Press Releases
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Help Provide Assistance to Hurricane Ravished Caribbean
Washington, DC- In response to the devastating impact of recent hurricanes in the Caribbean , Congresswomen Barbara Lee today introduced bipartisan legislation, the Caribbean Hurricane Assistance Act (H. Con. Res. 496), expressing the need for humanitarian assistance to the region. The bill urges adequate emergency spending to assist in efforts to help the people of the region, particularly in Grenada, Jamaica, Haiti, and the Bahamas, with assessing damage and providing relief to affected … Continue Reading
September 21, 2004
House Passes Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s Amendment to Restore Opportunities for Students to Study Abroad in Cuba
Calls on Republican Leadership to retain important Cuba Amendment Washington, DC - This morning, by voice vote, the House of Representatives passed Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s amendment to overturn the Administration’s new restrictions on students’ travel to Cuba. “Today’s vote delivers hope to U.S. students who want and deserve the opportunity to study abroad in Cuba.” Until recently, thousands of U.S. students participated in study programs in Cuba run by scores of U.S. educational … Continue Reading
September 20, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Celebrates 40th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act
Calls for Expansion of Wilderness AreasWashington , DC - In recognition of the 40th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, and wilderness advocacy events planned in Washington D.C. this week, Congresswoman Lee released the following statement.“Earlier this month we celebrated the 40th Anniversary of an historic piece of legislation, the Wilderness Act, which was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 3rd, 1964 . Since the Act’s inception, over 105 million acres of our … Continue Reading
September 13, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Questions Urgency of Administration’s Global HIV/AIDS Treatment Programs
Calls Provision of Anti-retroviral Drugs to Only 25,000 Patients ShamefulWashington , DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee today responded to the Bush Administration’s recent admission that the United States ’ Global HIV/AIDS initiative has so far only placed 25,000 people on anti-retroviral treatment despite the urgency of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic and despite the targets set by Congress. “It's been almost 21 months since the President stood before the American people during his 2003 State of … Continue Reading
September 08, 2004
Democrats Win Vote to Protect Overtime Rights for Workers
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Stands with Workers in the 9th Congressional DistrictWashington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) stood with workers and families in the 9th Congressional District of California today, voting to protect the overtime rights of millions of American workers. The amendment to the FY 05 Labor-Health, and Human Services Appropriations Bill passed 223-193. It halts the implementation of the Bush Administration’s new regulation that strips overtime rights and pay from … Continue Reading
September 07, 2004
HouseDemocrats’ Website Features Congresswoman Barbara Lee
Washington, D.C—Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) is featured this week on the HouseDemocrats.gov website. Each week, the site, which operates as a clearinghouse on the work and views of House Democratic Members, features a different Democrat. “The House Democrats webssite serves as an excellent way for Americans to see the individuals behind the policies that are being debated in Congress,” Lee explained. “Being the featured member gives me an opportunity to highlight the work I’m doing in … Continue Reading
September 07, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Participates in National Coalition for the Homeless Rally on the Bush Administration’s Turning a Blind Eye to Problem of Homelessness in America
Washington, DC - For a rally sponsored by the National Coalition for the Homeless on the Bush Administration’s unwillingness to reduce homelessness in America, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) made the following statement: “We are here today to send the message to the Bush Administration that we must end homelessness now because housing is a fundamental human right! This is a message critical to the average American because under this Administration, homelessness has become a way of life for … Continue Reading
September 02, 2004
ongresswoman Barbara Lee Blasts Bush Administration for Not Providing Enough Jobs for Americans
President Bush Will Almost Certainly End Administration as First President since Depression-Era Herbert Hoover Not to Create Net Positive Number of Jobs during Presidential Administration Oakland, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today attacked the Bush Administration for the August jobs report, which shows that yet again, the President’s economic policies have not provided enough jobs for Americans. 8 million American workers are currently unemployed. During August, 144,000 jobs were … Continue Reading
August 30, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Announces $1 Million U.S. Department of Labor Grant for Oakland Youth Self-Sufficiency Project
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today announced that the Oakland Youth Self-Sufficiency Project has received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. This funding will help high-risk youth between 16-24 to avoid the major institutional barriers that keep many youth from gaining and retaining permanent unsubsidized employment. The Oakland Private Industry Council (OPIC) will administer the program, while the Youth Employment Partnership and Scotland Youth & … Continue Reading
August 26, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Announces $6 Million Department of Transportation Grant for Oakland International Airport
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today announced a $6 million Department of Transportation grant for security enhancements at Oakland International Airport. “I’m pleased that the Oakland Metropolitan International Airport will receive this money,” said Lee. “These types of grants are critical to securing our transportation systems and making our communities safer. Funding for our airports, our rail systems, and our ports should be a topmost priority. Unfortunately, we have … Continue Reading
August 25, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Responds to Findings from Abu Ghraib Reports
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) responded to the Bush Administration’s recent findings on the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandals, both of which claimed that mistakes had been committed at numerous levels of the Administration: “I was not surprised by the findings and revelations of both the independent Schlesinger Prisoner Abuse Panel and the Department of Defense-commissioned panel (Fay Report), led by Major General George R. Fay. Both of the recently-released reports … Continue Reading
August 25, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Responds to New Census Data Showing 45 Million Americans Without Health Insurance and Third Year of Decline in Income
Numbers Worsen Under Bush AdministrationWashington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) challenged the Bush Administration and Congressional Republicans to do more to address the rising number of Americans who have no health insurance and the steady decline in household income. Today, the Census Bureau announced that the number of people without health insurance nationwide increased by 1.4 million - the third annual increase in a row. 45 million people are now without insurance, … Continue Reading
August 10, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Announces $98,000 Grant for Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Center
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today announced that the Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Center has received a $98,948 grant from the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.With the grant, the MLK Center has launched a Youth and Non-Violence Leadership Team initially composed of 24 young people between the ages of 12 and 18 from across Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. The inaugural team began its training on August 2 and will continue … Continue Reading
August 10, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Announces $98,000 Grant for Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Center
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today announced that the Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Center has received a $98,948 grant from the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. With the grant, the MLK Center has launched a Youth and Non-Violence Leadership Team initially composed of 24 young people between the ages of 12 and 18 from across Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. The inaugural team began its training on August 2 and will continue … Continue Reading
August 09, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Joins House Democrats in Briefing with Chairmen of 9/11 Commission
Washington, DC - Breaking with the traditional August recess, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and House Democrats returned today for a briefing with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the 9/11 Commission, former New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean and former Congressman Lee Hamilton. House Democrats also received briefings from representatives of the Terrorism Threat Integration Center and the FBI on the reasons for the recent elevation of the terrorism threat level.Following the release of the … Continue Reading
August 09, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Calls Disappointing December Jobs Report a Reflection of President Bush’s Failed Economic Policies
Oakland, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today called the December unemployment report a further reflection of President Bush’s failed economic policies. The jobs report, released this morning, showed that the economy created only 1000 jobs in December. In addition, the jobs report for November was revised downward from 57,000 jobs created to 43,000 jobs created. For the month of December, manufacturing jobs actually fell, with 26,000 jobs lost. Economists say that a robust economy … Continue Reading
August 09, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Joins House Democrats in Briefing with Chairmen of 9/11 Commission
Washington, DC - Breaking with the traditional August recess, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and House Democrats returned today for a briefing with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the 9/11 Commission, former New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean and former Congressman Lee Hamilton. House Democrats also received briefings from representatives of the Terrorism Threat Integration Center and the FBI on the reasons for the recent elevation of the terrorism threat level.Following the release of the … Continue Reading
August 05, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Blasts Bush Administration for Horrible July Employment Numbers
Economists Had Expected 200,000 New Jobs; Administration Delivers Only 32,000Oakland, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today lambasted the Bush Administration for failing yet again to provide enough jobs for Americans. After today’s release of the July employment numbers, economists criticized the Bush Administration for producing only 32,000 new jobs even though a minimum of 200,000 jobs had been expected. In addition, the weak employment increases for May and June were revised downward … Continue Reading
August 05, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds State Department Announcement Inviting Monitors for U.S. residential Elections
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today applauded news that the request from 13 Members of Congress, including her, to the State Department for international election monitors has been agreed to. The American public has been recently reminded by Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11 that the 2000 Presidential elections were rife with deception and fraud. In early July, Lee and her colleagues wrote Secretary of State Colin Powell requesting monitors to ensure free and fair elections. … Continue Reading
August 04, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds State Department Announcement Inviting Monitors for U.S. Presidential Elections
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today applauded news that the request from 13 Members of Congress, including her, to the State Department for international election monitors has been agreed to. The American public has been recently reminded by Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11 that the 2000 Presidential elections were rife with deception and fraud. In early July, Lee and her colleagues wrote Secretary of State Colin Powell requesting monitors to ensure free and fair … Continue Reading