Press Releases
Rep. Barbara Lee Announces $56 million In Electric Vehicle Funds for California Highways Under Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Washington, DC - Today, Rep. Barbara Lee (CA-13) announced that California will receive over $56 million this year under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations along key roads and highways. Passed by the Democratic Congress and signed into law by President Biden, these investments will create good-paying jobs to improve charger access for California drivers, help protect California's environment and support American car manufacturers' … Continue Reading
February 09, 2022
Rep. Lee, Sen. Warren, Colleagues Urge Defense Department to Address Climate Crisis Risks in Upcoming National Defense Strategy
Text of Letter (PDF) WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), a member of the House Committee on Appropriations and Chair of the Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), urged Department of Defense (DoD) Secretary Lloyd J. Austin, III to ensure that efforts to combat climate change are included in the DoD's upcoming National Defense Strategy, and called for recommendations for … Continue Reading
February 08, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement on Continuing Resolution Passed in the House
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, released the following statement on the continuing resolution passed yesterday in the House that will keep the government funded until March 11: "Passing this bipartisan, bicameral continuing resolution was crucial to keeping the government funded and operating, but we all know more must be done. This CR extends current … Continue Reading
February 07, 2022
Congresswoman Lee Helps Pass Groundbreaking Labor Bill to End Forced Arbitration for Sexual Assault and Harassment
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee voted to pass bipartisan, bicameral legislation to end forced arbitration for sexual harassment and assault survivors nationwide. The Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act will void forced arbitration agreements in any contract if a sexual assault or harassment claim is brought. For employment contracts, more than 60 million Americans would be impacted. That estimate grows exponentially when considering … Continue Reading
February 07, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Recognizes National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2022
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus Co-Chair Congresswoman Barbara Lee reintroduced a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, which has been observed on February 7th each year since 1999. National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is an opportunity to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS prevention, care, and education within Black communities. It is a day to commemorate the impact of the disease on their health and social needs, and … Continue Reading
February 04, 2022
Lee, Hoyer Host Poverty Task Force Meeting to Address Childhood Mental Health in the Pandemic
WASHINGTON, DC - Majority Leader Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity Chairwoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) hosted a virtual meeting yesterday with mental health care experts and advocates to discuss the mental-health challenges facing children in poverty that have resulted from or been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Joined by other Democratic Members of the Poverty Task Force, they heard from Dr. Vonnie McLoyd, professor of psychology at the … Continue Reading
February 02, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Celebrates Designation of the John R. Lewis Post Office Building in Atlanta, GA
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) released the following statement to celebrate the vote to designate the main U.S. Postal Service facility in Atlanta, GA as the "John R. Lewis Post Office Building." "On the first day of Black History Month, I had the great honor of voting to rename the main U.S. Postal Service Facility in Atlanta after my late friend, colleague, and hero - Congressman John Lewis," Congresswoman Lee said. "Every year, I joined him on a civil rights … Continue Reading
February 01, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Celebrates Lunar New Year
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement recognizing Lunar New Year: "Happy Lunar New Year to the millions who celebrate in California and across the globe! I am especially proud to join the beautiful and vibrant Asian American and Pacific Islander communities of the East Bay in welcoming the Year of the Tiger. "California has one of the largest, most diverse, and culturally rich AAPI populations in the country. This year, I was proud to work … Continue Reading
February 01, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Celebrates Beginning of Black History Month
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement in honor of Black History Month: "Today marks the start of Black History Month, a time to pay homage to the contributions African Americans have made to building this country despite centuries of systemic, calculated oppression and discrimination. "This year, Black History Month is especially important to elevate in the American consciousness. White supremacists and their sympathizers across the country have … Continue Reading
January 26, 2022
Congressional Progressive Caucus Leaders Reps. Lee and Jayapal Call for Diplomatic Solution to Crisis in Ukraine
Washington, D.C. - Representative Barbara Lee (CA-13), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Peace and Security Taskforce, and Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, issued the following statement regarding United States involvement in Ukraine: "We continue to watch Russia's threatening behavior towards Ukraine with alarm. There is no military solution out of this crisis - diplomacy needs to be the focus. We support the Biden … Continue Reading
January 25, 2022
ICYMI: BBC News Releases Video Tribute to Shirley Chisholm Featuring Congresswoman Lee
Washington, D.C. – Today, BBC News released a video as part of their “Witness History” series chronicling Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm’s historic presidential campaign featuring remarks from Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13). Congresswoman Chisholm was a mentor to Congresswoman Lee and the first Black woman to run for president, four years after becoming the first Black congresswoman. She announced her candidacy on this day … Continue Reading
January 24, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Commemorates 50th Anniversary of Shirley Chisholm’s Presidential Campaign
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) today released a statement commemorating the 50thanniversary of Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm's presidential campaign. Congresswoman Chisholm was a mentor to Congresswoman Lee and the first Black woman to run for president. In 1968, Shirley Chisholm became the first Black woman elected to Congress. On January 25th, 1972, she declared her candidacy for president of the United States-historic in nature as the first woman and African American … Continue Reading
January 21, 2022
Pro-Choice Caucus Leaders Recognize 49th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Pro-Choice Caucus co-chairs Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) released the following statement to mark the 49th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision occurring on January 22nd, 2022: "Tomorrow marks the 49th anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, the case establishing the constitutional right to abortion. This critical decision has stood for nearly 50 years, yet we now face the very real possibility that this will be the last time we … Continue Reading
January 20, 2022
Congresswoman Lee Issues Statement on Republicans' Vote to Block Consideration of the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) issued the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked the urgently needed Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act: "On Monday, Republican Senators shared images of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speaking to crowds about freedom and equality, about the sanctity and fragility of democracy. "On Wednesday night, they voted against everything Dr. King stood for, striking down legislation that would have protected and expanded the right to vote … Continue Reading
January 20, 2022
Congresswoman Lee Statement on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) issued the following statement in recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which is observed annually as a national day of service on the third Monday of January in honor of the civil rights leader's birthday on January 15, 1929: "In his 1957 'Give Us the Ballot' address delivered at the Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom in Washington, Dr. King described the denial of the right to vote as 'a tragic betrayal of the highest mandates of our … Continue Reading
January 14, 2022
Congresswoman Lee Issues Statement on New Funding for California Bridges Under Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) issued the following statement after the Biden-Harris Administration announced that California bridges will receive nearly $850 million in new funding this fiscal year, part of $4.2 billion in federal funding for the Golden State over the next five years from formula funding for bridges under in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: "Thanks to the leadership of the Biden-Harris administration, this $27 billion dollar program-the … Continue Reading
January 13, 2022
Congresswoman Lee Calls on Senate To Do “Whatever It Takes” To Pass Voting Rights Legislation
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) today released the following statement on House passage of the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act: "In the first year of the Biden presidency, House Democrats passed the For the People Act, the most significant voting rights and democracy reform in more than half a century; the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would restore the full power of the original Voting Rights Act of 1965; and now, … Continue Reading
January 10, 2022
Congresswoman Lee Applauds U.S. Mint Release of Maya Angelou Quarter
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) today applauded the United States Mint for beginning shipments of the first coins in the American Women Quarters (AWQ) Program, starting with the Maya Angelou quarter. The Mint implemented the new four-year program as authorized by the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, bipartisan legislation introduced by Congresswoman Lee along with Representative Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH) and Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Deb … Continue Reading
January 06, 2022
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Holds Virtual Panel Discussion on Jan. 6: Remembering the Insurrection and Reclaiming Our Democracy
Oakland, CA – On January 6, 2022, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) held a virtual conversation about hope, resiliency, and the fight for our democracy one year after the insurrection at the Capitol. The panel discussion – Remembering the Insurrection and Reclaiming our Democracy – was part of a series of live-streamed events on January 6 to mark the 1-year anniversary of the attack. Congresswoman Lee was in the … Continue Reading
January 06, 2022
On the Anniversary of the January 6th Insurrection, Congresswoman Lee Calls on the Senate to Pass Voting Rights Legislation
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) today released the following statement on the one-year anniversary of the January 6th insurrection: "This time last year, I was hurrying down flights of stairs in the Capitol, thinking about how fortunate it was that I wore my tennis shoes, and praying that the angry mob of armed white supremacists didn't know where we were going. "It was a traumatic day for the country. Trump's egregiously false claims about election fraud culminated in a … Continue Reading