Press Releases
House Approves Lee Bill on Orphans and Vulnerable Children
(Washington, DC) - The House of Representatives voted 415-9 to approve a bill introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) that is designed to provide a comprehensive US response to the continuing global problem of orphaned and vulnerable children. "There is too much at stake for the United States to take a haphazard approach to the global crisis facing orphans and vulnerable children," said Lee. "This bill is an important step in creating a coordinated, more effective response to a … Continue Reading
October 10, 2005
Barbara Lee's Statement on Earthquake in Asia
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) issued the following statement regarding the earthquake that struck northern Pakistan on October 8, 2005. "My thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the massive and devastating earthquake. "The people of the 9th Congressional District know all too well the destructive power of earthquakes and understand that the survivors need our help. "I appreciate the Bush administration's pledge of $50 million to the relief … Continue Reading
October 07, 2005
Lee Fights Latest Republican Give Away to Big Oil
Contact: Nathan Britton - 202-225-2661 (Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) today delivered the following statement on the House floor in opposition to the second consecutive Republican energy bill that fails to address soaring gas prices and rising home heating costs: "We are all touched by the magnitude of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita in the Gulf Coast Region. The human and environmental costs of these disasters are … Continue Reading
October 06, 2005
Barbara Lee Blasts GOP Gas Bill as an Industry Giveaway and an Attack on the Environment
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) spoke out forcefully on the House floor today against H.R.3893, the Republican “Gasoline for America's Security Act of 2005” that the House will debate and vote on tomorrow. The following are her remarks:“Mr. Speaker, Republicans in Congress lost no time in turning the tragedy of hurricane Katrina into an opportunity to enrich their friends in the oil industry at the expense of the American people.“The ‘Gasoline for America's Security … Continue Reading
October 02, 2005
Barbara Lee's Statement for the Congressional Record on H.R. 3824, an Effort to Gut the Endangered Species Act
Mr. Speaker, on September 29, 2005, I was unable to take part in roll call vote 506, the vote on final passage for H.R. 3824 because I was attending a constituent funeral. Had I been present, I would have voted ‘nay.’Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 3824, which is a threat to the recovery of endangered species. Mr. Speaker, the original Endangered Species Act was signed into law by President Nixon in 1973 with the goal of protecting species on the brink of extinction, … Continue Reading
October 02, 2005
Barbara Lee’s Statement on the Supreme Court Nomination of Harriet Miers
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) issued the following statement today on the nomination of Harriet Miers to replace Justice Sandra Day O’Connor as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States: “President Bush selected and the Senate confirmed a true conservative to replace a conservative Chief Justice. Justice O’Connor is an independent and pragmatic conservative, and the Senate must ensure that President Bush is not attempting to shift the court … Continue Reading
September 30, 2005
Barbara Lee Condemns Bennett’s Racist Remarks
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) issued the following statement today in response to former Reagan administration Secretary of Education, Bill Bennett’s recent racist remarks. Bennett, on his nationally broadcast radio show on Wednesday, said: “You could abort every black baby in this country and your crime rate would go down. That would be an impossible, ridiculous, and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down.”“I join my colleagues in … Continue Reading
September 29, 2005
Barbara Lee Opposes Gutting the Endangered Species Act
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) issued the following statement, condemning H.R.3824 as an effort to gut the Endangered Species Act today: “The original Endangered Species Act was signed into law by President Nixon in 1973 with the goal of protecting species on the brink of extinction, preserving critical habitats from human development and exploitation, and safeguarding the diversity of our natural wildlife for future generations. “This bill would redefine the entire … Continue Reading
September 29, 2005
Barbara Lee's Statement on the Indictment of Tom DeLay
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) issued the following statement on the indictment of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) by a Texas grand jury on charges of criminal conspiracy:“The indictment of Tom DeLay is just further evidence of the culture of corruption and cronyism that has come to permeate Washington under Republican leadership.“The fact is that the Senate Majority Leader is under investigation by the SEC, a top White House official in charge of government … Continue Reading
September 27, 2005
Security Experts Join Bipartisan Call for Plan to Withdraw Troops
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) and Democratic and Republican colleagues were joined by Lt. Gen. (ret.) William Odom, former Director of the National Security Agency, and Dr. Christopher Prebble, the Cato Institute’s Director of Foreign Policy Studies and a founding member of the Coalition for a Realistic Foreign Policy, in speaking out in support H.J. Res. 55, bipartisan legislation calling for the President to announce a plan for withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq … Continue Reading
September 26, 2005
Lee Decries Vote Against Naming Post Office for Local Leader
(Washington, DC) - Today, in a contentious vote, the House voted 215-190 against HR 438, legislation introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) to name the post office building at 2000 Allston Way in Berkeley after former Berkeley City Councilmember and Vice-Mayor, Maudelle Shirek. “Maudelle Shirek is a woman whose leadership, service and commitment to our community are a testament to what is great about our nation, and she deserves to be honored,” said Lee. “That a Republican … Continue Reading
September 23, 2005
Barbara Lee Addresses Anti-War Rally In DC
(Washington, DC) - On Saturday, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) addressed tens of thousands of Americans gathered in Washington DC to call for an end to the war in Iraq. The following are excerpts from the text of her remarks:“My friends, it is past time to bring an end to this unjust, unnecessary war in Iraq. It has claimed the lives of tens of thousands, it has cost us hundreds of billions, and it has made our country and the world less safe. As the daughter veteran, let me tell … Continue Reading
September 21, 2005
Barbara Lee Vows to Continue to Push for Poverty Legislation As Black Caucus Convenes National Town Hall on Poverty
(Washington, DC) - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) vowed that she will continue to push for legislation to address the growing issue of poverty in the United States, as Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton addressed the Congressional Black Caucus National Town Hall Meeting on poverty as part of the CBC Annual Legislative Conference.“We must demand that the President demonstrate that he will not continue to ignore the issue of poverty,” said Lee. “But we must also make sure … Continue Reading
September 18, 2005
Barbara Lee Urges CalPERS Board to Act to Stop Darfur Genocide
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland), California State Treasurer Phil Angelides and human rights advocates on Monday called on the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) to use the power of its $180 billion investment portfolio lead a national effort to push corporations to stop doing business in Sudan in order to increase pressure to end the genocide in Darfur, where government troops and janjaweed Arab militias have murdered, raped, and terrorized … Continue Reading
September 15, 2005
Lee Bill on AIDS Orphans Will Move to Floor for Vote
(Washington, DC) - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee applauded the House International Relations Committee for approving the Assistance for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries Act of 2005. The bill, introduced by Lee and designed to provide a comprehensive US response to the continuing global problem of orphaned and vulnerable children, is now cleared for a vote in the full House while deliberations are underway on a companion measure in the Senate. “This is a positive … Continue Reading
September 14, 2005
Barbara Lee Cosponsors Bill to Create Dept. of Peace
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, joined Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) and other members of Congress today to reintroduce legislation that would establish the United States Department of Peace.“The quagmire in Iraq is a perfect example of the failure the Bush administration’s doctrine of preemptive war and the idea that we can rely exclusively on military solutions to international problems,” said Lee. “From the war in Iraq … Continue Reading
September 14, 2005
Lee Bill on “Fixed” Pre-War Intelligence Sparks Debate on Oversight
(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) emphasized the need for Congressional oversight and called on the Bush administration to respond to evidence that pre-war intelligence was “fixed” to justify the invasion of Iraq as the House International Relations Committee debated and voted on H.Res. 375, a Resolution of Inquiry introduced by Lee. “The U.S. is currently at war in Iraq under an authority conferred to President Bush by the U.S. Congress,” said Lee. “It is not only … Continue Reading
September 14, 2005
Barbara Lee's Statement in Response to President Bush's Speech on Hurricane Katrina
(Washington, DC)- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) issued the following statement in response to President Bush’s speech about relief and reconstruction efforts in the wake of hurricane Katrina:"I am glad that the President has indicated that he will commit significant federal resources to rebuilding the Gulf Coast."However, if the President means to make good on his commitment to ‘take responsibility’ for his administration’s failures in responding to Katrina, then he must … Continue Reading
September 08, 2005
Barbara Lee's Statement on the Anniversary of 9/11
(Washington, DC)- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) issued the following statement regarding the fourth anniversary of the terrorists attacks of September 11th, 2001:"As we remember the victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001 and their families, our grief is refreshed by the anguish and loss of those impacted by hurricane Katrina."Four years ago, we were told that ‘everything has changed.’ Today, for too many people our reflection on this solemn anniversary is … Continue Reading
September 05, 2005
Barbara Lee Introduces Bill Calling on Plan from Bush to End Poverty
(Washington, DC)- In the wake of the devastation of hurricane Katrina, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) introduced a bill calling on the Bush administration to create a poverty eradication plan.“If anyone had any doubts that there are two Americas, hurricane Katrina and our government’s shameful response to it have made the division clear for all to see,” said Lee. “The brutal truth is that people died in New Orleans because they were poor, and the indifference to the most vulnerable … Continue Reading