Press Releases
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Votes to Reauthorize Violence Against Women Act
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) voted to pass H.R. 1620, Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021, a bipartisan and robust reauthorization bill. The landmark Violence Against Women Act of 1994 ushered in transformative progress by calling for the protection of all Americans from violence and abuse and providing resources and support for survivors of domestic violence. This critical reauthorization will protect and expand these critical protections for … Continue Reading
March 17, 2021
Congresswoman Lee, Senator Sanders and Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Combat Corporate Greed and End Outrageous CEO Pay
Washington, DC - Reps. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) along with Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), on Wednesday introduced the Tax Excessive CEO Pay Act to take on corporate greed by raising taxes on companies that pay their top executives at least 50 times more than the pay of a median worker. Americans across the political spectrum are outraged by the extreme gaps between CEO and worker pay. … Continue Reading
March 16, 2021
Congresswoman Lee and Senator Stabenow Reintroduce Legislation Marking World Social Work Day
Washington DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) reintroduced legislation celebrating World Social Work Day, which is recognized this year on March 16, 2021. "Social workers have helped the United States live up to its value of equality by successfully advocating for equal rights for all people, no matter their race, sexual identity, gender, gender expression, culture, or religion;" wrote the lawmakers in the resolution. "The social work … Continue Reading
March 16, 2021
Lee, Pocan & Auchincloss Lead 50 Members Urging Biden to Cut Defense Budget
WASHINGTON, D.C.-Today, co-chairs of the Defense Spending Reduction Caucus, Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA), Mark Pocan (D-WI) as well as Marine veteran Representative Jake Auchincloss (D-MA9), led a letter of 50 colleagues to President Biden urging him to decrease the Pentagon's budget in his forthcoming proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2022. Under Donald Trump, the defense budget ballooned to $740 billion-a more than 20% increase during his tenure. As over 535,000 Americans have lost their … Continue Reading
March 16, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Leads Colleagues in Calling on President Biden to Increase Funding for Domestic HIV/AIDS Programs
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), along with Representatives Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon (PR-At Large) and Maxine Waters (CA-43), led 30 colleagues in a letter urging President Biden to significantly increase funding for domestic HIV/AIDS programs and reestablish the Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP). "As you and your Administration draft your Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Request, we urge you to significantly increase funding for domestic HIV/AIDS programs," the lawmakers … Continue Reading
March 16, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Leads Colleagues in Sending a Letter to Biden Calling for Increases to Nutrition Safety Net Funding
Washington, D.C. -- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), along with Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA), Ted Deutch (D-FL), and Alcee Hastings (D-FL), led 48 members of Congress in a letter urging President Biden to increase funding levels for the federal nutrition safety net programs in the Fiscal Year 2022 budget. "SNAP is the nation's first line of defense against hunger. SNAP is especially vital for vulnerable populations. More than 85 percent of all SNAP benefits go to households with … Continue Reading
March 12, 2021
Rep. Lee and Sen. Warren Reintroduce Legislation to Invest in COVID-19 Resources for Medically Underserved Communities
Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) reintroduced the COVID Community Care Act-legislation that provides emergency funding for community organizations in medically underserved communities that suffer from health disparities to take action as part of the larger public health effort to contain COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted communities of color and Native communities. Black and Latinx people are dying … Continue Reading
March 12, 2021
ICYMI: Reps. Lee, Meeks, McGovern, Schiff, and Brown Hold Virtual Press Conference Calling for an End to Forever Wars
Washington, D.C. - Today, Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA), Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, Gregory Meeks, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Adam Schiff, Chair of the House Intelligence Committee, Jim McGovern, Chair of the House Rules Committee, and Anthony Brown, a 30-year Army veteran who served in Iraq, hosted a press conference on the need to end forever wars. This event came one week before the 18th anniversary of the start of the … Continue Reading
March 11, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Reintroduces the Improving Access to Nutrition Act
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee reintroduced the Improving Access to Nutrition Act, which will lift the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program's (SNAP) three month time limit and ensure that all people have access to nutrition assistance and stay healthy while seeking full-time work. Feeding America, a non-profit organization tackling hunger in the U.S., estimates that more than 42 million people are now experiencing hunger due to Covid-19. Under current law, adults ages … Continue Reading
March 11, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Votes for Lifesaving, Commonsense Gun Violence Prevention Bills
Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Barbara Lee (CA-13) voted to pass H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and H.R. 1446, the Enhanced Background Checks Act- two commonsense gun violence prevention measures to require background checks on all gun sales and close the Charleston Loophole that allowed the hate crime at Mother Emanuel AME Church in 2015. This bill passed on a bipartisan basis in the 116th Congress and is now headed to the Senate again. "In California and across the country, … Continue Reading
March 10, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds Passage of American Rescue Plan
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, today applauded the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 through both chambers of Congress. The $1.9 trillion dollar relief package will deliver critical COVID relief and economic support to the American people. This historic legislation includes much-needed financial and public health relief, including direct payments of $1,400 per person, extension and expansion of … Continue Reading
March 09, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Observes International Women’s Day
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement in recognition of International Women's Day: "This year, we reflect on International Women's Day and celebrate the contributions of countless women who paved the way for future generations, including trailblazers like Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm and Vice President Kamala Harris. We also recognize the challenges ahead as we face a global pandemic that has disproportionately impacted women and women of color. "We … Continue Reading
March 05, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds Biden Administration Support for Ending Forever Wars
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, today released a statement applauding the Biden administration for their commitment to working with Congress to end forever wars by repealing the 2001 and 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMFs) which have kept U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan for 20 years. Congresswoman Lee has been an advocate for ending forever wars since she cast the lone vote … Continue Reading
March 04, 2021
Lee, Rush, Cohen, Moore, 75 Democratic Colleagues Urge President Biden To Reverse Trump Administration's Cruel Policy Towards Cuba
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Representatives Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.) Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), and Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) led a group of 75 Democratic Members of Congress in sending a letter to President Biden urging him to take swift executive action to reverse the Trump Administration's draconian policies towards Cuba, return to the diplomatic path charted by the Obama-Biden Administration, and pursue an ultimate end to the nearly six-decade-long economic embargo. The letter … Continue Reading
March 03, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Votes to Pass Historic Voting Reform Legislation
Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) voted to pass H.R. 1, the For the People Act, a sweeping anti-corruption package to clean up Washington, protect and expand voting rights, restore integrity to government and put the needs and priorities of the American people ahead of special interests. "Every election cycle we see rampant voter suppression and efforts to undermine the electoral process and disenfranchise voters, primarily in communities of color," said Congresswoman Lee. "It's … Continue Reading
March 03, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Praises Passage of Landmark Police Reform Bill
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and member of the Congressional Black Caucus, voted for H.R. 7120, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021-bold police reform legislation led by the Congressional Black Caucus. Congresswoman Lee released the following statement following the bill's passage: "For generations, law enforcement has systematically abused and tormented communities of color. Today, the House … Continue Reading
March 02, 2021
Congressional Pro-Choice Leaders Urge Biden to Eliminate Abortion Coverage Restrictions from Fiscal Year 2022 Budget
Washington, D.C. - The Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus - led by U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Diana DeGette (CO-01) - along with the Democratic Women's Caucus leaders, House Appropriations Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro, and pro-choice Senators, sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging the removal of abortion coverage restrictions from the Fiscal Year 2022 budget. In the letter, the lawmakers said that reversing the Trump administration's policies undermining access to sexual and … Continue Reading
March 01, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Celebrates Women’s History Month
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee issued the following statement in recognition of the beginning of Women’s History Month: “Women’s History Month is an opportunity to celebrate the immense contributions of women in the East Bay and across the country who paved the way for women to lead in government, science, education, and across all fields. This year, as we recognize generations of trailblazing women, we are also celebrating the monumental achievement of electing Vice President … Continue Reading
February 27, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Votes to Pass Urgently Needed COVID Relief
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, today released a statement following the passage of H.R. 1319, The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which implements President Biden's American Rescue Plan to deliver urgently needed COVID-19 relief to struggling families: "The coronavirus pandemic and economic crises are destroying lives and livelihoods across the country. Tens of millions of Americans have been infected, and on … Continue Reading
February 26, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Introduces Legislation to Uplift Black LGBTQ+ Leaders
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, a vice-chair and founding member of the Equality Caucus, today introduced legislation honoring the contributions of Black LGBTQ+ individuals. This resolution seeks to uplift the contributions of Black LGBTQ+ individuals, both past and present, as fearless trailblazers in American culture and society. Black LGBTQ+ Americans have made significant strides in the fields of politics, entertainment, athletics, and more. This resolution recognizes and … Continue Reading