Press Releases
Statement of Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) Bush Administration Proposal for HIV/AIDS Funding Falls Short
I am encouraged that the President's announcement today raises the level of attention to important HIV/AIDS Mother To Child Transmission (MTCT) prevention and treatment strategies. For far too long, these efforts have gone under-funded. However, President Bush's proposal is not new money, falls short of the $2.5 billion needed this year to mount a comprehensive strategy to fight these diseases and will force a dispute about which global AIDS programs should be funded.Reducing mother to child … Continue Reading
June 18, 2002
House Passes Congresswoman Lee's Student Loan Forgiveness Provisions in Legislative Branch Funding Bill
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today applauded House passage of H.R. 5121, the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act for FY03, which contains a provision authored by Congresswoman Lee to provide student loan forgiveness for employees for the U.S. House of Representatives.Last year, Congresswoman Lee introduced H.R. 2555 with Congressman Steny Hoyer, which would authorize a loan forgiveness program for all legislative branch employees, including House and Senate staff, … Continue Reading
June 18, 2002
Congresswoman Lee Responds to GAO Report on Federal Energy Regulatory Committee
Washington, D.C. - The General Accounting Office today released a report, "Energy Markets: Concerted Actions Needed by FERC to Confront Challenges That Impede Effective Oversight," which concludes that "At the current time, FERC is not adequately performing the oversight that is needed to ensure that prices produced by these markets are just and reasonable and therefore, it is not fulfilling its regulatory mandate."The GAO report further concludes, "Absent an effective … Continue Reading
June 13, 2002
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Announces Support for Democratic Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), Vice President of the Progressive Caucus, today announced her support for the Democratic Medicare Drug Benefit and Discount Act which includes many provisions of the Progressive Caucus MEDS Plan.The Democratic Medicare Drug Benefit and Discount Act, unveiled today, provides a comprehensive benefit that is affordable and dependable for all beneficiaries with no gaps in coverage. The Democratic plan contained most provisions of the Congressional … Continue Reading
June 13, 2002
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Announces Support for Democratic Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), Vice President of the Progressive Caucus, today announced her support for the Democratic Medicare Drug Benefit and Discount Act which includes many provisions of the Progressive Caucus MEDS Plan.The Democratic Medicare Drug Benefit and Discount Act, unveiled today, provides a comprehensive benefit that is affordable and dependable for all beneficiaries with no gaps in coverage. The Democratic plan contained most provisions of the Congressional … Continue Reading
June 12, 2002
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Introduces Legislation for U.S. Compliance with ABM Treaty
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today introduced The ABM Treaty Compliance Act of 2002, legislation stating that the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty shall continue to apply with respect to the United States.The 1972 ABM Treaty required that the U.S. or Soviet Union (now Russia) give notification six months prior to withdrawal from the treaty. President Bush announced that the U.S. would withdraw from the ABM Treaty six months ago today on December 12, … Continue Reading
June 11, 2002
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Joins Lawsuit to Stop Bush Administration Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty Withdrawal
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Lee (D-CA) today joined Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) and 28 of her House colleagues as a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the Bush Administration to stop President Bush from withdrawing the United States from the Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty without Congressional consent.The lawsuit calls for a temporary restraining order to stop the Administration from withdrawing from the treaty and requests a decision from the courts on … Continue Reading
June 10, 2002
House Financial Services Committee Passes Lee Amendment to Protect Victims of Domestic Violence Under HUD"One Strike" Policy
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee today applauded the House Financial Services Committee for passing by a voice vote her amendment to H.R. 3995 that would provide greater protections for victims of domestic violence under the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) "one-strike" policy.In 1996, President Clinton proposed a one-strike and your out policy (Public Law 101-625). This policy provides authority to Public Housing Administration (PHA) management and HUD … Continue Reading
June 07, 2002
Statement of Congresswoman Barbara Lee Global AIDS Amendments in the FY02 Supplemental Appropriations Bill
I have worked with Senator Bill Frist (R-TN) on global HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria legislation in the past, and I know that he cares very deeply about this issue and understands that these diseases represent not only the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time, but also a regional and national security crisis as well.I am therefore greatly shocked that Senator Frist drastically reduced the level of funding for global AIDS, TB and malaria programs in his amendment to the FY02 Supplemental … Continue Reading
June 05, 2002
House Passes Congresswoman Barbara Lee's Amendment to Support Women and Minority-Owned Businesses
Washington, DC - The House today passed by a vote of 344-78 S. 1372, the conference report for the Export-Import Re-authorization Act, which included an amendment offered Congresswoman Barbara Lee to increase outreach to women and minority-owned businesses.The amendment requires the Export-Import Bank to increase outreach to women and minority-owned businesses and encourages the Bank to increase the number of loans to minority and women-owned firms. Currently, the Export-Import Bank only … Continue Reading
May 07, 2002
Congresswoman Lee Announces Release of HUD Funds for Ed Roberts Campus
Grant to be Used for Planning and Development of National PrototypeWashington, DC - Congresswoman Lee today announced that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has released funding for the Ed Roberts Campus that was included in H.R. 2620, the annual spending bill for the Department of Veterans Affairs and (VA) and HUD for fiscal year 2002.The bill passed by a vote of 401-18 and provided $100,000 for the Ed Roberts Campus (ERC) multipurpose disability center in Berkeley. Once … Continue Reading
May 07, 2002
Congresswoman Lee Announces Release of Funds for MLK Freedom Center Design
Washington DC - Congresswoman Lee today announced that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has released funding for the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center of Oakland, California, that was included in H.R. 2620, the annual spending bill for the Department of Veterans Affairs and (VA) and HUD for fiscal year 2002.The bill passed by a vote of 401-18 and provided $250,000 for the Freedom Center in Oakland, which is dedicated to creating educational and cultural programs as … Continue Reading
May 06, 2002
Congresswoman Barbara Lee elected Whip for Congressional Black Caucus
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee today was elected as Whip for the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC)."I am very honored to be chosen as Whip of the Congressional Black Caucus, and I congratulate all of the newly-elected officials of the Caucus," said Lee."In the face of a Republican majority, now more than ever, we must be unified in putting forth a strong voice for the issues that matter most to the Congressional Black Caucus and the entire nation," Lee … Continue Reading
May 01, 2002
Congresswoman Lee, Democrats Rally with College Students Against Bush Proposal to Eliminate Loan Consolidation Program
Washington DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee joined House Democrats and college students at a rally today to oppose the Bush Administration's proposal to increase the amount of money that students will pay for federal loans in an effort to reduce the federal deficit.Every year, nearly 700,000 students consolidate their student loans in order to benefit from a fixed, lower interest rate. The proposed legislation would prevent students from consolidating their loans at a fixed rate. Under this … Continue Reading
April 25, 2002
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Chosen as 2002 Wayne Morse Integrity in Government Award Recipient
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) was today named as the recipient of the Wayne Morse Integrity in Government Award for 2002. Congresswoman Lee, Senator Russell Feingold, (D-WI), and Senator James Jeffords, (I-VT) were the three finalists chosen from an original list of seven nominees. Final selection was made by a blue ribbon national committee of former holders of the Morse Chair in Law and Politics at the University of Oregon."I am very honored to receive this award. I … Continue Reading
April 09, 2002
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Calls for Israel to Withdraw from the Palestinian Territories and for a Return to a Negotiated Peace Process
The current crisis in the Middle East has spiraled out of the control of both the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government. Each day, the violence claims more victims and creates deeper hatred and anguish.The Palestinians and the Israelis both have a right to have a state, safety, and security; none of these goals can be achieved with a military solution. I believe sincerely that the search for a negotiated solution to this political and security crisis is more critical than it has … Continue Reading
March 22, 2002
Members of International Relations Committee Urge Public Hearings on Global Warming
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Lee (D-CA) and Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), joined by 15 Democratic colleagues on the House International Relations Committee, sent a letter to committee Chairman Henry Hyde (R-IL) and to committee Ranking Member Tom Lantos (D-CA) urging them to hold a public hearing this year to learn more about the geopolitical, economic, and environmental impacts of global climate change and about proposed international remedies.Last year, the United States withdrew … Continue Reading
March 20, 2002
Representative Barbara Lee Calls for Art Submissions for U.S. Capitol Exhibit
Deadline for Submissions Set for April 10, 2002Washington DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee today issued a call for submissions for the 21st Annual National High School art competition and exhibition called An Artistic Discovery, a year-long exhibit sponsored by more than 300 Members of Congress.High School students from the 9th Congressional District of California, which includes Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland and Piedmont, are requested to submit artwork to their high school … Continue Reading
March 20, 2002
Representative Barbara Lee Passes Amendment to Fund Afghanistan Ministry for Women’s Affairs
Washington DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Congresswoman Juanita Millender McDonald (D-CA) today successfully offered an amendment to H.R. 3656, the Afghanistan Freedom Support Act of 2002, in the International Relations Committee that authorizes funding for the Ministry for Women’s Affairs of Afghanistan.H.R. 3656 authorizes over $1 billion over four years for humanitarian, economic and democratic development assistance for Afghanistan and was passed out of Committee by voice vote. … Continue Reading
March 20, 2002
Representative Barbara Lee Passes Amendment to Fund Afghanistan Ministry for Women’s Affairs
Washington DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Congresswoman Juanita Millender McDonald (D-CA) today successfully offered an amendment to H.R. 3656, the Afghanistan Freedom Support Act of 2002, in the International Relations Committee that authorizes funding for the Ministry for Women’s Affairs of Afghanistan.H.R. 3656 authorizes over $1 billion over four years for humanitarian, economic and democratic development assistance for Afghanistan and was passed out of Committee by voice vote. … Continue Reading