Press Releases
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Responds to President Obama’s West Point Speech
May 28, 2014FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 28, 2014 Contact: Katherine Jolly (510) 763-0370 Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s vision for the nation’s foreign policy as presented during his commencement address at West Point Academy: “President Obama gave an important and very well articulated vision of his foreign policy today. I was pleased to hear how well his vision is grounded in the hard lessons learned in the wa… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Responds to President's Afghanistan Announcement, Renews Call to End the War Now
May 27, 2014FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 27, 2014 Contact: Katherine Jolly (510) 763-0370 Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement in response to President Obama’s announcement of plan to keep U.S. troops in Afghanistan until 2016: “I respectfully disagree with plans announced today to leave nearly 10,000 troops and an unknown number of contractors in Afghanistan beyond 2014 and to extend U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan until 2016. “After thirteen years at wa… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Memorial Day Statement
May 26, 2014FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 26, 2014 Contact: Katherine Jolly (510) 763-0370 Oakland, CA - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement in observance of Memorial Day: “As we celebrate Memorial Day, the memories of the men and women who so bravely gave their lives for our country are in our hearts and our minds. “Let us honor the sacrifice of those who have died by ensuring their families and fellow soldiers left behind receive the very best our Nation can … Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds the United Nations for adding Boko Haram to the Terrorist List
May 23, 2014FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 23, 2014 Contact: Katherine Jolly (510) 763-0370 Oakland, CA - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement applauding the United Nations for adding Boko Haram to the United Nations Security Council’s Al -Qaida Sanctions List: “I applaud the United Nations Security Council for adding Boko Haram to the United Nations Security Council’s Terrorist List. Boko Haram’s kidnapping and threat to sell over 250 Nigerian girls into slavery is… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Lee Slams Irresponsible Defense Authorization Bill, Refusal to Consider Bipartisan AUMF Repeal Amendment
May 22, 2014For Immediate Release: Thursday, May 22, 2014 Contact: Katherine Jolly, (510)-763-0370 Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee offered the following statement following the passage of HR 4435, the FY2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Congresswoman Lee was one of 98 members to oppose the NDAA: “The Republican leadership has continued to ignore the will of the American people in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act, which bankrolls bloated Pentagon spen… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Hails Passage of Water Bill
May 20, 2014FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 20, 2014 Contact: Katherine Jolly (510) 763-0370 Washington, D.C. -Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement following the House’s passage of H.R. 3080, the Conference Report for the Water Resource Reform and Development Act (WRRDA). This common-sense, bipartisan legislation invests in modern water infrastructure projects and will allow entities like the Port of Oakland to access additional funding for improvements: “For many years, … Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Speaks at the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
May 19, 2014FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 19th, 2014 Contact: Katherine Jolly: (510) 763-0370 Washington, DC - This morning, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), the congressional representative to the United Nations, delivered the following remarks at the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly in support of the consensus resolution “Interaction between the United Nations, national parliaments and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)”: “Good morning and thank you, Mr. President. I am honored to be addre… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Lee Receives Honorary Doctorate from the American Baptist Seminary of the West
May 17, 2014For Immediate Release: Saturday, May 17th, 2014 Contact: Katherine Jolly, (510)-763-0370 Oakland, CA - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee was conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the American Baptist Seminary of the West (ABSW) during its 143rd commencement ceremony which was held at the Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church in Oakland, CA. Congresswoman Lee’s nomination for this distinguished honor was unanimously approved by the organization’s Board of Trustees. “I am humbled to … Continue Reading
Media Advisory: Congresswoman Barbara Lee to Speak at United Nations General Assembly
May 16, 2014FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 16th, 2014 Contact: Katherine Jolly: (510) 763-0370 Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), congressional representative to the United Nations, will speak at the UN General Assembly on Monday, May 19th. The UN General Assembly is expected to adopt a consensus resolution recognizing the importance of a clear role for parliaments at the global decision-making level. The resolution - Interaction between the United Nations, national parliaments and the I… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Celebrates National Small Business Week
May 13, 2014FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 12, 2014 Contact: Katherine Jolly (510) 763-0370 Oakland, CA — Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement recognizing National Small Business Week: “During Small Business Week, please join me in celebrating East Bay small businesses and the hardworking individuals who make them possible. Small businesses are truly the engine that drives our local economy, and they are an integral part of our region’s continued economic recovery. “The entrep… Continue Reading
Representatives Lee, Honda and Pittenger Pen Bi-Partisan Letter to President Obama on Nigeria
May 09, 2014FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 9, 2014 … Continue Reading
Congresswoman Lee Fights for Community Policing and Re-entry Program Funding
May 09, 2014FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 8th, 2014 Contact: Katherine Jolly (510) 763-0370 Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, offered two justice-related amendments during Committee consideration of the funding bill for Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies. The first amendment provides additional $177 million in funding to the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) hiring program which provides state, local and tribal go… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Bipartisan Members, Introduce the War Authorization Review and Determination Act, H.R. 4608, to Limit Executive Branch’s ‘Blank Check’ for Military Force
May 08, 2014FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 8th, 2014 Contact: Katherine Jolly (510) 763-0370 Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee introduced the bipartisan War Authorization Review and Determination Act (WARD Act, H.R. 4608), to reinsert Congressional oversight and determination into any future use of military force, as well as repeal the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF). As the House prepares to take up the FY15 National Defense Authorization Act, Congresswoman Lee int… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on Kidnapping of Nigerian Students
May 06, 2014FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 6th, 2014 Contact: Katherine Jolly (510) 763-0370 Washington, DC—Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement regarding the Obama Administration’s decision to deploy U.S. resources to Nigeria to aid in the recovery efforts of the over 200 girls reportedly abducted from school in a rural Nigeria: “I join in the world’s outrage over the abduction of over 200 girls from their school in rural Nigeria by terrorist group Boko Haram. Furthe… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Lee Celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
May 05, 2014FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 5th, 2014 Contact: Katherine Jolly (510) 763-0370 Congresswoman Lee Celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Lee released the following statement marking Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: “I’m happy to join communities across the country celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The contributions of Asian Pacific Americans are an integral part of our nation’s history and a testament to har… Continue Reading
Congresswomen Speier and Lee Urge UC Berkeley to Improve Prevention and Response to Sexual Assault
May 05, 2014FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 5th, 2014 Contact: Katherine Jolly (510) 763-0370 Washington, D.C - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) and Congresswoman Speier (D-San Francisco/San Mateo/Redwood City) issued the following statement today after sending a joint letter to UC Berkeley Chancellor Nicholas Dirks on prevention and response to sexual assaults on campus. Speier and Lee met with Dirks and student survivors on campus April 15, 2014. “As a graduate of UC Berkeley, I was parti… Continue Reading
Barbara Lee Issues Statement on Piedmont Beautification Foundation’s 50th Anniversary
May 01, 2014FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 1, 2014 Contact: Katherine Jolly (510) 763-0370 Washington, D.C.—Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued a statement regarding the Piedmont Beautification Foundation’s 50th anniversary: “Since 1964 the Piedmont Beautification Foundation has worked tirelessly to beautify, maintain and renovate the greenscape and public buildings of Piedmont. From the construction of Ramona/Ronada traffic triangle to the Dracena Park Bridge restoration and countless other proje… Continue Reading
Secretary Hagel Addresses Unauthorized Hairstyles, Responds to Letter Sent by Women of the CBC
April 29, 2014FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 29, 2014 Contact: Carrie Adams (202) 225-2661 Washington, D.C.— Today, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel released a letter in response to the women of the Congressional Black Caucus who brought to his attention the discriminatory regulations regarding the Uniform Code and hair styles, particularly as it pertains to women of color (text of the letter can be found here). “I’m very pleased that Secretary Hagel is beginning to address this issue in a serious … Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on Raising the Minimum Wage
April 29, 2014FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 29, 2014 Contact: Katherine Jolly (510) 763-0370 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) Issued Statement on Raising the Minimum Wage: “On the eve of the U.S. Senate’s vote on legislation to increase the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, I am proud of my home state, California, for leading the minimum wage movement by signing into law legislation last September that increases the state minimum wage from $8.00 per hour to $9.00, effective… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Named One of the Best on Capitol Hill for Digital Media by Congressional Management Foundation
April 28, 2014FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 28, 2014 Contact: Carrie Adams (202) 225-2661 CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA LEE NAMED ONE OF THE BEST ON CAPITOL HILL FOR DIGITAL MEDIA BY CONGRESSIONAL MANAGEMENT FOUNDATION Awarded Excellence For Social Media, Official Website One of Five Members of House and Senate to Win in Both Categories WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee was recognized as a leader in website design and social media excellence by the the Congressional Management F… Continue Reading