Press Releases
House Approves Lee Bill Honoring the 200th Anniversary of the End of the Transatlantic Slave Trade
(Washington, DC) - The House today unanimously approved a resolution introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the end of the transatlantic slave trade.H. Res. 272 recognizes the historical significance of the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade to the world; respects the memory of those who died as a result of slavery, supports the preservation of historical records and documents and urges increased education … Continue Reading
April 27, 2007
Barbara Lee’s Statement on the Passing of Jack Valenti
(Oakland, CA) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) released the following statement in response to the news that former White House aide and President of the Motion Picture Association of American, Jack Valenti on Thursday:“Yesterday the nation lost a giant, both in politics and motion pictures. Jack Valenti was a friend, and I will miss the terrific passion that he brought to everything he did, but in particular our work together in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Our thoughts and prayers … Continue Reading
April 26, 2007
Barbara Lee Hosts Discussion with Global AIDS Coordinator
(Oakland, CA) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) organized an opportunity for representatives from local organizations engaged in the fight against HIV/AIDS to discuss AIDS policy with the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, Ambassador Mark Dybul on Friday evening in Oakland.“I have long said that our battle against the global HIV/AIDS pandemic is linked to our battle against HIV/AIDS in the United States and here in Oakland. We are part of this global pandemic and as we talk about the need … Continue Reading
April 25, 2007
Barbara Lee Responds to Report on Poverty in the U.S.
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland), Co-Chair of the House Out-of-Poverty Caucus, responded to a report released today on the growth of poverty in the United States over the last six years and praised its recommendations for cutting poverty in half over the next ten years.“Our country should be a land of opportunity, but the sad reality is that income inequality continues to grow, and more people are falling into poverty than are getting ahead. We are heading in the … Continue Reading
April 24, 2007
Barbara Lee Bill Calls on Arab States to Help End the Genocide in Darfur
(Washington, DC) - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) gave the following statement on the House floor during debate on H.Con.Res. 7, the Darfur Partners for Peace Act, her resolution calling on the member nations of the League of Arab States to take more aggressive action to end the genocide in Darfur (text as prepared for delivery):“Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by thanking Chairman Lantos, Chairman Payne, and the Majority Leader for their leadership on the issue of Darfur and for … Continue Reading
April 23, 2007
Barbara Lee’s Statement on the Passing of Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) issued the following statement on the passing of Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald, Chair of the House Administration Committee:“Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald was a tireless advocate for our communities and our nation, and her passing is a loss for all of us.“She faced her illness with the same courage, strength and poise that characterized her work here in the nation's capitol.“I have known Congresswoman … Continue Reading
April 22, 2007
Barbara Lee Condemns Latest Racist Incident on CBS Radio
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) released the following statement condemning the prank call targeting a Chinese restaurant with racist and sexist commentary which aired multiple times on New York CBS affiliate WFNY and calling for sponsors to withdraw advertising if the perpetrators are not fired:“Apparently, CBS has learned nothing from the Don Imus affair. It is appalling that after the public outcry over his racist and sexist remarks anyone, let alone a CBS … Continue Reading
April 18, 2007
Barbara Lee Condemns High Court Decision on Abortion Ban Calls for Legislation to Codify Rights Affirmed in Roe Decision
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) condemned the Supreme Court decision to overturn the decision of six lower courts and uphold a nationwide ban on so-called “partial birth” abortions and spoke out in favor of a bill that would codify the rights affirmed by the Roe v. Wade decision as law at a press conference on Capitol Hill today.“The Supreme Court’s alarming decision yesterday was an attack on women, an attack on women’s rights and an attack on women’s health and it … Continue Reading
April 18, 2007
Panel Approves Lee Bill Calling on Arab States to Help End the Genocide in Darfur
(Washington, DC) - Today, in a hearing that included testimony from actress Mia Farrow, the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved legislation introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) calling on the member nations of the Arab League to take more aggressive action to end the genocide in Darfur, setting the bill up for a floor vote next week.“We need to send the a strong message to the Arab League that they need to take an active role in working to end the genocide going on in Darfur, … Continue Reading
April 18, 2007
Panel Approves Lee Bill Honoring the 200th Anniversary of the End of the Transatlantic Slave Trade
(Washington, DC) - The House International Relations Committee today approved a resolution introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the end of the transatlantic slave trade, preparing the way for the House to vote on it next week.“We are still working to overcome the legacy of slavery. The economic foundation of Europe and its former colonies, including the United States, was built on the blood, sweat and tears of enslaved Africans labor. … Continue Reading
April 16, 2007
Barbara Lee Responds to Shootings at Virginia Tech
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) released the following statement that more than 30 people have died as a result of deadly shootings on the campus of Virginia Tech:“Today, an act of unspeakable violence claimed the lives of more than 30 people and injured 29 more on the campus of Virginia Tech. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of today's violence and with their families and friends and all the students, faculty and staff of the Virginia Tech community as they … Continue Reading
April 16, 2007
Barbara Lee Responds to Govt. Report that Abstinence-Only Sex Education Doesn’t Work
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland), a leading Congressional advocate for comprehensive sex education, responded to a Congressionally required report, released quietly by the Bush administration last week, that found that abstinence-only-until-marriage programs are not effective at impacting teen behavior.“This report confirms what we have been saying all along: when it comes to protecting the health of our young people, we should be relying on science, not ideology,” … Continue Reading
April 11, 2007
Barbara Lee Responds to Extension of Tours for Troops in Iraq
Blasts Administration’s “Open Ended Occupation”(Oakland, CA) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) released the following statement in response to the Bush Administration’s announcement today that all active-duty Army personnel in Iraq will see their tours extended by three months, from 12 to 15 months:“The news that the tours of all active duty troops in Iraq will be extended by three months is further evidence of how unsustainable the administration’s policy of open ended occupation of … Continue Reading
April 09, 2007
Barbara Lee: Imus Should Be Fired
(Oakland, California) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee issued the following statement today, saying that the decision to suspend Don Imus for his racist and sexist commentary did not go far enough:“The racism and sexism manifest in Don Imus' comments has no place in our public discourse today. It was unacceptable, and I think he should have been fired. I hope that his sponsors will think twice about associating themselves with that kind of racism and … Continue Reading
April 05, 2007
Barbara Lee Returns from 3rd Trip to Darfur
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) visited with wounded U.S. service members in Germany on Friday, the final stopover in a Congressional trip led by Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) that included several days of meetings in Africa aimed at bringing an end to the ongoing genocide in Darfur, Sudan that has claimed the lives of more than 200,000 and displaced more than 2.5 million."The situation in Darfur is deteriorating, more and more people are dying and even … Continue Reading
March 29, 2007
Barbara Lee Supports Katrina Housing Recovery Bill
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) submitted the following statement in support of the Gulf Coast Hurricane Housing Recovery Act, a bill designed to help meet the housing needs of families displaced by hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma:“Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Gulf Coast Hurricane Housing Recovery Act (H.R. 1227.) This bill is critical in providing affordable housing to low-income families affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma.“It is the … Continue Reading
March 29, 2007
Barbara Lee Responds to Report on President’s Global AIDS Plan Cites Call for Elimination of Abstinence-Until-Marriage Earmark
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) responded to the release today of the Institute of Medicine’s report on the implementation of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Lee was a coauthor of the bipartisan legislation that established PEPFAR, which designated $15 billion for the prevention, care, and treatment of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. “The Institute of Medicine’s report represents an authoritative evaluation of this critical tool in our … Continue Reading
March 28, 2007
Barbara Lee Introduces Bill to Reduce Women and Girls’ Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS
(Washington DC) - Last night, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) introduced a bipartisan bill to reduce the vulnerability of women and girls to HIV infection in developing countries and eliminate the requirement that thirty-three percent of AIDS prevention funds be spent for abstinence-only programs.“There is no reason why someone should be more vulnerable to AIDS because she is a woman, but the fact remains that women and girls in developing countries are bearing the brunt of the global … Continue Reading
March 23, 2007
Barbara Lee’s Statement on the Passage of the Iraq Accountability Act
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement after the House voted today to pass a supplemental appropriations bill that contained a clear end date for the war in Iraq:“As we begin the fifth year of the occupation of Iraq, it is clear that the President has staked his legacy on an unnecessary war that his administration has botched at every turn. By refusing to take responsibility for their failed policy in Iraq, the administration has effectively forced … Continue Reading
March 22, 2007