In Wall Street
For Immediate Release June 30, 2010 Contact: Nicole Y. Williams (202) 225-2661 Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) voted to rein in Wall Street, end taxpayer bailouts of big banks, and create a consumer financial protection bureau that finally puts consumers first. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act will end the era of abuses by "too big to fail" banks that have cost the American people 8 million jobs and $17 trillion in … Continue Reading