Press Releases
Barbara Lee to Hold Fruitvale Town Hall on Immigration
(Oakland, CA) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) will host a town hall meeting on immigration issues in Oakland’s Fruitvale district featuring representatives from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Spanish Speaking Citizens Foundation and other community-based organizations. Experts will be on hand to provide free legal consultation, and immigration-related materials will be provided in Spanish.WHO: Congresswoman Barbara Lee, representatives from the U.S. … Continue Reading
September 24, 2007
Barbara Lee Calls for National Commitment to End the AIDS Epidemic in Black America
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus joined representatives from the Black AIDS Institute for a press conference on Capitol Hill today for the release of the institute’s new report on the state of AIDS in Black America. The following is her statement (as prepared):“Let me first begin by thanking Phill Wilson and the Black AIDS Institute for organizing this important press conference this morning. “The Black AIDS Institute … Continue Reading
September 21, 2007
Barbara Lee Condemns Denial of Bail in Jena Six Case
(Oakland, CA) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) issued the following statement in response to the news that a Louisiana judge denied bail Friday for Mychal Bell, the only one of the “Jena six” teens who is jailed in the beating of a white classmate:“The denial of bail for Mychal Bell is yet another outrage in a case that has been a travesty of justice. This is another example of the institutional racism in our criminal justice system, and it is unacceptable. As I said before, if we are … Continue Reading
September 19, 2007
Barbara Lee's Statment in Support of the Jena 6
(Washington, DC) - As protests took place in Jena, LA and Washington, DC in support of six black teenagers initially charged with attempted murder after a school yard fight with a white classmate, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) issued the following statement in support of the “Jena Six”:“The injustice in the case of the six young people from Jena, Louisiana is disgraceful, and it is unacceptable. I commend the protests taking place today in Louisiana and on Capitol Hill, and I add my … Continue Reading
September 18, 2007
Barbara Lee Convenes Hearing on Insurgency in Iraq
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland), Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) and a leader in the effort to end the occupation of Iraq, co-chaired a CPC hearing on Iraq today. The hearing featured testimony from Dr. William Polk, one of our nation’s leading Iraq and Middle East experts, and author of Violent Politics: A History of Insurgency, Terrorism, & Guerilla War from the American Revolution to Iraq. The following is her opening statement (as … Continue Reading
September 17, 2007
Barbara Lee Speaks Out for Homeownership Promotion, Borrower Protection Bill
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) spoke out in favor of legislation designed promote homeownership, protect borrowers and help those impacted by the sub-prime mortgage crisis during debate today on the House floor. The Expanding American Homeownership Act of 2007 passed by a vote of 348-72. The following is her statement (as prepared): “I want to thank Chairman Frank and Chairwoman Waters for their leadership and commitment to revitalize the FHA and provide critical … Continue Reading
September 12, 2007
Barbara Lee: Exit Plan for Bush Comes at the Expense of Our Troops
(Oakland, CA) - As President Bush prepares to announce that he will return the number of troops in Iraq to pre-surge levels by July of 2008 in a televised address to the nation, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) issued the following statement:“Tonight the President will make his case for more of the same stay-the-course strategy that puts us on a path for at least 10 years of occupation in Iraq.“It is time to call this what it is - an exit strategy for President Bush at the expense of our … Continue Reading
September 10, 2007
Barbara Lee: Petraeus Walks in Powell’s Footsteps
(Oakland, CA) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee issued the following statement in response to the testimony today of General David Petraeus before a joint session of the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees:“I am afraid that with his testimony today, General David Petraeus may be following in the footsteps of former Secretary of State Colin Powell and I fear that he may face the same fate, namely that of respected military man whose credibility is forever tarnished for propping up the … Continue Reading
September 10, 2007
Barbara Lee’s Statement on the Sixth Anniversary of 9/11
(Oakland, CA) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) issued the following statement on the sixth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001:“Today, we commemorate the sixth anniversary of the terrible terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. We remember the men, women and children who lost their lives that day and we honor the courage and the heroism of our first responders and those who put themselves in harm’s way to help others.“This anniversary is also a time to … Continue Reading
September 06, 2007
Barbara Lee Votes to Provide Historic Increase in College Financial Aid for Students and Families
Democratic Congress Makes Good on Promise to Make College More Affordable For All Americans(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland), who sits on the Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees federal education spending, today joined a majority in the House to vote for final passage of legislation that would make the single largest investment in college financial aid since the 1944 GI Bill, helping millions of students and families pay for college - and doing so at no new cost to … Continue Reading
September 04, 2007
Barbara Lee Joins Experts in Calling for End to Arming and Training Iraqi Security Forces
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Jim Moran (D-VA), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) joined former Director of the National Security Agency, General William Odom; former Assistant Secretary of Defense, Dr. Lawrence Korb; and John Bruhns, an Iraq war veteran with Americans Against Escalation in Iraq at a press conference on Capitol Hill today to call for an end to … Continue Reading
September 04, 2007
House Passes Lee National Passport Month Resolution
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House unanimously approved a resolution introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) to promote international travel by calling for the establishment of September as National Passport month.“Three quarters of the people in our country do not have passports, which adds up to millions of Americans who are unable to take advantage of the enriching opportunities presented by international travel,” said Lee. “International travel helps individuals learn … Continue Reading
August 28, 2007
Barbara Lee Responds to Census Poverty Report
Renews Call for Goal of Cutting Poverty in Half by 2017(Oakland, CA) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland), co-founder of the Congressional Out-of-Poverty Caucus, released the following statement is response to the U.S. Census Bureau’s annual report on poverty, which found that the number of people living in poverty in the United States remains unchanged and that the number people without health insurance rose by more than two million:“It is completely unacceptable that, in the richest … Continue Reading
August 26, 2007
Barbara Lee Responds to Gonzales Resignation
(Oakland, CA) - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) released the following statement in response to the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales:“Attorney General Gonzales’ resignation today is long overdue. During his tenure at the Justice Department, he oversaw an assault on civil rights and an unprecedented effort to turn U.S. Attorneys into a cog in the White House political operation. His resignation is an opportunity for the President to appoint a new Attorney … Continue Reading
August 09, 2007
Barbara Lee's Statement on Your Black Muslim Bakery
(Oakland, CA) - In response to constituent and media questions regarding the nature of the casework her office provided to Your Black Muslim Bakery, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) released the following statement today:“At the request of representatives of Your Black Muslim Bakery, my office provided a letter to a federal agency related to the bankruptcy.“Like many people, I historically supported the Bakery because it has been an important institution in the community, but it is … Continue Reading
August 02, 2007
Barbara Lee’s Statement on the Death of Chauncey Bailey
Barbara Lee’s Statement on the Death of Chauncey Bailey (Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) issued the following statement in response to the news that Oakland Post editor Chauncey Bailey was shot and killed in Oakland this morning:“I was shocked and saddened to learn of Chauncey Bailey’s death this morning. Chauncey contributed so much to the fabric our community, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends,” said Lee. “It is my hope that the … Continue Reading
August 02, 2007
Barbara Lee Introduces Bill to Lift HIV Travel Ban
(Washington, DC) - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) introduced legislation that would lift the ban that prevents people living with HIV/AIDS from traveling or immigrating to the United States.“It defies reason that, because of this misguided law, we cannot host an international HIV/AIDS conference in this country,” said Lee, who has attended every International AIDS Conference since she was elected to Congress in 1998. “This law is unjust and unnecessary and it is time to change … Continue Reading
August 01, 2007
Barbara Lee Speaks Out Against the Nomination of Judge Leslie Southwick
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) spoke out against the nomination of Judge Leslie Southwick to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals at a press conference today on Capitol Hill in response to the Senate Judiciary Committee’s vote to approve the nomination:“As a Californian and as a person of color, I am doubly disappointed that a Senator from my home state, Senator Feinstein, would vote with the Republicans to bring the Southwick nomination to the Senate floor.“Numerous … Continue Reading
August 01, 2007
Barbara Lee Bill Sets Goal of Cutting Poverty in Half by 2017
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland), Co-Chair of the House Out-of-Poverty Caucus, today introduced a resolution designed to set a national goal of cutting poverty in the U.S. in half over the next ten years.“It is unacceptable that, in the richest nation in the world, there are 37 million people living in poverty,” said Lee. “Eradicating poverty needs to be a national priority, and the best way to do that is to set some measurable goals. If we are serious about this, … Continue Reading
July 31, 2007
House Passes Lee Bill to Support US - Caribbean Educational Exchange
(Washington, DC) - Today, by a vote of 371-55, the House passed a bill introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) that would strengthen educational exchange between the U.S. and the Caribbean.“This bill will establish a mutually beneficial educational exchange between the United States and the Caribbean, and is an important step towards strengthening our relationship with our neighbors,” said Lee.The Shirley A. Chisholm US-Caribbean Educational Exchange Act of 2007, H.R. 176, … Continue Reading