Press Releases
Congresswoman Lee Reacts to the State of the Union
January 20, 2016Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released this statement following President Obama's State of the Union address: "This evening, the American people and the world had an opportunity to hear directly from our President about the important accomplishments that he's achieved during his last seven years in the Oval Office. Domestically, President Obama has turned our economy around and generated the longest consecutive period of job growth in our nation's history, after inheriting the wors… Continue Reading
Rep. Barbara Lee Celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
January 18, 2016Oakland, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement regarding Martin Luther King Jr. Day: "Every year our nation pauses to commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and recommit ourselves to realizing his dream of equality and justice for all. Last year, our nation celebrated the 150thanniversary of the 13th Amendment - one of the most significant dates in American history: the end of slavery with the passage of an amendment to the Constitution. T… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Lee's Statement on Iran's Compliance with the International Plan to Dismantle Its Nuclear Program
January 16, 2016Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released this statement following the announcement from the International Atomic Energy Agency that Iran has complied with the international agreement to dismantle its nuclear program: "Yesterday's announcement by the IAEA, as well as the release of 5 Americans unjustly held in Iran, shows that diplomacy works. As someone who has long advocated for negotiations with Iran, I am encouraged that Iran has complied with the international agreement to disma… Continue Reading
Rep. Barbara Lee: "American Families Deserve Better than Failed Trickle-Down Economics"
January 11, 2016Washington, DC - Congresswoman Lee released this statement following the Kemp Forum on Expanding Opportunity, in Columbia, South Carolina hosted by Speaker Paul Ryan and Senator Tim Scott: "Today's poverty forum in Columbia clearly showed that the Republican Party lacks any serious ideas for combatting poverty. Instead of real solutions, all we heard were the same, old talking points repacked as so-called 'compassionate conservatism.' We know what works to combat poverty. Yet time and again,… Continue Reading
Rep. Lee Releases Statement on December Jobs Report
January 08, 2016Oakland, CA - Today, the Department of Labor announced that the US economy added 292,000 jobs in December, marking the 70th consecutive month of private sector job growth. Congresswoman Barbara Lee, chair of the Democratic Whip Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality and Opportunity, released this statement: "Today's job report is more evidence that our nation's economy continues to recover and grow. Last month marked the 70th consecutive month of private sector job growth - adding up to nearl… Continue Reading
Rep. Barbara Lee: Congress Must “Start Listening to the American People and Not the NRA”
January 05, 2016Oakland, CA - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released this statement following President Obama's executive action to address the epidemic of gun violence that's raging in the East Bay and communities around the country: "Today's actions by President Obama are an important and necessary step as we work to address the epidemic of gun violence in our communities. The President's actions will toughen background checks, bolster enforcement of existing laws, improve mental health services and driv… Continue Reading
Rep. Lee Responds to FDA Policy Change to Blood Donor Deferral Policy for MSM
December 22, 2015Oakland, CA - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) released the following statement regarding the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) policy change of the blood donor deferral policy for men who have sex with men (MSM) from lifetime ban to one-year deferral: "I applaud today's decision from the Food and Drug Administration to lift the discriminatory lifetime blood donation ban for members of the MSM community. However, the policy of one year deferral still maintains the long outdated polic… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Announces $2.7M Federal Grant to Support Job Training and Affordable Housing
December 17, 2015Oakland, CA - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee announced that the Oakland Housing Authority (OHA) was awarded a $2.7 million Job Plus grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide employment and educational opportunities that improves the quality of life for West Oakland's public housing residents. "I am pleased that the Oakland Housing Authority has been selected to receive this highly competitive funding and I am proud to have supported their grant application," … Continue Reading
Rep. Lee Celebrates One Year of Renewed Relations with Cuba
December 17, 2015Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, a member of the bipartisan Congressional Cuba Working Group's Steering Committee, released this statement marking the first anniversary of President Obama's historic announcement of renewed relations between the U.S. and Cuba: "One year ago, I joined many of my colleagues and the vast majority of the American people in applauding President Obama's bold action to end more than five decades of failed policy toward Cuba. The President's announc… Continue Reading
New Bipartisan Cuba Working Group Announced
December 16, 2015Washington, D.C. - Today, a bipartisan group of twelve Members of Congress announced the formation of a Cuba Working Group to develop policies that modernize relations between the U.S. and Cuba. Congresswoman Barbara Lee, a long-time leader in efforts to normalize relations between the U.S. and Cuba, will serve on the Working Group's Steering Committee. "The formation of this bipartisan Working Group is another step forward in the effort to finally end more than fifty years of failed policy an… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Lee Marks 150th Anniversary of the Thirteenth Amendment along with East Bay Students
December 08, 2015Oakland, CA - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee marked the sesquicentennial of the Thirteenth Amendment along with President Obama, her Congressional Black Caucus colleagues, Oakland's Rabbi Bloom and students from the East Bay’s Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center. She released this statement marking the 150th anniversary of the Thirteenth Amendment: “Today, our nation pauses to remember one of the most significant dates in American history: the end of slavery with the passage of an amendme… Continue Reading
300 Days of Congressional Inaction on ISIL
December 08, 2015Washington, DC - It’s been 300 day since President Obama sent a draft authorization for the use of military force (AUMF) to Congress. Congresswoman Barbara Lee released this statement: “Everyone agrees that ISIL is a horrific terrorist organization that must be degraded and dismantled. As this conflict expands, Congress must be actively involved in addressing ISIL. Yet, for the past 300 days Congress has ignored its constitutional responsibility to debate the costs and consequences of ye… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Lee Releases Statement on November Jobs Report
December 03, 2015Oakland, CA - Today, the Department of Labor announced that November marked the 69th consecutive month of private sector job growth. Congresswoman Barbara Lee, chair of the Democratic Whip’s Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality and Opportunity, released this statement: “Today’s job report is yet more evidence of sustained progress in our nation’s economic recovery. November marks the 69th consecutive month of private sector job growth - the longest sustained period of growth in U.S. histo… Continue Reading
Additional Troop Deployment Demands Congressional Action
December 02, 2015Washington, DC - Yesterday, President Obama ordered the deployment of additional specialized “expeditionary” forces to Iraq and Syria. Congresswoman Barbara Lee released this statement: “Everyone agrees that ISIL is a barbaric terrorist organization that must be degraded and dismantled. As this conflict expands, Congress must be actively involved in addressing ISIL. The deployment of additional special operations forces to Iraq should be a wake-up call to Congress - it’s past time to ho… Continue Reading
California Leaders Call for DOJ to Halt “Counterproductive” Enforcement Action Against Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
November 24, 2015Washington, DC - Today, California Representatives Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA13) and Congressmen Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA48) and Sam Farr (D-CA20) urged Attorney General Lynch to reconsider enforcement actions against California’s medical cannabis dispensaries following comprehensive, stringent and enforceable industry regulations recently signed into law. “We are concerned that the Department of Justice (DOJ) continues to threaten individuals and businesses acting within the scope of stat… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Lee's Statement on Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm Being Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
November 23, 2015Oakland, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released this statement as Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom: “Throughout her life, Congresswoman Chisholm - or Mrs. C as we called her - broke many barriers while tirelessly advocating for the most vulnerable in our nation and our world. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is a fitting tribute to her lifetime of work and advocacy. In 1969, Congresswoman Chisholm became the first African American … Continue Reading
“Congress Should Not Betray Our Nation’s Most Fundamental Values,” Says Congresswoman Lee
November 19, 2015Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee spoke on the floor in opposition to the Republican closed rule (H. Res. 531), which does not allow for revisions or input by Members, and underlying bill, H.R. 4038. Following the vote on the Republican measure to halt and eliminate the resettlement of Syrian refugees, she released this statement: "People around the globe watched in horror as terrible attacks hit Paris and other cities around the world. My thoughts and prayers continue to be … Continue Reading
Congresswoman Lee Joins Colleagues in Urging President Obama to Find New DEA Leadership
November 19, 2015Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee joined Congressmen Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Sam Farr (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), and Jim McDermott (D-WA) in signing a letter led by Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR). The letter calls on President Obama to find new DEA leadership following recent comments by Acting Administrator Rosenberg about medical marijuana being ‘a joke.’ “The Acting Administrator’s comments are simply inappropriate. California, Washington D.C., Guam a… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Lee Marks Veteran’s Day
November 10, 2015Oakland, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, a member of the Veterans Affairs funding subcommittee, offered the following statement marking Veterans Day: “Every year, on November 11th, we pause to honor the brave men and women who have served our nation. As the daughter of a veteran, I am deeply proud of our current and former service members, who have served and continue to serve this country with dignity and honor. Our men and women in uniform and their families make tremendous sacrifices wh… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Lee Recognized with National Cannabis Industry Association’s 2015 Legislative Leadership Award
November 10, 2015Oakland, CA - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee received the 2015 Legislative Leadership Award from the National Cannabis Industry Association at the organization’s 5th annual gala dinner. “It is truly a humbling honor to receive this award. I’d like to thank the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA), Board Chairwoman Jamie Lewis and Executive Director Aaron Smith for this tremendous honor,” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee. NCIA is the largest cannabis trade association in the U.S. a… Continue Reading