Press Releases
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on President Biden’s Executive Actions Addressing the Climate Crisis
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) issued the following statement on Executive Orders announced today by President Biden to address the global climate crisis, create millions of new jobs, and restore scientific integrity to decision making at the federal level. The orders include a halt on new oil and gas leases on federal lands and a directive that "clearly establishes climate considerations as an essential element of U.S. foreign policy and national security," among other … Continue Reading
January 27, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Rejoins House Budget Committee
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Lee released the following statement on her reappointment to the House Budget Committee: "I am honored to again serve on the House Budget Committee in the 117th Congress. Our budget is a moral document that lays out our national priorities and must be viewed through the lens of racial justice and equality. From my seat on the Committee, I will continue to work with my colleagues to craft a budget that strengthens our national security by reducing wasteful … Continue Reading
January 27, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on President Biden’s Actions to Advance Racial Equity
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) released the following statement on President Biden's executive actions addressing racial equity in housing, criminal justice, and public health: "President Biden's latest executive actions create a framework through which we can finally begin tackling meaningful equity reforms in issues that have only been made worse from the pandemic. "For too long, the federal government has played a central role in creating unjust housing policies … Continue Reading
January 25, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee to Chair Powerful Foreign Affairs Subcommittee
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, was named the new Chair of the House Appropriations subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations (SFOPS). Chairwoman Lee will be the first African American Member of Congress to serve as Chair of the subcommittee, which funds many of the nondefense international affairs activities of the United States. The subcommittee funds the State Department and other Foreign Operations accounts and … Continue Reading
January 25, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on President Biden Executive Order Reversing Trump Transgender Service Ban
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee issued the following statement on President Biden's Executive Order to reverse the Trump transgender military ban: "President Biden's executive action to reverse the discriminatory and hateful transgender military ban is an important step toward ensuring that all who are qualified can serve in the Armed Forces of the United States. This action also reaffirms that our country thrives in diversity and inclusivity. "The Trump ban was a cruel … Continue Reading
January 22, 2021
Pro-Choice Caucus Leaders Recognize 48th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
Today, U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Diana DeGette (D-CO), co-chairs of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, released the following statement marking the 48th anniversary of the Supreme Court's landmark Roe v. Wade decision: "For nearly 50 years, Roe v. Wade has protected the right to reproductive care. After the last four years of consistent assaults from the Trump administration, it's never been more crucial to renew our efforts to strengthening reproductive rights. "Trump has … Continue Reading
January 22, 2021
Representative Lee and Senator Warren Applaud White House Effort to Advance Equity in National COVID-19 Strategy
Washington, D.C.- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) issued the following joint statement applauding the equity provisions included in President Biden's national strategy to address COVID-19: "As we continue to fight a deadly pandemic that has taken over 400,000 lives, communities of color and medically underserved communities continue to be most impacted. The Biden administration's science-based plan addresses racial equity through the establishment of … Continue Reading
January 22, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement on President Biden’s Latest Executive Action to Combat Hunger and Protect Workers
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and co-chair of the Majority Leader's Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity, released a statement applauding President Biden's latest Executive Orders aimed at combatting hunger and protecting workers as we continue to fight back the COVID-19 public health and economic crisis. "In the face of this public health and economic crisis and in its first days in office, the Biden-Harris administration is already … Continue Reading
January 21, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds White House National COVID-19 Strategy
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on President Biden's national strategy to address the COVID-19 pandemic: "Over 400,000 people lost their lives in the past year from this pandemic. Communities of color were especially impacted as a result of systemic racism in our public health system. As millions suffered, we could not look to leadership from the Trump administration to address this crisis. "On his second day in office, President Biden signed … Continue Reading
January 21, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds President Biden’s Day One Executive Orders
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) today released a statement applauding the Executive Actions taken by President Joe Biden on his first full day in office: "Yesterday, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were sworn in, giving us all hope for a brighter future for our country. "On his first day in office, President Biden singed dozens of executive orders aiming to crush the coronavirus, provide financial relief to struggling families, meet the challenge … Continue Reading
January 21, 2021
Rep. Lee Leads Colleagues in Sending a Letter to President Biden Calling for an End to Forever Wars
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, led a group of her colleagues, including Reps. Gregory Meeks, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Jim McGovern, Chair of the House Rules Committee, Adam Schiff, Chair of the House Intelligence Committee, and Anthony Brown, Vice Chair of the House Armed Services Committee, in sending a letter to President Joe Biden on his first full day in office urging his support for repealing the … Continue Reading
January 20, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Celebrates the Inauguration of the 46th President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement after the swearing in of the 46th President of the United States Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris: "Today was a historic day: we welcomed President Joseph R. Biden and Kamala D. Harris to the White House, ending the national nightmare of the last four years of the Trump presidency. "Against the backdrop of insurrection and white supremacy, amidst a deadly pandemic, we have reason to smile, because our … Continue Reading
January 19, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Reintroduces a Resolution Recognizing No Name-Calling Week
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) reintroduced H.Con. Res 4. a Concurrent Resolution recognizing No Name-Calling Week, which takes place January 18-22. This initiative aims to address the impact that bullying and name calling have on LGBTQ+ youth and encourages schools to consider a more comprehensive anti-bullying and harassment policy. Since 2004, No Name-Calling Week has been raising awareness for the millions of students across the country who experience bullying. This … Continue Reading
January 18, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Observes Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: "Today we celebrate the life and legacy of our drum major for justice, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "I am reminded of his April 1967 speech at Riverside Church in New York, where he reminded us that this country must address the three evils of poverty, racism and militarism. "Racism is alive and well in America. Just two weeks ago, the U.S. Capitol was stormed … Continue Reading
January 14, 2021
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds Biden-Harris Administration’s COVID Relief Plan
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) today released a statement on the announcement from the incoming Biden-Harris Administration outlining their emergency COVID relief package: "From Day one, President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris committed to the American people that they would tackle this virus and recover our economy from all the damage done by the inaction of the Trump administration. Today's plan unveiled by the President-elect will do exactly that. It … Continue Reading
January 14, 2021
Lee, Warren, Colleagues Call on HHS to Provide COVID-19 Relief Funds to Underserved Communities
The lawmakers urge HHS to follow the model laid out in the COVID Community Care Act, which would empower trusted organizations in underserved communities to address mistrust of public health information and provide timely services to combat COVID-19. "By bringing community leaders to the table, HHS can use its influence to ensure timely and effective messages reach communities that have too often been neglected." Text of Letter (PDF) Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), … Continue Reading
January 14, 2021
Coin Redesign Act Celebrating Prominent American Women and Others Signed into Law
Washington, D.C. - Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) today joined Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Deb Fischer (R-NE) in celebrating their bipartisan legislation, the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, being signed into law. H.R. 1923, the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 allows the Department of the Treasury and U.S. Mint to mint and issue new quarter-dollar coins. The first series of … Continue Reading
January 13, 2021
Pro-Choice Caucus leaders’ condemn Supreme Court decision to reinstate Trump mifepristone restrictions
Washington, D.C. - Barbara Lee (D-CA) and U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO), as co-chairs of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, issued the following statement after yesterday's Supreme Court decision to grant the Trump administration's request to reinstate a harmful FDA policy requiring women to pick-up mifepristone - a pill used to safely and effectively induce an early abortion or treat an early miscarriage - in person: "The Trump administration's outdated policy forcing women to … Continue Reading
January 13, 2021
Congresswoman Lee Votes for Second Impeachment of Donald Trump
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee today released the following statement following the passage of H.Res. 24, An Article of Impeachment Charging President Trump with Incitement of Insurrection: "Today, I voted to impeach Donald Trump for a second time on charges of incitement of insurrection. This is historic and unprecedented, and the House took historic and unprecedented action to hold Trump accountable for this sedition. "Donald Trump has been, and continues to be a threat … Continue Reading
January 13, 2021
ICYMI: Congresswoman Barbara Lee Delivers Remarks in Congressional Black Caucus Hearing on White Supremacy at U.S. Capitol Riots
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) today joined her colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus for a virtual hearing on the deadly events of January 6, titled 'U.S. Capitol Insurrection: White Supremacy on Display.' A transcript and video remarks are available here "Thank you very much, Congresswoman Lawrence and I want to thank our Congressional Black Caucus and our chair, really for first continuing to be the conscience of the Congress and also Chairwoman Beatty, thank … Continue Reading