Press Releases
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on National HIV Testing Day
Every year in the United States another 40,000 individuals are infected with HIV, adding to the estimated 800,000 to 900,000 people already living with the virus. Of these individuals, almost a quarter do not even know that they are infected. That is why today, in recognition of National HIV Testing Day, I am urging everyone unaware of their HIV status to go to their local health clinic and get tested.In the Bay Area, it is especially important for us to get tested because of the … Continue Reading
January 24, 2003
Progressive Caucus to Offer Annual Alternative State of the Union: Administration Waging Unprovoked War Abroad and Class Warfare at Home
In a challenge to the President’s State of the Union address to Congress, Congresswoman Barbara Lee and the Congressional Progressive Caucus will hold its annual Alternative State of the Union Tuesday, January 28 at 11 a.m. in 1539 Longworth House Office Building. Congresswoman Lee (D-California) is Co-Chair of the Progressive Caucus with Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio).The Bush Administration is playing on the fears of Americans as they attempt to drum up support for a war on Iraq, while … Continue Reading
January 21, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Offers Wager of Bay-Area Items to Tampa Congressman Jim Davis On Super Bowl
Oakland Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-California) today issued a friendly bet to her Tampa colleague, Congressman Jim Davis (D-Florida), on this week’s Super Bowl, which pits Oakland against Tampa Bay. Lee bet Davis a pound of Peet’s fair-trade coffee, a tray of gingerbread cookies from T.J.’s Gingerbread House, and a gallon of Dreyer's ice cream. Peet's is headquartered in Berkeley, T.J.’s Gingerbread House is on 5th Street in Oakland, and Dreyer's is located on College Avenue in Oakland. … Continue Reading
January 20, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Is Keynote Speaker at Atlanta’s Martin Luther King Celebration
Atlanta -- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-California) was the keynote speaker today for the culminating event at Atlanta’s four-day annual Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration, recognized as the largest event in the national celebration of the civil rights leader. The MLK rally at Atlanta’s King Center capped a weekend of conferences and services, sponsored by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference/Women’s Organizational Movement For Equality Now, Inc.Lee told the thousands gathered at the … Continue Reading
January 17, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Will Speak at Atlanta’s Martin Luther King Celebration; Rally Marks Culmination of Four Days of Activities for Civil Rights Leader
Congresswoman Barbara Lee will be one of two keynote speakers Monday for the culminating event of Atlanta’s four-day Martin Luther King celebration. The celebration, sponsored by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference/Women’s Organizational Movement For Equality Now, Inc, coincides with the Martin Luther King national holiday.Lee will speak at the King Center, after a mass march winds its way through the streets of Atlanta, where King grew up and later served as a pastor of Ebenezer … Continue Reading
January 16, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Criticizes President Bush’s Decision to Challenge Affirmative Action Policies
Washington, DC -- Congresswoman Barbara Lee today called President Bush’s decision to oppose Affirmative Action policies in cases pending before the Supreme Court an historic setback for African-Americans and all people of color."President Bush told the American public in December that Senator Lott’s recent racist comments were ‘offensive’ and ‘wrong,’" said Lee. "Yet barely a month later, President Bush is rolling back the clock by extending the de facto segregation system that … Continue Reading
January 07, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Numbers of Oakland Metro Residents Affected by Expiration of Extended Unemployment Benefits; Bush’s Stimulus Plan Won’t Address Oakland’s Needs
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-California) reported today that almost 7500 workers in the Oakland metropolitan area lost their federal extended unemployment benefits last week because of the expiration of the 2002 Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act (TEUCA) on December 28th.In the 107th Congress, Lee, along with fellow Democrats, pushed to extend the TEUCA to unemployed workers across the country, but Republicans wanted to limit extending benefits to only those … Continue Reading
January 07, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee is Sworn In as Congressional Black Caucus Whip
Washington, DC -- Congresswoman Barbara Lee this morning was sworn in as Whip for the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) for the 108th Congress. The CBC held its ceremony at the Washington Hyatt Regency hours before all members of the 108th Congress were sworn in. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi was on hand to swear in new members."It is a real honor to be chosen as Whip of the Congressional Black Caucus," said Lee. "I look forward to extending the achievements of the CBC … Continue Reading
January 06, 2003
Congresswoman Barbara Lee To Launch FREE Tax Assistance for Low-Income Families on Saturday: Millions of Dollars in Tax Refunds Waiting to be Claimed
Oakland, CA -- Congresswoman Barbara Lee will be participating in the Earned Income Tax Credit "Money Fair" on Saturday, February 8, which will take place from noon-4 p.m. at the Self-Sufficiency Center at Eastmont Mall, 6955 Foothill Boulevard, Suite 100 in Oakland. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with representatives of financial institutions and learn about how to save and manage money.Free tax preparation services will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. … Continue Reading
December 23, 2002
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Co-Sponsors Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act: Bush Turnaround Called Too Little, Too Late
Washington, D.C. - With approximately 800,000 Americans scheduled to have their federal extended unemployment benefits cut off just three days after Christmas, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-California) today signed onto legislation that would extend these unemployment benefits until the end of June."We have a responsibility to provide a safety net for those workers who are victimes of the worst economy since the early 1990s," said Lee. "The Republicans opposed the extension of … Continue Reading
December 20, 2002
Senator Lott Does the Right Thing and Steps Down as Majority Leader
Washington, DC -- Congresswoman Barbara Lee today said that Senator Trent Lott did the right thing by stepping down today as Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate after Lott’s offensive remarks at the December 5th birthday party for Senator Strom Thurmond. Lee said that now the Republican Party has the unique opportunity to prove that they do not support discriminatory policies that most affect African-Americans and people of color."I am very glad to see Senator Lott leave his position as … Continue Reading
December 20, 2002
Congressional Black Caucus Leaders Demand that President Bush Provide Greater Resources for HIV/AIDS Epidemic
Washington, DC - Thirty-two Congressional Black Caucus members yesterday sent a letter to President Bush urging him to "launch a major new US initiative to fight AIDS," a pandemic that has killed millions of people with many more deaths expected in the future. 14 million children have been orphaned by the disease, and 42 million people currently live with HIV/AIDS. By 2020, 70 million more people are expected to die from HIV/AIDS.The CBC letter demanded that the President … Continue Reading
December 17, 2002
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Reasserts Congressional Black Caucus’ Call for Formal Censure against Senator Lott
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee today issued the following statement:"While I respect the right of Congressman Lewis to issue his personal opinion on any matter, I want to make it absolutely clear that I continue to support the position of the Congressional Black Caucus calling for a formal censure against Senator … Continue Reading
December 16, 2002
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Denounces Senator Lott's Comments
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee today denounced U.S. Senator Trent Lott's (D-Mississippi) comments made during the 100th birthday celebration for retiring Senator Strom Thurmond (D-South Carolina). Lott told partygoers, "I want to say this about my state: When Strom Thurmond ran for President, we voted for him. We’re proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn’t have had all these problems over all these years, either.""I am extremely … Continue Reading
December 09, 2002
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Admonishes the Bush Administration for Undermining the United Nation Inspectors in Iraq
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee today joined several of her colleagues in calling on the Bush Administration to cool its rhetoric and give the inspections process in Iraq the opportunity to work before prematurely calling them a failure."I’m very disturbed with the way that the Bush administration is undermining the work of the United Nations inspectors in Iraq," Lee said.Lee expressed disbelief that the Bush administration continues to meddle in the inspections, even … Continue Reading
August 20, 2002
Statement Of Congresswoman Barbara Lee Opposing Military Action In Iraq
Washington, DC B Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today joined Representative Dennis Kucinich in condemning proposed attacks on Iraq after a hearing that included the testimony of Scott Ritter, Former Chief Weapons Inspector for the United Nations Special Commission in Iraq.“I have been deeply worried about the expansion and escalation of military action since Congress’s vote last September to grant the President such sweeping war making authority,” Congresswoman Lee stated. “Now, with rising … Continue Reading
July 25, 2002
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Introduces Legislation to Provide for Insurance Coverage of Prescription and Alternative Hormone Replacement Therapies
Washington, DC B Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today introduced H.R. 5204, the Hormone Replacement Therapy Alternative Treatment Act, legislation that would provide guaranteed insurance coverage of both prescription and alternative treatments for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).The Hormone Replacement Therapy Alternative Treatment Act requires private insurance companies, the Medicare and Medicaid programs and all other Federal health insurance programs to cover all prescription hormone … Continue Reading
July 10, 2002
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Honored for Work on Global HIV/AIDS
Washington, DC - At the Barcelona International HIV/AIDS Conference, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) was honored with an international service award by the Family Health International (FHI) Institute for HIV/AIDS for her efforts to make the struggle against global HIV/AIDS a priority of the U.S. Congress."I am deeply humbled and also thrilled to receive this award," said Congresswoman Lee. "The people who really deserve this award are those who are on the front-line in the … Continue Reading
June 25, 2002
Congresswoman Lee Hosts Winner of Congressional District Nine Art Competition at U.S. Capitol
Artwork From Berkeley High School Student Displayed in U.S. Capitol ExhibitWashington, DC - Susana Hernandez was hosted by Congresswoman Barbara Lee for the opening of An Artistic Discovery as the Ninth Congressional District of California's winner of the 21st Annual National High School art competition. Ms. Hernandez's work, "Mi Familia es Mi Corazon" will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for the year-long exhibit sponsored by more than 300 Members of Congress."We chose this … Continue Reading
June 19, 2002
Congresswoman Lee Expresses Concern Over Federal Reserve Board Chairman Response to Questions on Accuracy of CRA Ratings System
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today sent a letter to Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board Alan Greenspan to express her disagreement with his characterization of the weight placed on lending to minorities within the CRA rating system and to request a meeting with Chairman Greenspan, representatives from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and concerned Members of Congress.Congresswoman Lee expressed her concern that Chairman Greenspan's testimony before … Continue Reading