Press Releases
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Holds Tele-Town Hall on COVID-19
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) will hold a Tele-Town Hall on the public health and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rep. Lee will provide an update on the latest COVID relief package and discuss efforts to invest in public health resources. Rep. Lee recently received the COVID-19 vaccine and will touch on the latest developments and ways to increase public trust. She will also cover the latest on her legislation to expand testing, contact tracing, and resources for medically … Continue Reading
December 18, 2020
Lee, Hastings, McGovern, Frankel, and Deutch Call for an Immediate Boost to Hunger Relief for Struggling Families in COVID Relief Package
Washington, DC -Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA), along with Representatives Alcee Hastings (D-FL), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Lois Frankel (D-FL), and Ted Deutch (D-FL), led 62 of their colleagues in sending a letter urging House and Senate Leadership to include a funding increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other nutritional programs in the upcoming COVID-19 relief package under negotiation. As our nation faces a hunger crisis worsened by the growing toll … Continue Reading
December 14, 2020
Congresswoman Lee Joins Senator Warren in Urging Senate Leaders to Adopt Bill to Address Health Inequity in COVID-19 Relief Package
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee joined United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in calling on Senate Leadership to address public health disparities in communities of color. Senator Warren sent a letter to Senate leadership calling Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-K.Y) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to ensure the next COVID-19 relief package includes their legislation, the COVID Community Care Act, which provides grants to faith-based and … Continue Reading
December 09, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on National Defense Authorization Act
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on FY21 National Defense Authorization Act Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) released the following statement after voting against the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): "I'd like to thank my colleague, Chairman Adam Smith, for his consistent efforts to include key House provisions in this year's NDAA conference report. I was very pleased that the provisions which the Congressional Black Caucus led that calls for the renaming … Continue Reading
December 08, 2020
Rep. Barbara Lee Calls for End to Discriminatory Hyde Amendment at Appropriations Committee Hearing
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee today joined her colleagues on the House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee to hold a hearing on the severe impact of the discriminatory Hyde Amendment. Since 1976, the Hyde Amendment has allowed anti-choice politicians to add abortion coverage and funding bans to appropriations language. This includes restrictions to Medicaid, Medicare, Federal employees, Native Americans, women in … Continue Reading
December 04, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Receives First Quincy Award for Responsible Statecraft
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee received the inaugural Quincy Award for Responsible State craft for her advancement of ideas and actions that move US foreign policy away from endless war and toward vigorous diplomacy in the pursuit of international peace. The award is named for John Quincy Adams, the nation's sixth president, who also served as a member of Congress, and as one of the United States' most accomplished diplomats. In selecting Representative Lee for the … Continue Reading
December 04, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds the Historic Passage of Comprehensive Marijuana Reform Legislation
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), Co-Chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, today released a statement following the historic passage of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, which aims to correct the historical injustices of failed drug policies, which have disproportionately impacted communities of color and low-income communities. The MORE Act, the most comprehensive marijuana reform bill ever introduced in Congress, would … Continue Reading
December 01, 2020
Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus Co-Chairs Recognize 32nd Annual World AIDS Day
Washington, D.C. - Reps. Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Jenniffer González (PR-At Large), co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, today released a statement marking December 1st as World AIDS Day. The theme of the 32nd annual World AIDS Day is "Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic: Resilience & Impact," which celebrates the achievements of the past four decades in the fight against HIV/AIDS, while recognizing the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the strain on our global … Continue Reading
November 20, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on Transgender Day of Remembrance
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) released this statement in honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance: "On Transgender Day of Remembrance, our nation honors and mourns the countless members of the transgender community who have faced violence, discrimination, and lost their lives for living authentically. On this day and always, we must remain committed to ensuring that the transgender community is granted the dignity, safety, and respect that they deserve in the workplace … Continue Reading
November 20, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds the Passage of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) today released the following statement of support for H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, upon its adoption by the House of Representatives. This legislation will grant $3.9 billion over five years to expand registered apprenticeships through grants and modify the approval process for apprenticeship programs. The U.S. is facing a dire economic crisis, with more than 11.1 million unemployed and an estimated 7 million of … Continue Reading
November 17, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Holds Special Order Hour on Impact COVID-19 has on Communities of Color
Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Congresswoman Barbara Lee delivered remarks on the House floor emphasizing the need for COVID-19 testing and tracing, and the disproportionate impact on Black, Brown, Latinx, and Indigenous people. Congresswoman Lee’s full remarks can be found here: “Thank you very much. First, I wanted -- thank you, Mr. Speaker, for yielding. And also to the Chair of our Congressional Black Caucus, I want to thank Chairwoman Bass who … Continue Reading
November 16, 2020
Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus Co-Chairs Introduce World AIDS Day Resolution
Washington, D.C. - Reps. Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Jenniffer González (PR-At Large), Co-Chairs of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, today introduced a bipartisan resolution supporting the goals of World AIDS Day. This includes continued efforts to prevention, care and treatment services, and research programsfor communities impacted by HIV and people living with HIV in the United States and globally. Tuesday, December 1, 2020 marks the 32nd annual World AIDS Day. This year's World AIDS … Continue Reading
November 11, 2020
Congresswoman Lee Statement on Veterans Day
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) released the following statement commemorating Veterans Day: "On Veterans Day, we honor the brave servicemembers who risked their lives and continue to serve our country. As the proud daughter of a veteran, I'm committed to working in Congress to ensure we keep our promises to our veterans and military families who have served selflessly and answered our nation's call of duty. "My father, Lieutenant Colonel Garvin Tutt, served in both … Continue Reading
November 11, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on Supreme Court Oral Arguments for Trump-GOP Lawsuit to End Health Care Coverage for Millions
Washington, D.C. -Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on the Supreme Court hearing of the Trump-Republican backed lawsuit to strip away health care protections from millions during a global pandemic: "From day one, the Trump administration has stopped at nothing to strip away health care from millions in need. Today, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of California v. Texas, and the GOP motive is clear: take health care away from families in the middle … Continue Reading
November 10, 2020
Congressional Cannabis Caucus Co-Chairs Urge Colleagues to Pass Federal Cannabis Reform Following Sweeping Ballot Measure Victories
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), co-chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, sent a letter to their House colleagues urging strong support of comprehensive federal cannabis reform legislation that will be voted on this year. The letter comes after resounding victories last week in Arizona, Montana, New Jersey, South Dakota and Mississippi, where voters approved a series of cannabis ballot measures. Cannabis will now be legalized for adult use … Continue Reading
November 07, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on President- elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris Winning the 2020 Presidential Election
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) released this statement following President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris' victory in the 2020 Presidential Election. "This is a historic day. It is clear that President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris are the right leaders for the right time, as they've earned the highest popular vote count in American history. As we fight back a dangerous pandemic and economic disaster, systemic racism, … Continue Reading
November 02, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds President Biden’s Actions to Rebuild and Strengthen Our Immigration System
Washington, D.C. --Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on President Biden's executive actions to rebuild and strengthen our immigration system: "The Executive Actions announced by President Biden today reaffirm that our country is safer and stronger with a humane immigration system that welcomes immigrants and keeps families together. "President Biden's actions aim to establish a just and fair immigration system and uphold our nation's values by promoting … Continue Reading
October 30, 2020
Lee, Lowey, and Fellow Appropriators Urge Administration to Rescind Order Pausing Diversity and Inclusion Training Programs at USAID
Washington, D.C. - In a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Vice Chairwoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), and Subcommittee Members Grace Meng (D-NY), David Price (D-NC), Lois Frankel (D-FL) and Norma Torres (D-CA) urged the Trump Administration to suspend their decision to pause all diversity and inclusion training at State Department and USAID. "We write to express our deep concern … Continue Reading
October 27, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Awarded UNA-East Bay’s UN Champion of the Decade and UNA-NCA Edison W. Dick Advocacy Leadership Award
Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement after receiving two awards recognizing her advocacy. She served four terms as a congressional representative to the UN General Assembly. "I am deeply honored to receive the UNA-East Bay's first ever UN Champion of the Decade and UNA-NCA Edison W. Dick Advocacy Leadership Award, said Congresswoman Barbara Lee. "This global crisis has only reinforced health and economic inequalities around the globe for … Continue Reading
October 26, 2020
Pro-Choice Caucus Leaders’ Statement on Confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to Supreme Court
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Diana DeGette (D-CO), as co-chairs of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, issued the following statement after the Senate voted tonight to confirm Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court: "This entire confirmation process has made a mockery out of the highest court in the land. Today's vote to confirm Judge Barrett to the Supreme Court is an affront to democracy as we know it - women, vulnerable communities, and working families are going … Continue Reading