Press Releases
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Tells President Bush that U.S. Must Do More to Avert Coup D’Etat in Haiti
Lee Lays Down Conditions for Administration to Follow Washington, DC - Today, after storming over to the White House and demanding a meeting with President Bush about the Administration’s inadequate efforts to hold off an impending coup d’etat in Haiti, Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) members were granted a meeting with Bush. Earlier, the CBC delegation to the White House was met by Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Adviser Condolezza Rice, … Continue Reading
February 20, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee to Deliver the CBC’s Weekly “Message to America” Tomorrow
Congresswoman Barbara Lee to Deliver the CBC’s Weekly “Message to America” Tomorrow Oakland, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) will deliver the weekly Congressional Black Caucus “Message to America” this Saturday, February 21, 2004. Representative Lee’s remarks will highlight the CBC’s call for immediate U.S. engagement with the other regional allies in the political and humanitarian crisis ravaging our southern neighbor, Haiti. Among her … Continue Reading
February 20, 2004
MEDIA ADVISORY
***MEDIA ADVISORY*** Oakland, CA -- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), Assemblywoman Loni Hancock (District 14), in conjunction with Public Citizen, will hold a joint press conference tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. at the Berkeley Unified School District Headquarters. During the 108th Congress, Lee introduced HR 3120, the Right to Know School Nutrition Act, which calls for labeling of irradiated food in the cafeteria so that parents and students can know if school … Continue Reading
February 19, 2004
SENIOR CITIZEN TOWN HALL MEETING WITH CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA LEE
SATURDAYSENIOR CITIZEN TOWN HALL MEETING WITH CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA LEE Who: Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Member of Congress What: Town Hall Meeting When: Saturday, February 21, 2004 9-10:30 a.m. (Continental Breakfast: 8:30 a.m.) Where: Eden Church, Oliver Hall21455 Birch Street, Hayward, CA 94541 Issues to be discussed: Prescription Drugs, Fraud, Identity Theft, and the Democratic State of the Union.For more information or to RSVP, please call or e-mail the Oakland … Continue Reading
February 19, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Joins With Congressional Black Colleagues to Send Letter to President Bush Urging U.S. Intervention in Haitian Crisis
Washington -- Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), Co-Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Haiti Task Force, joined her Congressional Black Caucus colleagues in sending a letter to President Bush, urging the Bush Administration to assist the Government of Haiti in its effort to stabilize the current political crisis and save Haitian lives. “The Haitian people deserve a quality of life that starts with health care, education, and basic infrastructure,” said Lee. “But we must begin with … Continue Reading
February 17, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Asks Governor Schwarzenegger to Reconsider State Budget Proposals that Restrict Access to Lifesaving HIV/AIDS Drugs
Oakland, CA -- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) was joined by Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA) and members of the California Delegation today in sending the following letter to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger asking for a reconsideration of several state budget proposals that could affect the ability of Californians with HIV/AIDS to access lifesaving drugs and other state services. Other California congressional legislators signing on to Lee’s letter include Reps. George Miller, Tom Lantos, … Continue Reading
February 11, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Questions Secretary of State Colin Powell About Bush Administration’s Commitment to Haitian Democracy
Washington, DC - Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), a member of the House International Relations Committee (HIRC) today sent a letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell asking for a clarification of the Administration’s Haiti policy. Secretary Powell spoke today at the HIRC, but due to the time constraints of the hearing, Lee was not able to formally pose questions to the Secretary, though she discussed the issue with him afterwards.In recent days, as opposition parties have waged war against the … Continue Reading
February 10, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Sends Letter to Governor Schwarzenegger Calling for Halt in Capital Punishment
Washington, DC - On the occasion of last night’s scheduled execution of Kevin Cooper, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today sent the following letter to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger urging the Governor to invoke a moratorium on California’s use of capital punishment: Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:I am writing to convey my own convictions and the strong sentiments of many of my constituents who have contacted me in opposition to the death penalty. The Kevin Cooper case has brought … Continue Reading
February 09, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Receives Patricia Roberts Harris Award from Delta Sigma Theta
Washington, DC - During Delta Sigma Theta’s annual Delta Days in the Nation’s Capital conference, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today received the Patricia Roberts Harris Award for Excellence in Government Service from Delta Sigma Theta, the largest black national sorority. The award is named after Patricia Roberts Harris, who capped off a distinguished government career by serving in the Carter Administration both as the Secretary of Health and Human Services and Secretary of Housing and … Continue Reading
February 06, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Receives 100% Voting Record from NETWORK, a National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today received a 100% grade from NETWORK, a national Catholic social justice lobby, for her votes during the 1st Session of the 108th Congress.Of Lee’s perfect score, Sister Maureen Fenlon, NETWORK’s National Coordinator, said, “NETWORK congratulates Representative Lee for maintaining a principled commitment to just government policies and programs. By supporting efforts for peace and diplomacy, campaign finance reform, and fair and just tax … Continue Reading
February 06, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Calls January Unemployment Numbers Further Indication that Bush Administration Policies Are Stifling Real Job Growth
Oakland, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) called today’s January unemployment report proof that there is insufficient serious economic growth for the hundreds of thousands of unemployed workers. Even though economists say that a robust economy should provide at least 200,000 jobs a month, the report showed that only 112,000 jobs across the country were created in January. Since President Bush’s inauguration in January 2001, the American economy has lost almost 2.5 million jobs. In fact, … Continue Reading
February 04, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Co-Sponsors Successful Amendment to Extend Unemployment Benefits to Americans Out of Work for More than 26 Weeks
314,000 California Workers Will Receive AidWashington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today joined her Democratic colleagues in supporting an amendment to extend unemployment benefits for those workers whose benefits have expired. The amendment passed 227-179. The amendment was part of the debate on HR 3030, Improving the Community Services Block Grant Act of 2003.When the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Program ended in January, Congressional Republicans refused to … Continue Reading
February 03, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Calls Bush Environment Budget a “Natural Disaster”
Defense Budget, Deficit, and Tax Breaks for the Wealthy Soar to Record LevelsWashington, DC -- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today declared the Bush FY 05 Budget a “disaster.” If Bush has his way, for the first time since 1981, environmental programs will be cut for the second consecutive year. According to the Bush budget, the Natural Resources and Environmental programs in the budget will be cut from $32.2 billion to $30.3 billion, a six percent reduction. The Environmental Protection … Continue Reading
February 03, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Declares President Bush’s FY04 Plan the Worst Budget in Decades; Bush’s Proposal Sends Country Back Into Deep Deficits While Cutting Taxes for Wealthy
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-California) expressed serious disappointment about President Bush’s FY 2004 Budget, which was released today. In order to clear the way for a $640 billion tax cut and steep increases in defense spending, Bush’s plan would slash education and human services and low-income housing.The FY ‘04 budget also represents a return to steep budget deficits. Two years ago, the budget surplus was $5.6 trillion, but just two budget cycles under Bush, the Bush … Continue Reading
February 02, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Reacts to Report That President Bush Will Finally Call for WMD Independent Commission
Lee Insists That Commission Be Truly Bipartisan and Truly Independent Oakland, CA -Congresswoman Barbara Lee today welcomed reports that President Bush will, this week, create an independent commission to investigate the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) intelligence that was used to justify the Iraqi war. In last year’s session, Lee co-sponsored HR 2625, Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA)’s resolution calling for an independent WMD commission.“I welcome the fact that President Bush has … Continue Reading
February 02, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Calls President Bush’s FY 05 Budget a Tale of Misplaced Priorities
Oakland, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) railed against President Bush’s FY 05 budget, released today, a plan that includes making the President’s tax cuts for the wealthy permanent, even though his budget runs the national deficit to $521 billion, the largest in American history. In order to carry out the massive tax cuts, the budget slashes necessary social services, including programs for housing, the environment, healthcare, and education.In addition to affluent Americans, who will … Continue Reading
January 25, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Announces 9th Congressional District Appropriations Projects
Ed Roberts Campus to Receive $900,000Oakland, CA - Following President Bush’s signing of the FY 04 Omnibus Appropriations Bill over the weekend, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) announced today that California’s 9th Congressional District received more than $14.3 million in funding in the appropriations package. Among the appropriations, Berkeley’s Ed Roberts Campus will receive $900,000 toward the completion of what is to be the world’s foremost center for disability right services, … Continue Reading
January 21, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus Hold Press Conference for 31st Anniversary of Roe vs. Wade
Landmark Case Decided January 22, 1973 Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today joined colleagues from the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus to celebrate the landmark 1973 Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision: “We commemorate the 31st anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision tomorrow, a historic step in women’s equal and reproductive rights. Even while this anniversary is an occasion for celebration, it is also a date that reminds us that we have been kept … Continue Reading
January 08, 2004
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Marks 2nd Anniversary of No Child Left Behind by Calling on President Bush to Keep Promise to Fully Fund Act
Oakland, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee today called on President Bush to keep his promise to America’s children, teachers and parents by fully funding the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), which was signed into law two years ago today. “Today, unfortunately, represents the anniversary of a broken promise,” said Lee. “President Bush made a promise to the American people about the futures of our children, but he has repeatedly undermined that vow.” Last year alone, the … Continue Reading
December 19, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Announces $2.63 Million in Affordable Housing Program Awards for 9th Congressional District
Oakland, CA - Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) announced today that the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLBSF) is awarding $2.63 million for seven projects in the 9th Congressional District through its 2003 Affordable Housing Program (AHP). Overall, FHLBSF is giving $43 million in grants for affordable housing units in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, and Nevada.In Berkeley, Picante House of the Ursula Sherman Village received $120,000. Six projects in Oakland received … Continue Reading