Press Releases
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds Passage of First Labor-HHS-Education Bill in Decades to Exclude the Hyde Amendment
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), Co-Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus and member of the House Appropriations Committee, applauded the passage of the first House Appropriations Labor-HHS-Education bill in decades to exclude the Hyde Amendment. Since 1976, the Hyde Amendment has included abortion coverage and funding bans in the appropriations bills. This includes restrictions to Medicaid, Medicare, Federal employees, Native Americans, women in federal prisons and … Continue Reading
July 29, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Celebrates Historic Funding for Caribbean in FY22 State and Foreign Operations Bill
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, applauded the passage of H.R. 4373, The State, Foreign, Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act. The bill provides $105 million in funding for the Caribbean - a 25% increase over last year's enacted amount and $10 million specifically for new projects to promote inclusive economic growth. "The islands of the Caribbean … Continue Reading
July 28, 2021
Chairwoman Barbara Lee Applauds Passage of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Spending Bill
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, applauded the passage of H.R. 4373, The State, Foreign, Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act. In total, the bill provides $62.24 billion in funding for State Department, USAID, and related programs - an increase of $6.737 billion above the FY 2021 enacted level and an overall increase of 12%. "As we continue to fight a … Continue Reading
July 27, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds Second Round of Community Based Workforce Funding from her COVID Community Care Act Legislation
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) applauded the announcement that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will be awarding $121 million to 127 award recipients of the Local Community-Based Workforce to Increase COVID-19 Vaccine Access Program. These awards are funded with resources from provisions within the American Rescue Plan Act that Congresswoman Lee led through her COVID Community Care … Continue Reading
July 22, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement on U.S. Airstrike in Somalia
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), Chairwoman of House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, released the following statement on the recent U.S. air strike carried out in Somalia: "This strike is another reminder that U.S. forces are engaged in operations in numerous places around the globe, with little or no engagement or buy in from the American public. I appreciate President Biden's stated commitment to end our forever wars, including his … Continue Reading
July 22, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Votes to Protect the Health of California Families, Clean Up Dangerous PFAS Chemicals
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) voted to protect California families from exposure to dangerous PFAS chemicals with H.R. 535, the PFAS Action Act. This legislation will clean up these "forever chemicals," which pose a direct threat to public health, and introduce stronger protections against future pollution. "For too long these chemicals have been allowed to linger in our communities as big corporations put their profits before people," said Congresswoman Lee. … Continue Reading
July 20, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Advances Over $10 Million in Appropriations Spending Bills for California’s 13th District
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, celebrated the inclusion of funding for projects across California's 13th district in this year's Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Appropriations Bills. Congresswoman Lee successfully fought for this funding to be included through several Appropriations subcommittees, including Labor, Health and Human Services, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and more. "In order for our nation … Continue Reading
July 17, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Joins Speaker Pelosi and House Colleagues on a Congressional Delegation to San Diego for the Christening of USNS John Lewis
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) joined Speaker Nancy Pelosi and members of Congress on a Congressional delegation to San Diego, CA to participate in the Christening Ceremony for USNS John Lewis. Congressmembers gathered to honor the life of Congressman Lewis one year after the Congressman's passing. "It was a great honor and privilege to join my colleagues in commemorating the life of a true civil rights champion. Congressman John Lewis will forever live in our … Continue Reading
July 16, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on FY 2022 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Funding Bill
Washington, D.C. -Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), member of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement applauding the approval of the Fiscal Year 2022 Department of Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The bill funds the Departments of Commerce and Justice, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and other related agencies. The legislation contains $81.3 billion in … Continue Reading
July 16, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds Passage of FY2022 Transportation and Housing Appropriations Funding Bill
Washington, D.C.-Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), member of the House Appropriations Committee, released a statement in response to the passage of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Transportation and Housing Appropriations. The legislation funds the Department of Transportation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other related agencies, including the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. For fiscal year 2022, the legislation provides $162.6 billion in base budgetary … Continue Reading
July 16, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds Passage of Fiscal Year 2022 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Funding Bill
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, issued a statement in response to the committee passage of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) funding bill. The LHHS bill designates $253.8 billion in funds to some of the nation’s most critical programs, including Early Head Start Education … Continue Reading
July 15, 2021
Reps. Lee and Watson Coleman Call on International Swimming Federation to Change Policy on Swim Caps for Natural Hair
Washington, DC - Today, Congresswomen Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) led a letter sent to the President of the International Swimming Federation (FINA) in response to the rejection of the use of swim caps designed for natural Black hair in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. Joined by Members of the Congressional Black Caucus and cosponsors of H.R. 2116, the CROWN Act, the signers request FINA evaluate how barriers to participation, like the unavailability of swim caps, impact … Continue Reading
July 13, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s Amendments to Stop Endless Wars Adopted by House Appropriations Committee
Washington, D.C. - The House Appropriations Committee today adopted the Fiscal Year 2022 Defense spending bill, which included two amendments by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) to end authorizations for endless wars passed nearly 20 years ago. The Appropriations Committee included Rep. Lee's amendments in the Defense bill to do the following: End Congress' 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) granting a blank check to the President to wage war against anyone, anywhere, … Continue Reading
July 13, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement on Ongoing Civil Unrest in Cuba
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) released the following statement on the ongoing protests in Cuba: "I support the right of the Cuban people to peacefully protest without interference from the Cuban government. The United States should move swiftly to provide humanitarian relief to address the needs of the Cuban people. Specifically, the United States should immediately permit remittances and financial transactions from relatives, food, and vaccination assistance, … Continue Reading
July 09, 2021
Cannabis Caucus Co-Chairs Call on Anti-Doping Agency to Change Discriminatory Cannabis Policies
Washington, D.C. - Today, Representatives Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), co-chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, led 16 members of Congress in urging the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) to change their policy that categorizes cannabis as a performance-enhancing prohibited substance. This comes after U.S. Women's Track and Field Sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson was suspended and disqualified from participating in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics upon receiving a … Continue Reading
July 04, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Marks Independence Day
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) released the following statement marking Independence Day: "Today, we celebrate our nation's fight for independence and our founding principles of liberty, justice, and equality. As we commemorate Independence Day, we must also confront the history of slavery and recognize that the ideals of justice and equality have not been realized for all. In states across the country, we are witnessing efforts to suppress the vote and undermine our … Continue Reading
July 02, 2021
Representatives Lee, Pocan, and Bush Urge Congressional Leadership to Exclude Defense Spending from American Jobs Plan Reconciliation Package
Washington, D.C. - Today, Representatives Barbara Lee (CA-13), Mark Pocan (WI-02), and Cori Bush (MO-01) led 21 members of the House in urging Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer, to exclude funding for the Department of Defense in the upcoming reconciliation package as part of the American Jobs Plan. The letter alternatively calls for investments to exclusively invest in building an economy that prioritizes the needs of people and invest in … Continue Reading
July 01, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Votes in Favor of the Invest in America Act, Applauds Inclusion of East Bay Transportation Projects
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, today voted to pass the Invest in America Act, landmark legislation to invest $715 billion in state and local infrastructure projects. The legislation is now headed to the Senate for consideration before going to President Biden’s desk.For the first time in a decade, Congress considered a surface transportation bill that includes member-requested projects. This will allocate … Continue Reading
July 01, 2021
Reps. Lee and Burgess Introduce Legislation to Audit the Pentagon
Washington, D.C.-Today, Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Michael Burgess (R-TX) introduced the "Audit the Pentagon Act of 2021", which aims to increase transparency and accountability in the defense budget. This bipartisan legislation would administer a 0.5% cut to the budget of any office at the Pentagon that does not receive an audit for the first year of the bill's enactment, then rises to 1.0% in subsequent years. The bill exempts funding for personnel, families, and military health care … Continue Reading
July 01, 2021
Congresswoman Lee, Speaker Pelosi, Assistant Speaker Clark, Democratic Women’s Caucus Statement on Care Economy
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-05), House Appropriations Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-02), DWC Co-Chairs Congresswomen Lois Frankel (FL-22), Brenda Lawrence (MI-14), Jackie Speier (CA-14), and Vice Chair Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Members of the Democratic Women's Caucus, and care advocates held a press event on the care economy, which you may view here. At a time when women's workforce … Continue Reading