Press Releases
Democrats introduce resolution condemning all acts of political violence in U.S.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) introduced legislation today to condemn all forms of political violence in the U.S., regardless of its target or intent. The resolution comes as a direct response to a measure House Republicans plan to vote on Wednesday condemning recent attacks on anti-choice facilities, but ignores similar attacks on those seeking or providing abortion care in the U.S. Sponsors of the Democratic-led … Continue Reading
January 06, 2023
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Sworn-In to U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee was officially sworn in as United States Representative for California's 12th Congressional District, representing the people of the East Bay in the 118th Congress. "I am honored that the people of the East Bay have entrusted me with the great responsibility of representing them in Congress, and deeply grateful to have such engaged and enlightened constituents. As a result of the 2020 Census and redistricting, our beautiful 13th district's number is … Continue Reading
January 06, 2023
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Recognizes Second Anniversary of January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) today released the following statement to recognize the second anniversary of the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021: “Today marks two years since a deadly assault was waged on the U.S. Capitol, the Congress and the Constitution. As we enter the 118th Congress with a Republican majority in the House, we must not allow anyone to rewrite history or whitewash the gravity of what took place. It was a truly harrowing experience - I barely made it out of … Continue Reading
January 04, 2023
Chairwoman Lee Secures Provision that Assists in Addressing Humanitarian and Recovery Needs Arising from the Artsakh Conflict
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, led an effort to include a provision in the final Fiscal Year 2023 spending bill that directs the Department of State and US Agency for International Development to provide Congress with an assistance strategy for addressing humanitarian and recovery needs arising from the Artsakh conflict and identifies the US “resources and programs,” available for this … Continue Reading
January 04, 2023
Chairwoman Barbara Lee Applauds FDA Action on Access to Medication Abortion
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) issued the following statement applauding the Federal Drug Administration’s action to expand access to the medication abortion drug mifepristone. As Co-Chair of the Pro Choice Caucus, Lee lead members in urging the FDA to approve the drug. “In a huge win for reproductive freedom, retail pharmacies in states like California can now stock abortion pills. As Co-Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus, I’m proud we were part of the fight to lift harmful in-person … Continue Reading
December 23, 2022
Rep. Lee Secures $18 Million for Local Projects in California’s 13th District
Oakland, CA - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) announced $18,408,778 in Community Project Funding for California’s 13th District in the Fiscal Year ‘23 House spending bills. Among the projects advocated for by Congresswoman Lee that received funding are improvements to Asian Health Services in Oakland, the Martin Luther King Junior Youth Services Center, Covenant House California Homeless Youth Services Center, and much more. “The recipients of this funding are doing critical work … Continue Reading
December 23, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds Passage of FY23 Omnibus Government Funding Legislation
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, released the following statement after House passage of omnibus government funding legislation for Fiscal Year 2023: “Today is a momentous day for the East Bay, for Californians, and for the nation," said Congresswoman Lee. "This $1.7 trillion piece of legislation delivers historic investments in American families and workers while … Continue Reading
December 15, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Recognizes California Statewide Convening on Poverty
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), Chair of the Majority Leader’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity, today recognized the Poor People’s Campaign California Statewide Convening on Poverty on the House Floor. Congresswoman Lee, alongside Bishop William Barber of the Poor People’s Campaign, called the 20 million people living in Poverty in California a “moral disgrace,” and uplifted the launch of an initiative called “Close the Gap California.” “Extreme poverty affects over 20 million … Continue Reading
December 14, 2022
Lee, Hoyer, Clyburn, Thompson, and House Democrats Praise Passage of Legislation to Remove Hate from the Halls of Congress
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) joined House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), House Majority Whip James Clyburn (SC-06), Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Congressman G.K. Butterfield (NC-01), Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02), Congressman John Sarbanes (MD-03), Congressman Anthony Brown (MD-04), Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Congressman David Trone (MD-06), Congressman … Continue Reading
December 09, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Rejoins House Leadership Team
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) was renamed Co-Chair of the House Steering and Policy Committee for the 118th Congress by incoming Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. She will be joined by Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Shultz of Florida and Congressman Dan Kildee of Michigan. The Steering and Policy Committee assigns members of Congress to their committees for the Congressional session. Congresswoman Lee served as Steering and Policy Co-Chair in the 117thCongress as the … Continue Reading
December 08, 2022
Congresswoman Lee Applauds Passage of Respect for Marriage Act
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Vice-Chair and Founding Member of the LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, issued the below statement on House passage of the Respect for Marriage Act. "The right to marry is a fundamental issue of justice. Today, I proudly voted to strengthen protections for same-sex and interracial couples with passage of the Respect for Marriage Act, an essential step to guard against the increasingly extremist, right-wing Supreme Court-a Court that just this year threatened … Continue Reading
December 01, 2022
Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus Co-Chairs Call for End to Health Disparities on 34th Annual World AIDS Day
Washington, DC - Representatives Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Jenniffer González-Colón (PR-AL), Co-Chairs of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, recognized World AIDS Day by introducing a resolution supporting its goals on the 34th annual World AIDS Day. The theme of the 34th annual World AIDS Day is "Tackling Inequalities Which Perpetuate the AIDS Pandemic," which recognizes the urgent need to address health inequities and the need to lift up experiences, solutions, and innovations … Continue Reading
November 29, 2022
Congresswoman Lee Statement on Passing of Congressman Donald McEachin
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee issued the below statement on the passing of Congressman Donald McEachin. "I am devastated at the loss of my colleague and friend, Congressman Don McEachin. From his decades of service in the Virginia legislature to starting the first environmental justice taskforce in Congress, Don was a consummate public servant and champion for the marginalized. "Don was truly an 'honorable.' He was kind, smart, truthful, a warrior for justice and a great human … Continue Reading
November 17, 2022
Congresswoman Lee Issues Statement on Speaker Pelosi’s Retirement from House Leadership
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), longtime friend and colleague of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, released the following statement on Speaker Pelosi's retirement from House Leadership: "As the first woman Speaker to lead Congress, Speaker Pelosi's career was one of transformational leadership. From passing the Affordable Care Act and presiding over some of the most consequential legislation in modern history to leading the charge to protect our democracy after January 6th, Nancy … Continue Reading
November 16, 2022
Reps. Lee and Blumenauer Request Data on Financial Service Equity for Minority Cannabis Businesses
Washington, DC - Today, Representatives Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) sent a letter to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) requesting recent data on the financial services offered to minority cannabis businesses in an effort to better understand the barriers faced by minority cannabis businesses owners. Minority cannabis entrepreneurs often cite a lack of access to capital and financial services as a major barrier to entering the legal cannabis industry. A … Continue Reading
November 15, 2022
Congresswoman Lee Concludes Congressional Delegation to COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, recently returned from a Congressional delegation led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. The delegation conveyed the commitment of the United States Congress to continuing the robust progress made to tackle the climate crisis under the leadership of … Continue Reading
November 11, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement on Veteran's Day
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) today released the following statement commemorating Veterans Day: "On this Veteran's Day, I recognize and honor the countless servicemembers who have sacrificed so much for our country. "My father Lt. Col. Garvin Tutt served in World War II and the Korean War. I saw the sacrifice he made for our country by answering our nation's call to service. However, I also saw the discrimination and racism he faced at home and abroad. We must continue … Continue Reading
November 01, 2022
Reps. Lee, Costa, Thompson, Garamendi, and Federal Maritime Commission Chair Maffei Hold Roundtable Discussion on Supply Chain Disruptions in the International Shipping Industry
Oakland, CA - Representatives Barbara Lee (CA-13), Jim Costa (CA-16), Mike Thompson (CA-05), and John Garamendi (CA-03), along with Chair of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Chair Daniel B. Maffei held a roundtable discussion on Monday with California leaders and agriculture producers to discuss supply chain disruptions in the international shipping industry and the impacts on American businesses and consumers. Lawmakers visited the Port of Oakland, which serves as an essential export … Continue Reading
October 31, 2022
Congresswoman Lee and Senator Padilla Call for National Public Health Emergency Declaration on Gun Violence
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) sent a letter urging U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to declare a national health emergency on gun violence. A public health emergency declaration would trigger an immediate and systematic response to fully address the nation's gun violence crisis. Congresswoman Lee and Senator Padilla recently held a roundtable discussion in Oakland to meet with local elected officials, … Continue Reading
October 18, 2022
Chairs Lee, Meeks, & McGovern Issue Statement Regarding the Biden Administration Providing Humanitarian Assistance to Cuba
Washington, D.C. - Today, Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations Barbara Lee (D-CA), together with House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY) and Chair of the Rules Committee James P. McGovern (D-MA), issued the following statement regarding the Biden Administration's decision to provide humanitarian assistance to Cuba in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian: "We applaud the Biden Administration's sound decision to provide $2 million … Continue Reading