Press Releases
Barbara Lee Supports National Holiday in Honor of Cesar Chavez
Press Release For Immediate Release: April 1, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661 (Washington, DC) -Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) released the following statement in support of legislation, H. Res. 76, to establish a national holiday in honor of labor leader, Cesar Chavez: "César Chávez was a great civil and human rights leader and such an important historical figure of our Nation. This resolution, H.Res.76, is a great way to pay tribute to the man … Continue Reading
March 27, 2008
Barbara Lee Calls on Congress to Fund REAL Sex Ed
Press Release For Immediate Release: March 27, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661 (Washington, DC) -In advance of the upcoming House debate on funding for ineffective and discredited Abstinence only programs, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) released the following statement: "Continuing funding for abstinence-only programs, despite evidence showing that these programs are ineffective, and denying our children access to information that could protect them, compromises the … Continue Reading
March 24, 2008
Barbara Lee Says the Death of 4,000 U.S. Soldiers in Iraq is Too High a Price
Press Release For Immediate Release: March 24, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661 (Washington, DC) - As the death toll of American soldiers has reached 4,000 in the U.S. occupation in Iraq, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) released the following statement: "This is a sad milestone and my thoughts and prayers are with the families of the 4,000 soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their service. "This great loss is a stark reminder that President Bush's failed … Continue Reading
March 18, 2008
Barbara Lee Renews Call To Immediately Redeploy Troops As The Iraq Occupation Enters 6th Year
Press Release For Immediate Release: March 18, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661 (Washington, DC) - As the nation enters the sixth year of the U.S. occupation in Iraq, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) has introduced a comprehensive package of legislation focused on offsetting the Iraq recession and fully funding the redeployment of U.S. troops and contractors from Iraq within one year. “Five years ago the Bush administration misled the American people into believing there were … Continue Reading
March 14, 2008
Barbara Lee Host Town Hall on 5th Anniv of U.S. Occupation in Iraq
Press Release For Immediate ReleaseContacRenews Call for Troop Redeployment(Washington, DC) - As the nation enters the sixth year of the U.S. occupation in Iraq, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) hosted a special Town Hall in Oakland on Saturday to address Bush’s misguided foreign policy in Iraq and renew the call to end the occupation. The following are excerpts from her speech: Legislative Action to End Occupation"Way back in October 2002 you stood with me in support of my amendment that … Continue Reading
March 12, 2008
Barbara Lee Cautions Sec of State Rice Against Bush Admin Plans for Permanent Military Bases in Iraq
Press Release For Immediate Release: March 12, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661 (Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9), who sits on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State Foreign Operations Subcommittee, today probed Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice about reports of secret Bush administration negotiations to establish a permanent military presence in Iraq without congressional approval. She released the following statement: “The Declaration of … Continue Reading
March 11, 2008
Barbara Lee & Progressives Release Only Budget to Cut Defense Spending & Cut Poverty in Half in A Decade
PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release: March 12, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661Budget Helps Rescue Faltering Economy and Rebuild America’s Infrastructure(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9), Co-chair of the Progressive Caucus (CPC), released the following statement touting the CPC budget alterative that balances moral and fiscal priorities:“The CPC’s budget is the only proposal that addresses poverty head on and is also the only alternative to cut even one dime … Continue Reading
March 06, 2008
Barbara Lee Resolution Opposes Bush’s Secret Negotiations
Press Release For Immediate Release: March 6, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661 (Washington, DC) - Barbara Lee (CA-9), a Member of the House Appropriations State Foreign Operations Subcommittee, today introduced a new resolution (H.R. 1028), to reassert the constitutional powers of Congress and make it clear that any agreement, other than a treaty, between Iraq and the United States that imposes burdens in excess of those customarily included in a status of forces … Continue Reading
March 06, 2008
Barbara Lee Welcomes Secretary Paulson To The Bay Area
Press Release For Immediate Release: March 6, 2008Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661 (Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) today released the following statement in response to Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson's Oakland visit:?“I welcome Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson to Oakland to discuss financial literacy and the ongoing foreclosure crisis. I am pleased that he is in my Congressional District and I look forward to working with him to provide quick relief to … Continue Reading
March 05, 2008
Barbara Lee Resolution Calls for Troop Redeployment To Offset ‘Iraq Recession’
Press Release For Immediate Release: March 5, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661(Washington, DC) - Two weeks before the 5th anniversary of the war in Iraq, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) is calling for the redeploy of troops in a new resolution connecting the economic slowdown to the occupation of Iraq. The legislation, which acknowledges the ‘Iraq recession,’ notes that the Iraq war will total more than $3 trillion. Congresswoman Lee released the following statement: “It’s time … Continue Reading
March 05, 2008
Barbara Lee Supports California’s Emission Rule
For Immediate Release: March 6, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661 (Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9), an original co-sponsor of the Right to Clean Vehicles Act, released the following statement regarding the new legislation which will overturn the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to deny California’s request for a waiver under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles:“I am proud to be an original co-sponsor of … Continue Reading
March 05, 2008
Barbara Lee Tells Labor Sec Chao To Support Funding For Green Job Training
Press Release For Immediate Release: March 6, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661 (Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9), who sits on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education today urged Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao to support full funding for the Green Jobs Workforce Training Program during a subcommittee hearing. She released the following statement: “Green jobs are good for the economy and the environment. Investing in … Continue Reading
March 05, 2008
Barbara Lee Applauds Passage of Comprehensive Mental Health Equity Bill
Press Release For Immediate Release: March 5, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661(Washington, DC) -Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) released the following statement praising the bipartisan passage of the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act, H.R. 1424: “As a co-sponsor of the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act (H.R. 1424), I am very proud of the bipartisan passage of this comprehensive legislation to end discrimination against patients seeking … Continue Reading
February 29, 2008
Barbara Lee Hosts Town Hall on 5th Year of US Occupation of Iraq
MEDIA ADVISORY For Immediate Release: February 29, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661 (Oakland, CA) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9), Co-founder of the Out of Iraq Caucus and Member of the House Appropriations committee’s State Foreign Operations Subcommittee, is hosting a special Town Hall Briefing on the fifth-year anniversary of the failed U.S. occupation of Iraq on Saturday, March 15 at 9am PST at the Grand Lake Theater in Oakland. Congresswoman Lee will provide a … Continue Reading
February 27, 2008
Barbara Lee Questions Leavitt on Funding for Health Disparities & Abstinence Only Programs
Press Release For Immediate Release: February 27, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661 (Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9), who serves on the House Appropriations Committee’s on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Subcommittee, today questioned HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt during a subcommittee hearing on the FY2009 budget. She told Secretary Leavitt that Congress deserves answers as to why the Administration’s budget fails yet again to prioritize funding to … Continue Reading
February 26, 2008
Barbara Lee Applauds Amendments to Sustain Global AIDS Program
For Immediate Release: February 27, 2008Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9), who has been appointed to serve on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs temporarily, released the following statement regarding today’s committee mark up of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR):“The legislation we have passed out of committee today will help our global HIV/AIDS programs achieve sustainability for the long term by grounding and … Continue Reading
February 19, 2008
Barbara Lee Says PEPFAR Funding Must Go Further
PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release: February 19, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661 (Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) released the following statement in response to President Bush’s call to renew the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) ‘as is’ during his visit to Tanzania:“My colleagues and I are strongly committed to re-authorizing and extending our global HIV/AIDS programs. But renewing PEPFAR in its current form falls short of the global … Continue Reading
February 19, 2008
Lee Calls Castro’s Resignation ‘Perfect Time’ For Shift in Cuba Policies
PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release: February 19, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, 202-225-2661(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) issued the following statement in response to the resignation of Fidel Castro:“Certainly Fidel Castro was a historic figure and his resignation represents a historic change for Cuba. But it is also a historic opportunity to change 45 years of failed US policy toward Cuba. “It is the perfect time to finally end the ineffective embargo and travel ban … Continue Reading
February 14, 2008
Progressives Demand Classified Access to Domestic Spying Program
PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release: February 14, 2008 Contacts:Cleve Mesidor (Lee) 202-225-2661Chris Shields (Woolsey) 202-225-5161Bill Goold (CPC) 202-225-6055 Progressives Demand Classified Access to Domestic Spying Program(Washington, DC) - The Co-Chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Congresswomen Barbara Lee (CA-9) and Lynn Woolsey (CA-6), today demanded that President Bush provide an opportunity for all Members of Congress to have the same access to classified … Continue Reading
February 11, 2008
Barbara Lee Highlights Progressive Vision During State of the District Address
PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release: February 11, 2008 Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661 (Oakland, CA) - In front of hundreds of Bay Area residents, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9), co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, delivered her annual State of the District address on Monday night. Sharing her progressive vision, she discussed her agenda for the 9th District and the nation, touted constituent success stories and outlined major legislative victories. The following is … Continue Reading