Press Releases
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement on President Obama's Address to Congress
For Immediate Release February 24, 2009 Contact: Nicole Y. Williams (202) 225-2661 Washington, DC -Congresswoman Barbara Lee released this statement today following President Barack Obama's Address to a Joint Session of Congress. "Tonight the President presented a realistic and sobering picture for the American people. The Bush Administration left our nation in fiscal shambles. The problems our country faces are significant and it will require a lot of hard work to put America back on the … Continue Reading
February 24, 2009
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds Confirmation of Hilda Solis as Secretary of Labor
For Immediate Release February 24, 2009 Contact: Nicole Y. Williams (202) 225-2661 Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released this statement following the swearing-in of Congresswoman Hilda Solis of California as Secretary of Labor: "President Obama has made an excellent choice for his administration. Congresswoman Solis brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this post and as the leader of the Department of Labor, she will ensure that working people have a voice on … Continue Reading
February 24, 2009
Barbara Lee Joins Reps. Frank, Woolsey and Grijalva to Discuss Defense Spending Reduction
For Immediate Release February 24, 2009 Contact: Nicole Y. Williams (202) 225-2661 Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee joined Congressman Barney Frank and Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey and Congressman Raul Grijalva at a forum and press conference to discuss the defense budget and Rep. Frank's proposal to reduce military spending. She released this statement: "As we all know, these are difficult economic times. For many years, many of … Continue Reading
February 13, 2009
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds Passage of Economic Recovery Package
For Immediate Release February 13, 2009 Contact: Nicole Y. Williams (202) 225-2661 Washington, DC -Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee voted in favor of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Conference Report. She released this statement: "The disastrous economic policies of the previous administration -including irresponsible tax cuts for the wealthy and the war in Iraq and deregulation of the financial industry have left our nation in shambles. Millions of people are living in … Continue Reading
February 11, 2009
Barbara Lee Supports USCIRF Sudan Policy Recommendations
For Immediate Release February 11, 2009 Contact: Nicole Y. Williams (202) 225-2661 Comments on ICC Issuance of Arrest Warrant for Bashir Washington, DC -Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee joined the U.S. Commission on International Freedom in support of their policy recommendations for ending the ongoing genocide in Darfur, Sudan. She released this statement: "We stand here together at a critical time - united in our determination to bring the genocide in Darfur to an end. I've been to … Continue Reading
February 06, 2009
Barbara Lee Recognizes National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
For Immediate Release February 6, 2009 Contact: Nicole Y. Williams (202) 225-2661 Introduces Supporting the goals and ideals of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Washington, DC -Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) released this statement acknowledging National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. "Twenty-seven years after the first cases of AIDS were reported, HIV is still running rampant in the United States. By and large, African Americans are bearing the brunt of the HIV/AIDS … Continue Reading
February 06, 2009
Serrano, Waxman, Lee Urge President to Help End Syringe Exchange Funding Ban
For Immediate Release February 6, 2009 CONTACT: Philip Schmidt, (Serrano) (202) 225-4361 Karen Lightfoot, (Waxman) (202) 225-5735 Nicole Williams, (Lee) (202) 225-2661 Washington, DC -Today Representatives José E. Serrano, (D-NY); Henry Waxman, (D-CA); and Barbara Lee, (D-CA) sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to join them in working to lift the ban on use of federal funds for syringe exchange programs. The three Members pointed out that as the nation … Continue Reading
February 04, 2009
Barbara Lee Supports Postponement of DTV Transition
For Immediate Release February 4, 2009 Contact: Nicole Y. Williams (202) 225-2661 Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) voted in favor of postponement of the Digital Television transition which would have taken place February 18, 2009. This legislation provides for a one-time delay through June 12, 2009. Without this delay, millions of Americans televisions would "go dark" on February 18, 2009, disproportionately impacting low-income, rural, and elderly Americans. The … Continue Reading
February 04, 2009
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds Obama Order to Limit Executive Pay
For Immediate Release February 4, 2009 Contact: Nicole Y. Williams (202) 225-2661 Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9), released this statement in response to President Barack Obama's decision to limit the annual salaries of top executives at financial firms that receive money through the bailout program to $500,000 per year: "It is insensible that the heads of the financial firms that have relied on tax payer dollars to keep their companies afloat continue to receive … Continue Reading
February 04, 2009
Barbara Lee Supports SCHIP Legislation to Provide Health Care for 11 Million Children
For Immediate Release February 4, 2009 Contact: Nicole Y. Williams (202) 225-2661 This Legislation Is Estimated to Provide 694,000 Uninsured Children In California with Health Care Coverage Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) joined a majority of her House colleagues in supporting of the final version of bipartisan legislation to provide health care to 11 million children in modest-income families. The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization … Continue Reading
January 30, 2009
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds Decision to Direct $20 Million Emergency Funding for Humanitarian Relief in Gaza
For Immediate Release January 30, 2009 Contact: Nicole Y. Williams (202) 225-2661 Oakland, CA - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9), released this statement in response to President Barack Obama's decision to authorize $20.3 million from the U.S. Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance (ERMA) Fund to address critical post-conflict humanitarian needs in Gaza. "I applaud President Obama's decision to authorize $20.3 million from the U.S. Emergency Refugee and Migration … Continue Reading
January 29, 2009
Congresswoman Lee Attends Signing of Lilly Ledbetter Bill
For Immediate Release January 29, 2009 Contact: Nicole Y. Williams (202) 225-2661 Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee attended the signing of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act at the White House. This legislation will restore the law as it was prior to the Supreme Court Ledbetter decision that narrowly decided to dismiss longstanding employment nondiscrimination law making it much harder for women and other workers to pursue pay discrimination claims. "The Lilly Ledbetter … Continue Reading
January 28, 2009
Congresswoman Lee Supports Economic Stimulus Package
For Immediate Release January 28, 2009 Contact: Nicole Y. Williams (202) 225-2661 Washington, DC -Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee voted in favor of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. She released this statement: "The economic policies of the previous administration have left our nation's economy in shambles. Today, more people are living in poverty, more people are living without health insurance, and more people are unemployed than they were eight years ago - and it's … Continue Reading
January 28, 2009
Congresswoman Lee to Serve on Two Foreign Affairs Subcommittees
For Immediate Release January 28, 2009 Contact: Nicole Y. Williams (202) 225-2661 Washington, DC -Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee was appointed to two subcommittees on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. She will serve on the subcommittees on Western Hemisphere and Africa and Global Health. Having served on the Committee on Foreign Affairs for many years, Rep. Lee has used her platform to address many issues around the world including combating the global HIV/AIDS crisis, family … Continue Reading
January 28, 2009
Lee, Olver, Capps Lead Congressional Effort to Draw Attention to Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
For Immediate Release January 28, 2009 Contact: Nicole Y. Williams (202) 225-2661 57 Members of Congress Join Lee, Olver, and Capps in Urging Obama Administration to Address Overwhelming Humanitarian Needs Washington, D.C. - Today Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9), Congressman John Olver (MA-1) and Congresswoman Lois Capps (CA-23) were joined by 57 of their House colleagues in writing to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton requesting immediate action by the United States to address the … Continue Reading
January 27, 2009
Congresswoman Lee Supports Ledbetter Bill
For Immediate Release January 27, 2009 Contact: Nicole Y. Williams (202) 225-2661 Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee today voted in favor of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, a bill that seeks to restore the law as it was prior to the Supreme Court Ledbetter decision that narrowly decided to dismiss longstanding employment nondiscrimination law making it much harder for women and other workers to pursue pay discrimination claims. "The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act helps … Continue Reading
January 26, 2009
Congresswoman Lee's Statement on Lunar New Year
For Immediate Release January 26, 2009 Contact: Ricci Graham (510) 763-0370 Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) released the following statement in commemoration of Lunar New Year, which begins today, Monday, January 26: "Please join me as we celebrate one of the more joyous times for many Asian and Asian-American cultures - the Lunar New Year. Each year, Asian communities throughout the 9th Congressional District gather to commemorate what has become a … Continue Reading
January 25, 2009
Congresswoman Lee Applauds President Obama's Stance on Energy Independence, Climate Change
For Immediate Release January 26, 2009 Contact: Nicole Y. Williams (202) 225-2661 Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) released the following statement applauding President Barack Obama's memorandum requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to re-examine its decision denying California's request for a state waiver under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles: "For eight years the Bush Administration stood in the way of progress on … Continue Reading
January 23, 2009
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Hails Obama Decision to Repeal Global Gag Rule
For Immediate Release January 23, 2009 Contact: Nicole Y. Williams (202) 225-2661 Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee issued the following statement applauding President Barack Obama's order to overturn the Global Gag Rule, a U.S. policy that denies foreign organizations receiving U.S. family planning assistance the right to use their own, non-U.S. funds to either engage in any abortion-related public policy debates or perform legal abortions: "For those of us who … Continue Reading
January 22, 2009
Congresswoman Lee Supports TARP reform and Accountability Legislation
For Immediate Release January 22, 2009 Contact: Nicole Y. Williams (202) 225-2661 Washington, DC - Following the passage of the TARP Reform and Accountability Act which amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to requires specified depository institutions under TARP to report periodically on their use of TARP assistance, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released this statement: "It is clear that the Bush Administration mishandled the … Continue Reading