Press Releases
Congresswoman Barbara Lee to Host CDC HIV/AIDS Forum in Bay Area
Media Advisory For Immediate Release: May 2, 2008 Contacts: Ricci Graham (510) 763-0370, Cleve Mesidor (202) 225-2661 (Oakland, CA) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) will host a forum, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to address the HIV/AIDS crisis in the African-American community on May 9 at the West Oakland Senior Center at 10am. Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the CDC, will discuss ongoing efforts by the agency to address the local … Continue Reading
May 01, 2008
Barbara Lee Recalls Bush's ‘Mission Accomplished' Declaration
Press Release For Immediate Release: May 1, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661 (Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) released the following statement to mark the 5th anniversary of President Bush declaring victory saying, "major combat operations in Iraq have ended": "In front of the infamous 'Mission Accomplished' banner backdrop, 5 years ago President Bush told the nation that 'major combat operations in Iraq have ended.' That was not true then and it is … Continue Reading
April 30, 2008
Barbara Lee Statement on the Food Crisis in Haiti
Press Release For Immediate Release (Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) released the following statement in response to food crisis in Haiti: "I join my colleagues in urging President Bush to take immediate steps to stem the food crisis In Haiti. We must provide immediate food aid to help the people of Haiti, while extending debt relief programs to free up government funds to address the needs of the people. "Eighty percent of Haiti's population lives on … Continue Reading
April 30, 2008
Barbara Lee Commemorates Cover the Uninsured Week
Press Release For Immediate Release: April 30, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661 (Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) entered the following statement into the Congressional Record to commemorate Cover the Uninsured week: "I strongly believe that health care is a basic human right. Yet far too many people have no access to even the most basic health services. "Contrary to popular belief, 8 out of 10 Americans who lack health insurance come from working … Continue Reading
April 28, 2008
Barbara Lee Statement on Supreme Court Decision on Voter ID
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court's decision today on Indiana's voter identification case: "Today's Supreme Court decision reminds us that the struggle for civil rights continues and the right to vote is still under threat. "This decision is a big blow to all Americans -especially the poor, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities who will face tremendous obstacles in exercising the fundamental right … Continue Reading
April 25, 2008
Barbara Lee Supports Coast Guard Reauthorization Act
Press Release For Immediate Release: April 23, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661 Barbara Lee Supports Coast Guard Reauthorization Act (Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) entered the following statement into the Congressional Record to support, H.R. 2830, the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act: I rise today in support of H.R. 2830, the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2007, which makes significant strides in supporting the invaluable work of the … Continue Reading
April 25, 2008
Barbara Lee Commemorates World Malaria Day
Press Release For Immediate Release: April 25, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661 (Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9), a founding member of the Congressional Malaria Caucus, released the following statement to commemorate World Malaria Day: "As a coauthor of the initial legislation creating the framework for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria in 2000 and as one of five co-authors of the original US Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, … Continue Reading
April 22, 2008
Barbara Lee Celebrates Earth Day
Press Release For Immediate Release: April 22, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661 (Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) released the following statement to commemorate Earth Day: "Earth Day is an important opportunity to focus on protecting the environment for the generations to come and achieving energy independence by tackling global warming. "In Congress, and throughout my Congressional District, I am working to ensure that our environmental … Continue Reading
April 22, 2008
Barbara Lee Commemorates Equal Pay Day
Press Release For Immediate Release: April 22, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661 Barbara Lee Commemorates Equal Pay Day (Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) released the following statement to commemorate Equal Pay Day, which marks how far into the year a woman must work, on average, to earn as much as a man earned the previous year: "It is past time for women to be guaranteed equal pay for equal work. Equal Pay Day marks the point in the … Continue Reading
April 17, 2008
Barbara Lee Introduces Bill to Expand Food Stamp Eligibility
Press Release For Immediate Release: April 15, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661 Barbara Lee Introduces Bill to Expand Food Stamp Eligibility (Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) has introduced the Food Assistance to Improve Reintegration Act (FAIR Act) to reverse a provision in the 1996 Welfare Reform bill, which excludes formerly incarcerated individuals convicted of drug felonies, many of whom are women with children, from being eligible to apply for … Continue Reading
April 16, 2008
Barbara Lee Supports Bill to Expand Debt Relief for Poor Countries
Press Release For Immediate Release: April 16, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661 (Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) is an original co-sponsor of the Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation Act (HR 2634) which seeks to expand debt relief for the world's poorest countries and ensure that the benefits from debt relief will not be eroded by future abusive lending to these impoverished nations. Specifically, the legislation provides debt cancellation … Continue Reading
April 15, 2008
Barbara Lee Commemorates 40th Anniv of the Civil Rights Act
Press Release For Immediate Release: April 15, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661 (Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) released the following statement on the House floor today in support of H.Res.1095, which honors the 40th anniversary of congressional passage of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, or the Fair Housing Act: "The Fair Housing Act was critical in ending the rampant discrimination in the housing industry 40 years ago. Today the Fair … Continue Reading
April 14, 2008
Barbara Lee Introduces Bill to Protect Seniors with Reverse Mortgages
Press ReleaseFor Immediate Release: April 15, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661 (Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) released the following statement regarding her new bill, H.R.5758, to prohibit lenders of home equity conversion mortgages from requiring seniors to purchase an annuity with the proceeds of a reverse mortgage:“With more and more seniors seeking reverse mortgages, we need tighter regulations to protect them from aggressive marketing and predatory … Continue Reading
April 09, 2008
Barbara Lee Says Gen. Petraeus Has Not Saved Bush’s Failed Policy in Iraq
Press Release For Immediate Release: April 10, 2008Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661 (Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9), a Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Appropriations Committee’s State Foreign Operations Subcommittee, during Congressional testimony questioned General David Petraeus about the mounting failures in Iraq. During the exchange, General Petraeus admitted there has not been sufficient progress in Iraq. She released the following … Continue Reading
April 08, 2008
Barbara Lee Calls Petraeus and Crocker Testimony More of the Same
Press Release For Immediate Release: April 9, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661 (Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9), a Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Appropriations Committee’s State Foreign Operations Subcommittee, released the following statement regarding the testimony of General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker before Congress:“There is no military solution to Iraq, and neither General Petraeus nor Ambassador Crocker offered anything … Continue Reading
April 08, 2008
Barbara Lee Says China's Record Overshadows the Olympic Torch's Pass Through the Bay Area
Press Release For Immediate Release: April 8, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661 (Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) released the following statement in advance of the Beijing Olympic torch pass through San Francisco: "The public outcry against China human rights record and its hosting of this year's Olympics has cast a shadow over the Bay Area's distinction as the only North American stop on the worldwide Olympic Torch Relay. Like the millions of activists … Continue Reading
April 07, 2008
Barbara Lee Says Take Nelson Mandela & the ANC off Terrorist Watch Lists
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9), an original co-sponsor of H.R. 5690, released the following statement in support of legislation to remove current and former African National Congress members from U.S. travel and terrorism watch lists: "As an original co-sponsor of the bill, H.R. 5690, which removes current and former African National Congress members from U.S. travel and terrorism watch lists, I am proud we are finally taking the steps to correct this long standing … Continue Reading
April 04, 2008
Barbara Lee Remembers MLK's Fight Against Poverty
Press Release For Immediate Release: April 4, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661 (Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) released the following statement to reflect on Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s fight against poverty on the 40th anniversary of his assassination: "As the world marks the 40th anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we should reflect on how he lived and the aspects of his legacy still unfulfilled, especially his call … Continue Reading
April 02, 2008
Barbara Lee To Appear on HBO's Bill Maher Show Friday
MEDIA ADVISORY For Immediate Release: April 2, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661 (Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) will appear on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher this Friday, April 4, 2008 from 8-9pm PST. # # # Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9 )is Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and sits on the House Appropriations … Continue Reading
April 02, 2008
Barbara Lee Applauds House Passage of Global HIV/AIDS Initiative
Press Release For Immediate Release: April 2, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661 (Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) released the following statement in support of the bipartisan House passage of H.R.5501, the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act: "As one of the five original co-authors of both the initial legislation establishing the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS … Continue Reading