Press Releases
Statement of Congresswoman Barbara Lee on the Capture of Saddam Hussein
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement on the capture of Saddam Hussein: “I am pleased with the capture of Saddam Hussein. Our military should be given due credit for their skill in tracking him down and bringing him in alive. Saddam Hussein has been a cruel dictator, and must be held accountable and face the justice of the Iraqi people. More immediately, I’m hopeful that the capture of Hussein will lessen the violence in Iraq and decrease the attacks that have … Continue Reading
December 08, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Opposes Republican Omnibus Appropriations Bill
Refuses to Compromise Workers’ Overtime Pay, Undermine Elimination of Drug Reimportation Provisions, and Support Private School VouchersWashington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today opposed the controversial Republican omnibus appropriations package, a package of seven appropriations bills that the Republican leadership tied together in order to force Members to support undermining workers’ overtime pay, eliminate the reimportation of prescription drugs, and underfund public … Continue Reading
December 08, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Calls on Congress to Extend Federal Unemployment Benefits
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today called on Republicans in the House of Representatives to extend unemployment benefits before the House adjourns for the year. Under current law, unemployment benefits will expire at the end of the month, when Congress is not in session, so both the House and the Senate must act now to extend benefits to 4.6 million unemployed workers.“Since Bush took office, we’ve lost nearly 3 million private sector jobs, and yet Republicans continue … Continue Reading
December 01, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Salutes World AIDS Day 2003
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today served as the keynote speaker for a Bay-Area World AIDS Day demonstration at the Oakland Federal Building. Lee, who has spearheaded congressional efforts for more global and domestic AIDS funding, spoke at the noon rally that also featured Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley, Berkeley Vice Mayor Maudelle Shirek, Zimbabwean Phillip Machingura of HealthGAP, and Gerald Lenoir of Priority Africa Network.A United Nations study released last … Continue Reading
November 20, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Praises House Passage of African American Museum Legislation
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) celebrated the successful House passage of a bill late last night authorizing the creation of the first National Museum of African American History and Culture. The effort to create the museum, initiated by Black Civil War veterans, marked the culmination of a decades-long effort to commemorate the significant contributions of African American soldiers, scientists, educators, artists, activists, businesspersons, pioneers and leaders. Lee … Continue Reading
November 20, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Keeps Fighting for Education as Congress Seeks to Adjourn for the Year
Washington, DC - In honor of American Education Week, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today called on her colleagues in Congress to reverse their current course and to keep their promises to invest in education before Congress adjourns for the session. This week, negotiators will be working out a final omnibus appropriations bill to fund much of the federal government, including the Department of Education. Lee urged members of Congress to fully fund the promises made in the No Child Left … Continue Reading
November 18, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds Additional $400 Million for Global AIDS Act
Exceeds President Bush’s Request, But Falls Short of $3 Billion AuthorizationWashington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today applauded news that House and Senate budget negotiators agreed to provide $2.4 billion to fund authorizations contained in The United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003, even though President Bush’s budget requested only $2 billion for this fiscal year. The agreement was filed late last night, and final passage on the bill … Continue Reading
November 18, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Rails Against Republican Medicare Plan
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today issued a statement against the Republican Medicare bill, which privatizes Medicare and lines the pockets of the pharmaceutical and private insurance companies:“The Republican Medicare bill is nothing but a cruel joke on seniors and disabled people. This bill will only raise false hopes that real help is on the way from the drug prices that are crushing our seniors.”“Nothing could be further from the truth. This bill not only offers a weak … Continue Reading
November 18, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Opposes Republican Energy Bill
Bill would repeal consumer protections, damage environment, and protect big energy companies Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today attacked the Republican energy bill, a measure that repeals consumer protection regulations, harms the environment, and serves as a billion-dollar handout for the nation’s fossil-fuel and nuclear industry. Democrats were largely excluded from participating in the conference process on the bill.At the center of a bill is a Republican effort to … Continue Reading
November 18, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Announces Appropriations Projects for the Port of Oakland
Port to Receive $32 MillionWashington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today applauded news that the FY 04 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill includes $32 million for the Port of Oakland projects. The conference report was passed by the House today and now goes to the Senate for final approval.The Port is scheduled to receive $20 million in funding for the Port of Oakland’s ongoing 50-foot dredging project and $9 million for the Port’s channel maintenance dredging. The Port’s dredging … Continue Reading
November 14, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee to Receive Distinguished Public Health Legislator of the Year Award from the American Public Health Association
Award to be given at APHA’s Annual Meeting in San FranciscoWashington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) will receive the American Public Health Association (APHA)’s Distinguished Public Health Legislator of the Year Award this Sunday. The award will be presented during the APHA’s annual meeting, which is in San Francisco. The APHA annual meeting is the world’s largest public health forum.In a release, the APHA called Lee a champion of “universal health care and prescription drug coverage … Continue Reading
November 14, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee to Receive National Peacemaker Award from Houston Peace and Justice Center
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) will receive the National Peacemaker Award from the Houston Peace and Justice Center at the Center’s Awards Dinner Saturday night. Lee will give the keynote address at tomorrow’s night dinner.According to Bob Henschen, President of the Houston Peace & Justice Center, Lee is being honored for “her uniquely courageous championing of human decency and international law at a decisive moment in U.S. History.”“It is truly an honor to be … Continue Reading
November 06, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee to Join Colleagues in Introducing Resolution Calling for Resignation of Defense Secretary Rumsfeld
Resolution to be introduced in the House tomorrowWashington- Tomorrow, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) will join fellow lead sponsors, Congressman Charlie Rangel (D-NY) and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), in offering a resolution calling on the President to immediately request the resignation of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.This resolution states that as the key architect of the Administration’s Iraq policy, Secretary Rumsfeld must bear primary responsibility for the lack of … Continue Reading
November 05, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Protests Signing of So-Called Partial Birth Abortion Ban
Members Walk to Supreme Court to Call on Federal Courts to Overturn the Law on Constitutional Grounds Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today joined with fellow members of the Pro-Choice Caucus today in protesting the Bush Administration’s signing of a bill banning so-called “partial birth abortion.” The group marched to the Supreme Court building where they called upon the courts to overturn the ban on constitutional grounds.The House passed similar legislation five separate … Continue Reading
October 29, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Announces Support for “Operation Hero Miles”
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today announced her support for Operation Hero Miles, a website (www.heromiles.org) that enables the public to donate unused and extra frequent flyer miles to our troops returning to the states on rest and relaxation (R&R) leave. Currently, soldiers granted two weeks of R&R are flown to BWI Airport, but the Department of Defense refuses to pay their way any further, requiring them to pay their own way to catch connecting flights to … Continue Reading
October 28, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Introduces The New Partnership for Haiti Act of 2003
Bill would partner US and Haitian professionals to rebuild Haiti health infrastructureWashington, DC - Citing a need to address the medical and humanitarian crisis crippling Haiti, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today introduced The New Partnership for Haiti Act of 2003, H.R. 3386, a bill that would execute an environmentally-sound approach to rebuild and develop basic sanitation, water, and health infrastructure systems for Haiti.Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. 80% … Continue Reading
October 28, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee and California Delegation Meets with Governor-Elect Schwarzenegger
Lee Calls for Schwarzenegger to Deliver $30 Billion in Federal Money Owed California;Calls for Inclusion of Women- and Minority-owned Businesses in Federal Funds for StateWashington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and the California Congressional Delegation today met with Governor-Elect Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is on a trip to Washington. Lee joined her colleagues requesting that Schwarzenegger deliver on the $30 billion that is owed to California under the Bush Administration … Continue Reading
October 28, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Signs Discharge Petition That Would Bring Up Bill to Extend and Strengthen Federal Unemployment Benefits Program
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and fellow House Democrats today signed a discharge petition that would force Republicans to bring up a bill that would extend and expand the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) federal unemployment benefits program. TEUC benefits are scheduled to expire at the end of the year. The Democratic bill would help 4.6 million Americans by extending federal unemployment benefits for six months, doubling the maximum length of benefits … Continue Reading
October 23, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee to Receive Healing the Planet Award from Physicians for Social Responsibility
To be Honored at Los Angeles Ceremony on Sunday NightOakland, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) will be awarded the Physicians for Social Responsibility’s (PSR) Los Angeles Chapter’s 2003 Healing the Planet Award on Sunday, October 24 in Los Angeles. PSR, which is honoring Lee for “her service to the nation in the U.S. House of Representatives,” is dedicated to creating a world free of nuclear weapons, global environmental pollution, and gun violence.“Representative Lee is a hero,” said … Continue Reading
October 21, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Calls for Increased Funding for Federal Education Programs Critical to the Future of Latinos
Washington, DC - La Congresista Lee hoy hizo las siguientes declaraciones en apoyo de un aumento de los recursos federales para los programas educativos que son esenciales para la educación de la juventud latina.“No existe mayor preocupación a través de la comunidad latina que el estado educativo de sus niños, quienes ahora representan el segundo segmento más grande de la población de edad escolar y quienes también son una parte significativa y cada vez mayor de la mano de obra de esta … Continue Reading