Press Releases
Senator Lautenberg, Representatives Lee and Shays Say It’s Time To Provide “REAL” Comprehensive Sex Education
WASHINGTON, D.C. - At a press conference today on Capitol Hill, U.S. Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Christopher Shays (R-CT) and Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced the Responsible Education About Life or “REAL” Act, a bill that would authorize federal funds for states to offer comprehensive and medically accurate sexual education in their schools.Of the 19 million cases of sexually transmitted diseases annually in the United States, almost half of them strike young people … Continue Reading
March 20, 2007
Barbara Lee Testifies on Bill to Prevent Permanent Bases in Iraq
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) testified before the House Foreign Relations Committee today about her legislation, H.Con.Res. 46, which would declare that it is the policy of the United States not to establish permanent military bases in Iraq. “This is an important policy that needs to codified into law because the perception that the United States intends to permanently occupy Iraq has been key in recruiting insurgents,” said Lee. “As the National Intelligence … Continue Reading
March 20, 2007
Hearing Shows Bipartisan Support for Lee’s Darfur Divestment Bill
(Washington, DC) - Democratic and Republican lawmakers expressed support for federal divestment legislation introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee during a House committee hearing on the bill today.“Many of us swore that another Rwanda would never again take place on our watch. But today Mr. Chairman it is happening again,” said Lee in her testimony to the committee. “We have to be about action—not just talk. We must use all the tools we have available to end this genocide. We’ve got to … Continue Reading
March 19, 2007
Congresswoman Lee marks the 4th Anniversary of the War on Iraq
March 15, 2007
Barbara Lee Calls for Fully Funded Withdrawal from Iraq, Enforceable Timelines as House Panel Considers Emergency Iraq Spending Bill
(Washington, DC) - Invoking Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) called for a fully funded withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, criticizing funding for the Bush administration’s escalation of the conflict in Iraq and the lack of enforceable timelines, during the House Appropriations Committee’s markup of the proposed $124 billion emergency spending bill for Iraq and Afghanistan. The following is her statement (as delivered):“When Dr. Martin Luther King Junior … Continue Reading
March 15, 2007
Speech during Appropriations Mark-Up
March 07, 2007
Barbara Lee and Colleagues Unveil Plan to Fully Fund Withdrawal of U.S. Troops from Iraq
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland), accompanied by colleagues from the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Out of Iraq Caucus, issued the following statement at a press conference on Capitol Hill today to announce a plan to fully fund the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of the year:“We are here today to discuss our proposal for Congress to fully fund the safe withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq by December 31st, 2007.“The American people sent a clear … Continue Reading
March 02, 2007
Barbara Lee Welcomes Bono to Oakland for AIDS Discussion
(Oakland, CA) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee welcomed rock legend and international AIDS activist Bono to Oakland on Friday to learn about how the global epidemic is impacting the African American community and other communities of color in the United States and efforts to stop the disease.“This visit is an opportunity for an international AIDS activist to learn about the epidemic here in the United States, where HIV/AIDS is devastating the African American community and other communities of … Continue Reading
February 27, 2007
Barbara Lee’s Website Wins 2006 Bronze Mouse Award 615 House and Senate Web sites Examined in 2006 Gold Mouse Report
Washington, D.C. - The web site of Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) was honored by the Congressional Management Foundation, a non-profit, non-partisan management consulting and research organization in Washington, D.C., for being one of the best in Congress. The site, http://lee.house.gov, was one of 615 evaluated in The 2006 Gold Mouse Report: Recognizing the Best Web Sites on Capitol Hill, which analyzed congressional Web sites including those of all Senate and House Members, committees … Continue Reading
February 25, 2007
Barbara Lee Delivers Third Annual State of the District Address
(Oakland, CA) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) gave her third annual State of the District speech at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building in downtown Oakland Monday night, discussing her legislative priorities, telling the stories of inspiring constituents and looking at what the new, Democratic Congress means for progressives. The following are select excerpts from the speech (as prepared for delivery):Iraq “For those of us who opposed the war from the beginning, the nation now … Continue Reading
February 13, 2007
Barbara Lee Speaks Out Against Escalation Calls for Fully Funding Withdrawal
(Washington, DC) - Today on the floor of the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) spoke forcefully in support of a bipartisan resolution supporting U.S. troops and rejecting President Bush’s proposed escalation of the war in Iraq. The following is her statement (as delivered): “As the daughter of a proud veteran of two wars, I know personally that we have a moral obligation to support and protect our brave men and women on the ground in Iraq.“However, there is no … Continue Reading
February 04, 2007
House Passes Lee Resolution Supporting National Black AIDS Awareness Day
(Washington, DC) - Today, by a vote of 396-0, the House of Representatives approved a resolution introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) to recognize and support the goals and ideals of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, which is this Wednesday, February 7th.“Twenty-five years after the first cases of AIDS were reported, HIV is still running rampant in the United States, and it is African Americans who are bearing the brunt of this resurging epidemic,” said Lee. … Continue Reading
January 30, 2007
Barbara Lee Hosts Forum on Iran and Preemption Introduces Bill to Prevent Preemptive Attack, Stop Proliferation
(Washington, DC) - With the Bush administration’s increased saber-rattling towards Iran, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and the Congressional Progressive Caucus convened a forum of experts to discuss current U.S. policy towards Iran, the potential implications of preemptive war with that country and non-military alternatives to addressing Iran’s nuclear ambitions and engaging Iran in efforts to strengthen regional stability by bringing an end to the civil war in Iraq.“Congress must stand up … Continue Reading
January 29, 2007
Lee Reintroduces Bill to Ban Permanent Bases in Iraq Lack of Clear Policy Fuels Iraq Violence, Endangers Troops, She Says
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) reintroduced legislation aimed at making it official policy that the U.S. will not maintain permanent military bases in Iraq.“We need to make a clear statement of policy we do not intend to maintain a permanent military occupation of Iraq,” said Lee. “The President's continued refusal to clearly rule out a permanent U.S. military presence in Iraq only feeds the mistrust of the Iraqi public, strengthens the insurgency and fuels the … Continue Reading
January 29, 2007
Lee Lauds Decision to Protect AIDS Funds Stop-Gap Spending Bill Will Include $1.3 Billion Increase
(Washington, DC) - A bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) has succeeded in securing more than $1 billion in funds for programs to stop the spread of global HIV/AIDS, funds that were threatened by a stop-gap spending measure in which most accounts are being frozen or cut.“When the Republican Congress failed to finish the fiscal year 2007 spending bills, they left behind a fiscal nightmare,” said Lee. “I am appreciative of our leadership’s ability to … Continue Reading
January 22, 2007
Barbara Lee Responds to State of the Union
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) issued the following statement in response to President Bush’s State of the Union address tonight:“Tonight we saw a deeply unpopular President struggling to remain relevant and succeeding only in proving how out of touch he is with the American people. “There are millions of Americans who don’t have health insurance. The president has had six years to do something about that, and he’s done nothing. Now he is proposing raising taxes … Continue Reading
January 17, 2007
Barbara Lee Speaks Out for Renewable Energy, Against Giveaways for Big Oil
(Washington, DC) - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) gave the following statement during the House debate on H.R. 6, the CLEAN Energy Act of 2007, to repeal $14 billion in subsidies and tax breaks for Big Oil companies in order to invest in clean renewable and alternative fuels and energy efficiency:“Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of HR 6, the CLEAN Energy Act, and I want to thank my colleague Mr. Rahall for introducing it.“As part of the 100 hour Democratic agenda, today … Continue Reading
January 17, 2007
Barbara Lee Votes to Make College More Affordable
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) voted for H.R. 5, part of the Democratic 100 Hour Agenda that would help make college more affordable by cutting the interest rates in half on certain subsidized student loans over the next five years. The measure passed by a vote of 356-71.“Making college more affordable is part of the commitment we made to the American people, and I am proud to say that today we are making good on that commitment,” said Lee.H.R. 5, the College … Continue Reading
January 16, 2007
Lee, Woolsey and Waters Unveil Alternative to President’s Iraq Escalation Plan
New Iraq Legislation Would Bring Troops Home Within Six Months(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee joined with Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chair, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), and Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chair and Co-Founder of the Out-of-Iraq Caucus, in unveiling new legislation designed to bring about the withdrawal of all U.S. forces currently in Iraq within six months at a press conference on Capitol Hill today.“In November the American people called on … Continue Reading
January 11, 2007
Barbara Lee, CPC Bring in Experts for Iraq Solutions Former Senator George McGovern Lays Out Withdrawal Plan
(Washington, DC) - This morning, U.S. Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Co-Chairs of the 64-Member Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), and Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chair and Co-Founder of the Out-of-Iraq Caucus hosted a forum with former Senator George McGovern, Dr. William Polk and former Director of the National Security Agency, General William Odom, as part an ongoing effort to examine policy options for achieving U.S. military disengagement from Iraq and bringing … Continue Reading