Press Releases
Lee Praises Passage of HIV/AIDS Bill, but Hopes Senate Will Remove Abstinence Funding
Washington, DC -- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today applauded the passage of H.R. 1298, the $15 billion U.S. Leadership Against Global Aids, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003, by the U.S. House of Representatives. H.R. 1298 passed by a vote of 375-41. H.R. 1298 calls for a comprehensive and balanced approach in fighting the AIDS pandemic, emphasizing abstinence, fidelity, and condom use as equally important prevention methods, supporting care and treatment of infected individuals, … Continue Reading
April 29, 2003
President Bush Urges Congress to Pass AIDS Bill Quickly
Bill expected to come before House on Thursday;Social conservatives may offer amendments calling for abstinenceWashington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee today applauded President Bush’s endorsement of House and Senate efforts to pass a bipartisan comprehensive global AIDS measure. H.R. 1298, sponsored by Lee, represents the bill positioned to pass the House of Representatives this Thursday. H.R. 1298 provides $15 billion over 5 years beginning with $3 billion in FY ’04 and calls for a … Continue Reading
April 11, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Calls Republican Energy Bill Irresponsible
Condemns Drilling in Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)Washington, DC -- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today called HR 6, the House Republican energy bill that passed today, a fulfillment of the fossil-fuel industry's wish list, pointing out that the bill allows polluting industries to continue to dig deep into the earth's finite natural resources while refusing to promote clean, renewable energy resources. The bill increases air pollution by providing tax subsidies to burn solid waste; … Continue Reading
April 10, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s Statement on Introduction of the "Truth in Trials Act"
Lee Co-Sponsors Medical Marijuana Legislation"I want to thank my colleagues, Representative Sam Farr, Dana Rohrabacher, and Barney Frank for introducing this bipartisan bill [H1716], which I am proud to cosponsor.In my home state of California, in my own district of Oakland, we have witnessed a great injustice: law-abiding citizens have been persecuted by the federal government for growing marijuana for medical purposes. One of my own constituents, Ed Rosenthal, faces a possible 85 year … Continue Reading
April 08, 2003
Winner of Congressional Art Competition Chosen
Oakland, CA -- Congresswoman Barbara Lee joined a panel of judges and more than 250 community members at the Oakland Museum of California on April 5th to announce that This Old House by Piedmont High School junior Melanie Paterson was chosen as the winner of California's 9th Congressional District’s 22th Annual high school art competition, An Artistic Discovery. This Old House and Melanie will head to Washington, DC in June for the opening of the national exhibit of An Artistic Discovery, a … Continue Reading
April 08, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Co-Sponsors Legislation to Create U.S. Department of Peace
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, 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, a Cabinet-level department in the executive branch of the Federal government dedicated to peacemaking and the study of conditions that are conducive to both domestic and international peace.The mission of the Department would be to hold peace as an … Continue Reading
April 08, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Co-Sponsors Legislation to Create U.S. Department of Peace
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, 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, a Cabinet-level department in the executive branch of the Federal government dedicated to peacemaking and the study of conditions that are conducive to both domestic and international peace.The mission of the Department would be to hold peace as an … Continue Reading
April 02, 2003
Bi-Partisan AIDS Bill Passes House International Relations Committee, 37-8
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Instrumental in Opposing Conservative AmendmentsWashington, DC - The House International Relations Committee today passed H.R. 1298, a comprehensive bi-partisan HIV/AIDS bill, by a vote of 37-8. Congresswoman Barbara Lee, one of the original cosponsors of the legislation, negotiated with the bill’s other cosponsors during five weeks of talks. Also sponsoring the legislation were Congressman Henry Hyde (R-IL), Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA), Congressman Jim Leach … Continue Reading
April 01, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Protests Against Dismantling of Affirmative Action
Thousands Gather in Washington as Supreme Court Hears Univ. of Michigan CasesWashington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee today joined colleagues in calling for the U.S. Supreme Court not to dismantle Affirmative Action programs for university admissions programs. Lee spoke to several thousand people at a rally in front of the Supreme Court, just before the Court heard oral arguments on the University of Michigan cases, which constitute the challenge to policies that have become part of the … Continue Reading
March 27, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Circulates "Dear Colleague" Letter Honoring Berkeley Vice Mayor Maudelle Shirek
Washington, DC -- Congresswoman Barbara Lee today circulated a "Dear Colleague" letter honoring Maudelle Shirek, the 91-year old Vice Mayor of Berkeley. As part of the Members of the Congressional Caucus for Women’s efforts to honor women leaders during Women’s History Month, Lee paid tribute in the letter to Shirek, whom she counts not merely as a constituent, but as an inspiration."Maudelle Shirek is one of my political heroes," said Lee. "She not only encouraged me … Continue Reading
March 25, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Introduces Legislation to Protect Public Housing Victims of Domestic Violence from Eviction
Holds Briefing on HUD’s "One Strike" PolicyWashington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today introduced legislation that would protect victims of domestic violence who live in public and Section 8 housing. Under the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s "one strike" policy, tenants can be evicted for crimes beyond their control and even for crimes for which they are the actual victims, such as domestic and dating violence.Lee’s introduction of the bill … Continue Reading
March 13, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Votes Against Republican Medical Malpractice Insurance Bill
Bill Drastically Reduces Patients’ Rights to Appropriate Damages for Malpractice ErrorsWashington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee expressed disappointment today about the passage of a Republican-sponsored medical malpractice bill that will harm innocent victims, particularly women, children, the elderly and the poor. That same bill, H.R. 5, will pad the pockets of insurance companies, Health Management Organizations (HMOs), and the manufacturers and distributors of defective medical and … Continue Reading
March 12, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Introduces House Resolution Disavowing "Doctrine of Preemption"
Leads Colleagues in Press Conference on Opposing the WarWashington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) introduced a congressional resolution calling on the Congress to disavow the "Doctrine of Preemption", foreign policy introduced last year by the Bush Administration that could be used to justify any military first strike made against another country without provocation.Lee rolled out her resolution at a press conference with a number of other Members of Congress opposed … Continue Reading
March 07, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Takes Two East Bay Students On Civil Rights Pilgrimage
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s second trip on the bi-annual Civil Rights Pilgrimage will be all the more special because two East Bay students, Anna Riker of Piedmont and Paul West of Oakland, are accompanying her. Lee arranged for Riker and West to participate in the Pilgrimage this weekend because both have demonstrated a keen interest in Dr. Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Era.The trip, which begins today and ends Sunday, includes more than 30 Members of Congress. … Continue Reading
March 06, 2003
At National Press Club, Congresswoman Barbara Lee Spells out Dangers of Global Gag Rule for Women’s Reproductive Rights and Treatment Of HIV/AIDS
Washington, DC - At the National Press Club today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee spoke about how much women’s reproductive rights have been compromised since the Bush Administration reinstituted the global gag rule two years ago. On the eve of International Women’s Day, the occasion for the Population Action International press conference, Lee said that the decision had seriously undermined a woman’s fundamental right to choose.Lee also warned that if the gag rule was extended to the treatment of … Continue Reading
March 06, 2003
Representative Barbara Lee Applauds Defeat of Pork-Laden Tax Fairness Act
Washington, D.C. - Representative Lee today applauded the House Republican leadership’s decision to withdraw the Armed Services Tax Fairness Act (H.R. 878) after Republicans filled the bill with special tax provisions ranging from foreigners betting on U.S. horse races to tax breaks on archery bows. Republican leaders refused to bring the bill up for a vote after they found that even Republican House members were reluctant to vote for what The Washington Post called "the lobbying mother … Continue Reading
March 05, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Hosts Congressional Haiti Forum; Introduces Legislation to Demand that Haiti Receive $149 Million in Promised Infrastructure Aid
Washington, DC - On the same day that Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Congresswoman Donna Christian-Christensen hosted a Congressional briefing on the health and economic crises in Haiti, which featured Madame Mildred Aristide, First Lady of Haiti, Congresswoman Lee introduced the first in a series of Haiti-related legislative measures. Lee’s Haiti Aid in Transition Initiative calls on international financial institutions to release the $145 million in previously promised humanitarian and … Continue Reading
March 05, 2003
Congresswoman Lee Introduces Affordable Housing Trust Fund
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today joined colleagues Congressman Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Congressman Rob Simmons (R-CT) in introducing legislation to establish a National Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The three co-sponsors held a Wednesday morning press conference to announce their initiative.The Affordable Housing Trust Fund would triple the construction of affordable housing in the United States by providing almost $5 billion from the Federal Housing Administration … Continue Reading
March 05, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Hosts Congressional Haiti Forum; Introduces Legislation to Demand that Haiti Receive $149 Million in Promised Infrastructure Aid
Washington, DC - On the same day that Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Congresswoman Donna Christian-Christensen hosted a Congressional briefing on the health and economic crises in Haiti, which featured Madame Mildred Aristide, First Lady of Haiti, Congresswoman Lee introduced the first in a series of Haiti-related legislative measures. Lee’s Haiti Aid in Transition Initiative calls on international financial institutions to release the $145 million in previously promised humanitarian and … Continue Reading
February 28, 2003
U.S. House of Representatives Implements Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s Employee Student Loan Forgiveness Program
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee expressed satisfaction today that the House employee student loan forgiveness program, which she introduced in the 107th Congress, is finally being implemented. The legislation was in the FY 03 omnibus appropriations bill, but the House Administration Committee still had to issue regulations for the program. Those guidelines were released this week.Executive branch employees and Senate staffers were already able to participate in a student loan … Continue Reading