Press Releases
Congresswoman Barbara Lee statement regarding suggestion to postpone the November election
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) issued the following statement today regarding Trump's suggestion to postpone the November election. "No, we will not postpone the election. And no, voting by mail is not fraudulent. States like Oregon have voted safely and securely by mail for years," Congresswoman Lee said. "Trump is terrified that Americans will hold him accountable for his catastrophic failures in November, and he should be. He will say and do anything, no matter how … Continue Reading
July 29, 2020
Congresswoman Lee, Colleagues Introduce First-Ever Bill to Repeal the Helms Amendment, a 47 Year-Old, Anti-Choice Policy
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Co-Chair of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, joined Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Nita Lowey (D-NY), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Diana DeGette (D-CO), and Norma Torres (D-CA), to introduced the Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act of 2020, the first-ever legislation to repeal the Helms Amendment and expand abortion access globally. "While many countries have made inroads toward increased reproductive freedoms over … Continue Reading
July 28, 2020
Reps. Lee, Pocan Announce Defense Spending Reduction Caucus
Washington, D.C. - A week after introducing an amendment to cut the defense budget by 10%, Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Congressman Mark Pocan-both members of the House Appropriations Committee-are announcing the creation of the Defense Spending Reduction Caucus. The Caucus intends to build on the support garnered by the amendment, which received 93 votes in the House last week. At a time when the majority of American people would support a cut to the defense budget, this Caucus will serve … Continue Reading
July 23, 2020
Congresswoman Lee Remarks on Accosting of Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Barbara Lee spoke on the House Floor during a point of personal privilege for Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, calling for an apology for the offensive remarks made against her by Congressman Ted Yoho of Florida. Find Congresswoman Lee’s remarks and video link below: “Thank you very much. First of all, I rise today not only to support Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, but I rise in strong support of this … Continue Reading
July 23, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on Deployment of Federal Officers to Portland and Other Cities
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) issued the following statement today about the deployment of unidentifiable federal law enforcement officers to Portland, OR and other U.S. cities. "This is a Democracy, not a dictatorship. Unidentifiable federal officers using unmarked cars and dressed as soldiers arresting peaceful protestors with zero probable cause is something we would normally see in a dictatorship or a failed state. We can never allow this to happen in our … Continue Reading
July 22, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Speaks on the House Floor in Tribute to John Lewis
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Barbara Lee delivered remarks on the Floor of the House of Representatives on the passing of Congressman John Lewis of Georgia. Below are Congresswoman Lee’s remarks and video: “Thank you, Mr. Speaker, what a void, what a void we fill tonight. I rise tonight to honor the life and legacy of a great warrior for peace and justice, a kind and gentle human being, the conscience of the Congress, Congressman John Lewis. “As a … Continue Reading
July 22, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds the Passage of the NO BAN Act
Washington, D.C. -Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), Vice-Chair of the House Appropriations State and Foreign Operations subcommittee, today applauded the passage of the NO BAN ACT, legislation to reverse the Trump administration's Executive Order banning foreign nationals' entry to the United States from several Muslim majority countries. "Trump's racist and xenophobic 'Muslim ban' rejects the promise and creed of this nation, which was built by immigrants and celebrates diversity," said … Continue Reading
July 22, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Remarks in Support of Confederate Statue Removal Legislation
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) delivered remarks today on the Floor of the House of Representatives in support of H.R. 7573, legislation to remove twelve Confederate statues and four other statues honoring men who championed slavery and segregation from display in the United States Capitol. The House voted today 305 to 113 to pass the legislation. Congresswoman Lee originally introduced the Confederate Monument Removal Act in 2017 in the wake of the white nationalist … Continue Reading
July 21, 2020
Reps. Barbara Lee and Mark Pocan Statement on House Vote for 10% Cut to Pentagon Budget
Washington, D.C. - Representative Barbara Lee (CA-13), a member of the House Appropriations Committee and Congressional Progressive Caucus, and Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02), co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, today released a statement on the House's vote on their amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would cut the pentagon budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021. Since the beginning of the Trump Administration, defense spending has increased every … Continue Reading
July 21, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Responds to the Nomination of Mauricio Claver-Carone as President of the Inter-American Development Bank
Washington, D.C- Last month, the Trump administration announced its decision to nominate Mauricio Claver-Carone, the current head of Western Hemisphere affairs at the National Security Council, as president of the Inter-American Development Bank, departing from precedent that the bank would be led by a Latin American. Congresswoman Barbara Lee issued the following statement in response: "I am deeply concerned that the Trump Administration has decided to nominate Trump Administration … Continue Reading
July 18, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement on the Passing of Civil Rights Icon Congressman John Lewis
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on the passing of congressional leader and civil rights icon, Congressman John Lewis. "I am deeply saddened by the news that my dear friend, colleague, and personal hero, John Lewis, has passed away. "John was one of the most compassionate, kind, and gentle human beings I've ever known. His service to this country began in his youth as an architect of the historic March on Washington. One of the giants of the Civil … Continue Reading
July 16, 2020
Lee, Fudge, Introduce House Resolution Calling for Poverty Bill of Rights
Washington, DC - Today, Reps. Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) introduced a resolution calling on Congress to reaffirm the rights of all Americans living in poverty by enacting a Poverty Bill of Rights. The resolution comes as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to worsen economic inequality and threatens to push millions more Americans into poverty. "We are facing a pandemic and a poverty crisis in this country - both of which disproportionately impact communities of color," said … Continue Reading
July 15, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds FY 2021 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 2021 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 … Continue Reading
July 15, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds Passage of FY2021 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) 2021 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 2021, the legislation provides $158.3 billion in … Continue Reading
July 14, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Amendments to Stop Endless Wars Adopted by House Appropriations Committee
WASHINGTON, DC - The House Appropriations Committee today adopted the Fiscal Year 2021 Defense spending bill including three amendments by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) to end authorizations for endless wars passed nearly 20 years ago and to reassert Congressional authority over any use of military force against Iran. 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) … Continue Reading
July 13, 2020
Lee, Hoyer, Clyburn, Bass, Thompson, and Butterfield Introduce Bill to Remove Bust of Chief Justice Roger B. Taney and Statues of Defenders of Slavery
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Barbara Lee (CA-13), House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (SC-06), Congressional Black Caucus Chair Karen Bass (CA-37), Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (MS-02), and Rep. G.K. Butterfield (NC-01), introduced H.R. 7573, a bill to replace the bust of Chief Justice Roger B. Taney in the Old Supreme Court Chamber with one of Justice Thurgood Marshall and to remove other shameful reminders of slavery and … Continue Reading
July 13, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement on House Appropriations Committee Approval of Fiscal Year 2021 Energy and Water Development Funding Bill
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on the approval of the fiscal year 2021 Energy and Water Development Funding Bill. The House Appropriations Committee today approved the fiscal year 2021 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies bill on a vote of 30 to 21. The legislation funds the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of the Interior programs, the … Continue Reading
July 10, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement on Appropriations Committee Approval of Fiscal Year 2021 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C. –Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on the approval of the Fiscal Year 2021 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill. The legislation includes funding for programs within the Department of theInterior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other related agencies, including the Indian Health Service. In total, the draft bill includes $36.76 billion … Continue Reading
July 10, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement on Fiscal Year 2021 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), member of the House Appropriations Committee, released a statement following the approval of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The legislation increases discretionary funding by $5.1 billion above the enacted 2020 level, upholding our commitment to servicemembers, Veterans, and military families; legislation also includes … Continue Reading
July 09, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Joins Over 100 Members of Congress Urging Trump Administration to Extend Unemployment Benefits
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) and 100 of her colleagues sent a letter to Donald Trump urging his administration to extend federal unemployment insurance benefits, which are set to run out at the end of July without action by the White House and U.S. Senate. The CARES Act extended unemployment insurance by providing an additional $600 weekly federal unemployment benefit for those who lost their job due to the … Continue Reading