Press Releases
Following George Floyd Murder, Reps. Pressley, Omar, Bass, Lee, Introduce House Resolution Condemning Police Brutality
WASHINGTON - Today, Congresswomen Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Ilhan Omar (MN-05), in partnership with Congresswoman Karen Bass (CA-37), Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), introduced a resolution to condemn police brutality, racial profiling and the excessive use of force. The resolution comes days after the murder of George Floyd by police officers in Minneapolis, as well as the recent murder of Breonna Taylor by police in Louisville, Kentucky, and … Continue Reading
May 28, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Blasts Congressional Inaction, Calls on Congress to End Poverty
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Chair of the Majority Leader's Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity, introduced a resolution urging Congress to live up its moral responsibility to end poverty in the United States. The current COVID-19 pandemic is projected to push more families into poverty. Prior to the pandemic, approximately 4 in 10 Americans were unable to cover an unexpected expense of $400. However, the pandemic's effects are set to sharply increase poverty if … Continue Reading
May 19, 2020
Lee, Pocan Lead 29 Dems Demanding Defense Spending Decrease Ahead of NDAA Talks
Washington, D.C. - Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Mark Pocan (D-WI) led a group of 29 Democrats demanding that this year's National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) authorize a level of spending below last year's budget, in a letter to House Armed Services Committee (HASC) leadership this morning. Since the start of the Trump Administration, defense spending has increased every year-over $100 billion, almost 20%, in three years. Now more than ever, in the middle of a global pandemic, … Continue Reading
May 15, 2020
Congresswoman Lee Votes Yes on Heroes, Urges Further Action on Poverty
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement after House Democrats voted to pass H.R. 6800, the Heroes Act. “We are facing the worst health and economic crises in our lifetime. But for many, this crisis is nothing new. “Communities of color are facing elevated and disproportionate rates of infection and death. Heroic frontline and essential workers are often paid poverty wages without personal protective equipment. … Continue Reading
May 12, 2020
Heroes Act Prioritizes Families and Workers as the GOP Continues to Fight for Billionaires, Says Rep. Barbara Lee
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on the introduction of H.R. 6800, the Heroes Act. “Since the start of this pandemic, House Democrats have fought to put people over profits, put families first, and ensure that every community has the resources they need. The Heroes Act is another important step forward in that fight. “I’m especially glad that we were able to include critical provisions to address the unequal … Continue Reading
May 12, 2020
Ocasio-Cortez, Lee Introduce Bill to Provide Burial Costs for COVID-19 Victims
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Barbara Lee introduced the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Act, which, if enacted, would instruct FEMA to disperse $10,000 to cover the funeral expenses of those lost to the pandemic. In addition to their extraordinary emotional toll, these deaths can further strain a family’s finances and create new cycles of poverty, particularly as the United States faces the highest levels of unemployment since the Great … Continue Reading
May 07, 2020
Reps. Lee, Pressley, Escobar, & Schakowsky lead More Than 150 Colleagues in Rejecting Attacks on Essential Reproductive Healthcare During COVID-19 Pandemic
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswomen Barbara Lee (CA-13), Co-Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus, Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Chair of Pro-Choice Caucus's Abortion Rights and Access Task Force, Veronica Escobar (TX-16), and Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Chair of Pro-Choice Caucus's Providers and Clinics Task Force, led more than 155 of their colleagues in calling on House Democratic leadership to ensure that any future COVID-19 relief packages reject Republican efforts to diminish access to comprehensive … Continue Reading
May 07, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Slams Trump’s War Powers Veto, Urges the Senate to Override
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement after President Trump vetoed S.J.Res. 68, a bipartisan War Powers Resolution to curb his military authority against Iran. "Since day one, Trump and his administration have fanned the flames of war with Iran. This veto is the latest in a long line of provocations that needlessly raise the risk of war. "It's extremely disappointing - yet completely unsurprising - that Trump decided to ignore the bipartisan … Continue Reading
May 05, 2020
Rep. Lee, Colleagues Call on Newsom, Baker, Cuomo, and Other Governors to Decarcerate Amid Rising COVID-19 Infections and Deaths in State Correctional Facilities
WASHINGTON - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) joined Representatives Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Karen Bass (CA-37), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) to call on governors around the country to decarcerate amid rising COVID-19 infections and deaths in state correctional facilities. In their letter addressed to Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, Chair of the National Governors Association and Governors … Continue Reading
April 30, 2020
Congresswomen Lee, Bass Condemn Shooting at Cuban Embassy
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Cuba Working Group, and Congresswoman Karen Bass, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, released the following statement in response to a shooting outside the Cuban Embassy in Washington, D.C. last night. "We were deeply disturbed and saddened to hear about the violence committed at the Cuban Embassy in Washington, D.C. last night," said the Congresswomen. "Acts of violence targeting diplomats and diplomatic … Continue Reading
April 27, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on the Death of Steven Taylor
OAKLAND, CA -- Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on the shooting and killing of Steven Taylor: With great sadness, I offer my condolences to the family and friends of Steven Taylor. Mr. Taylor died on April 18 after experiencing what appears to be a mental health breakdown that led to a confrontation with San Leandro police. As we wait for the particular facts of this case, what is clear is that we have seen such tragedies far too many times. African Americans … Continue Reading
April 23, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Supports Interim Relief Bill, Urges Further Action
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Lee released the following statement after the passage of H.R. 266, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. "Families, workers, and small businesses across the country are struggling. Last week, 4.4 million new unemployment claims were filed - bringing the total to 26 million unemployment claims in the last 5 weeks. "As public officials, we have to do everything in our power to get our communities the help they need to … Continue Reading
April 17, 2020
Reps. Blumenauer, Lee, McClintock, and Young Urge House Leadership to Include Cannabis Businesses in Next Phase of COVID-19 Relief
Washington, D.C. - Today, Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Don Young (R-AK), co-chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, were joined by Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) in urging House Leadership to include state-legal cannabis businesses, which employ nearly a quarter-million Americans, in future COVID-19 relief efforts. Currently, state-legal cannabis businesses are being left out of federal COVID-19 relief. The bipartisan letter was signed by over three dozen members … Continue Reading
April 14, 2020
Reps. Lee, Pressley, Kelly, Bass, & Sen. Warren Introduce Legislation to Require Federal Government to Collect & Release COVID-19 Demographic Data Including Race and Ethnicity
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswomen Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Karen Bass (CA-37), Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Robin Kelly (IL-02), chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust, and Barbara Lee (CA-13), along with Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and more than 85 of their colleagues introduced the Equitable Data Collection and Disclosure on … Continue Reading
April 09, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Slams Senate Republicans for Refusing to Address Racial Disparities in COVID-19
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked a vital relief bill that required the CDC to release data on racial disparities. "We are facing an unprecedented national crisis - yet, instead of ensuring that all communities have the resources they need to stay safe, Senate Republicans are playing politics with people's lives. "Every day, we are seeing more evidence that communities of color are more affected by COVID-19. … Continue Reading
March 31, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Slams the Trump Administration’s Rollback of the Clean Car Standards
Oakland, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee issued the following statement on the Trump Administration's final rule weakening car pollution standards, which is estimated to increase carbon emissions by 2.2 billion metric tons and cost Americans a total of $300 billion: "Make no mistake: the Trump Administration announced this dangerous new rule in the middle of a global health crisis in the hopes that no one would notice. "This is a complete rejection of science that seriously weakens our … Continue Reading
March 27, 2020
Congressional Pro-Choice leaders condemn anti-choice efforts to exploit coronavirus
WASHINGTON, DC - Pro-Choice Caucus Chairs Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Diana DeGette (D-CO) and taskforce leads Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Judy Chu (D-CA), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Norma Torres (D-CA), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Julia Brownley (D-CA) and Katherine Clark (D-MA) released the following statement today after multiple state governments attempted to limit abortion services during the COVID-19 crisis: "We are in the midst of an unprecedented global health … Continue Reading
March 27, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds Passage of Families & Workers-First Coronavirus Legislation and the Emergency Relief it Sends to the East Bay
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee applauded the passage of the CARES Act, which will now go to the President's desk for his signature. "I am proud to support this important bill, which will bring urgently needed relief to families and small businesses all across this country. During this time of stress and uncertainty, everyone needs to know that the government will support them without hesitation. This latest piece of legislation is an essential step in our ongoing effort to … Continue Reading
March 25, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on Third Coronavirus Response Package
OAKLAND, CA - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on the Senate's coronavirus legislation: "Our country, our workers, and our families are facing an unprecedented crisis. Yet, it's not just financial security that's on the line - it's workers' very health and safety. Any package Congress passes needs to be centered on the needs of families, not executives. "Let me be clear: Senate Republicans put forward a bill that put big corporations first, and failed the … Continue Reading
March 23, 2020
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds the Introduction of the Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act
OAKLAND, CA — Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement in support of House Democrats’ new stimulus bill, the Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act, a bold and comprehensive phase three coronavirus response bill that injects more than $2.5 trillion into the American economy. “As the coronavirus continues to spread and the crisis deepens, it is our job to ensure that every family, every worker, and every person in the United States has the … Continue Reading