Press Releases
Rep. Barbara Lee Commemorates Earth Day and Calls for Increased Investment in Clean & Renewable Energy
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) released the following statement today celebrating Earth Day and calling for major investment to drive the transition to a clean energy future. "For more than 50 years, Earth Day has been an opportunity to focus on protecting our environment, to celebrate our natural world, and to recommit ourselves to the fight for clean air, clean water, and a livable planet. This year, we also must recognize that we are running out of time to save the planet for our … Continue Reading
April 20, 2022
Congressional Cannabis Caucus Co-Chairs Issue Statement Calling for Cannabis Reform on 4/20
WASHINGTON, D.C.?- Today, Congressional Cannabis Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Lee (D-CA), Blumenauer (D-OR), Joyce (R-OH) and Mast (R-FL) released the following statement celebrating recent progress on cannabis reform: "When the Congressional Cannabis Caucus was founded in 2017, it set out to create a forum where members from both parties could engage, discuss, and learn about the need to establish a more rational approach to federal cannabis policy. In the years since, we have watched cannabis … Continue Reading
April 08, 2022
Congresswoman Lee Reintroduces Legislation Marking National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
WASHINGTON, D.C.?- Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), co-chair of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, reintroduced legislation marking April 10th as National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NYHAAD). "Engaging youth in the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS is absolutely critical, especially given the rise in transmissions among this demographic. Historically, young people have been less likely than any other group to be retained in care, with Black and Latino youth constituting a … Continue Reading
April 07, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Celebrates Historic Confirmation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court
WASHINGTON, D.C.?- Congresswoman Barbara Lee today released the below statement on the confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. "Today, the dream of our ancestors and the trailblazers that came before us was realized with the historic confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court. "As a jurist, Justice Jackson's poise, intellect, and extensive qualifications are unmatched. She has proven herself to be an … Continue Reading
April 07, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Votes to Provide Critical Relief for Restaurants and other Hard Hit Small Businesses
WASHINGTON, D.C.?– Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee spoke on the House floor and voted to pass the Relief for Restaurants and other Hard Hit Small Businesses Act of 2022. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan Democrats passed May 2020, Congress provided $28.6 billion for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF). This program provided desperately needed relief to more than 100,000 restaurants and other food and beverage businesses across the nation. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic … Continue Reading
April 06, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Honors Shirley Chisholm at the Library of Congress Alongside Speaker Pelosi, Dr. Carla Hayden, Members of Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C.?- On Tuesday, April 5th, Congresswoman Barbara Lee hosted a commemorative event at the Library of Congress to honor the legacy of the late Shirley Chisholm. Congresswoman Lee was a mentee of the late Congresswoman Chisholm, and on the 50th anniversary of her presidential run, Congresswoman Lee is honoring her courage and commemorating the example she set for Black women in public service. Speakers at the event included Congresswoman Lee; Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi; … Continue Reading
April 01, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Speaks on House Floor, Applauds the Historic Passage of Comprehensive Marijuana Reform Legislation
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), Co-Chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, today released a statement following the historic passage of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, which aims to correct the historical injustices of failed drug policies, which have disproportionately impacted communities of color and low-income communities. The MORE Act, the most comprehensive marijuana reform bill ever introduced in Congress, would … Continue Reading
March 31, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Votes to Pass Affordable Insulin Now Act
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee voted to pass the Affordable Insulin Now Act, legislation that would cap the out-of-pocket cost of insulin at $35 a month. "Right now, thousands of Americans struggle to afford potentially life-saving medicine due to the skyrocketing cost of insulin. 1 in 4 who rely on it to maintain their health have cut back or skipped doses due to cost, with some even dying from having to ration doses. "There is no reason it should be so expensive. … Continue Reading
March 31, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Celebrates 2023 American Women Quarters Program Honorees
Washington, D.C. - Today, the United States Mint announced the following 2023 honorees for the American Women Quarters program, made possible by Congresswoman Lee's Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020: Bessie Coleman - pilot, advocate, and pioneer who flew to great heights as the first African American and first Native American woman pilot, as well as the first African American to earn an international pilot's license. Jovita Idár - Mexican American journalist, activist, … Continue Reading
March 29, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Speaks at United Nations General Assembly Plenary Meeting on the Commemoration of the Abolition of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations and Congressional Representative to the United Nations, delivered remarks today at the United Nations General Assembly Plenary Meeting on the Commemoration of the Abolition of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Congresswoman Lee is one of few members of Congress to have delivered remarks on behalf of the United States at the General Assembly. A full video and … Continue Reading
March 28, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on President Biden’s FY23 Budget Request
"Our federal budget is a statement of our national values. Today, President Biden submitted a strong budget proposal that reflects the vital need to reinvest in our social infrastructure; guarantee safety and security, at home and abroad; and create an economy that works for all, not just the one percent. "This budget presents an opportunity to build off of the federal spending bills we passed earlier this month and deliver on this country's top priorities: tackling climate change, … Continue Reading
March 25, 2022
Defense Spending Reduction Caucus Co-Chairs Lee and Pocan Urge POTUS to Resist Increasing Defense Spending in FY 2023 Budget Request
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Representatives Barbara Lee and Mark Pocan, Co-Chairs and Founders of the Defense Spending Reduction Caucus, sent a letterto President Biden urging him to resist pressures to increase defense spending in his Fiscal Year 2023 budget request. "We support your strategic response to Russia so far, and we look forward to continuing to work with you in the pursuit of peace in the region. As you prepare your fiscal year 2023 budget request, we know some Members of Congress will … Continue Reading
March 23, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on Passing of Madeleine Albright
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee issued the following statement on the passing of Madeleine Albright, the first woman to serve as United States Secretary of State. "I am devastated to hear of the passing of Madeleine Albright. As a refugee and war survivor, she demonstrated remarkable empathy for those facing violence and inhumanity throughout her career. As a skilled diplomat and ambassador to the United Nations, she fought for human rights and peace across the globe. As … Continue Reading
March 18, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Celebrates House Passage of the CROWN Act
Washington, D.C. - Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R.2116, the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act. The act would prohibit discrimination based on a person's hair texture or hairstyle if that style or texture is commonly associated with a particular race or national origin. Specifically, the bill prohibits this type of discrimination against those participating in federally assisted programs, housing programs, public accommodations, and employment. … Continue Reading
March 18, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Speaks on House Floor in Support of CROWN Act
Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee spoke on the floor in support of H.R. 2116, the CROWN Act, which today passed out of the House. This legislation would make it illegal to discriminate against a person based on their hair texture or style if it’s commonly associated with a particular race or national origin. Watch Congresswoman Lee's remarks on the House floor and view a transcript of her speech below. Full remarks: THANK YOU, MADAM … Continue Reading
March 16, 2022
Chairwoman Barbara Lee Statement on One-Year Anniversary of Atlanta Spa Shootings
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations and Member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, issued the following statement marking one year since eight people were killed in the tragic shootings at three spas in Atlanta, Georgia. "One year ago today, we lost eight Americans in the horrific Atlanta spa shootings. I join the Asian-American community in mourning the victims of that devastating attack … Continue Reading
March 15, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on Senate Confirmation of Shalanda Young as OMB Director
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, released the following statement congratulating Deputy Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Shalanda Young for being officially confirmed as Director. Congresswoman Lee worked closely with Director Young during her time as Staff Director for the House Appropriations Committee. "In my time working with … Continue Reading
March 15, 2022
Chairwoman Barbara Lee Statement on Equal Pay Day
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee issued the following statement marking March 15th as Equal Pay Day. "Today is Equal Pay Day - the date, 74 days into 2022, when women's wages finally catch up to what men were paid in the previous year. For women of color, that gap is even larger. "On average, women are still only paid 83 cents for every dollar paid to a man, a yearly pay difference of nearly $14,000. In California, the wage gap means that even when women work full time for the … Continue Reading
March 11, 2022
Chairwoman Barbara Lee Statement on One-Year Anniversary of the American Rescue Plan
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, issued the following statement marking one year since the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 was signed into law: "One year ago today, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan (ARP) into law following passage by Congress, catapulting a historic recovery that has led to one of the strongest periods of economic growth in a century. "Many Americans had been left … Continue Reading
March 10, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee secures more than $10M to support health, affordable housing, coastal resiliency & more in East Bay communities
OAKLAND, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) today announced more than $10 million in federal funding to support affordable housing in Emeryville, coastal resiliency in Alameda, mental health and violence prevention programs in Oakland and Berkeley, and other key East Bay organizations and projects. This funding, included in the appropriations government funding package, responds directly to some of the most pressing needs in the East Bay. Congresswoman Lee, a senior member of the House … Continue Reading