Press Releases
Congresswoman Lee Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) released the following statement in observance of Hispanic Heritage Month, which takes place from September 15 to October 15 each year. “Every year, we observe Hispanic Heritage Month to recognize and celebrate the rich contributions of the Latino community to this nation. “Growing up in El Paso, Texas, I saw firsthand that the Latino community is incredibly vibrant and vital to our country. I have a deep respect for the Hispanic … Continue Reading
September 15, 2023
Congresswoman Calls for Immediate Action to Relieve Child Care Crisis
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) issued the below statement following a report from the U.S. Census Bureau finding that child poverty has more than doubled from last year, resulting in an additional 5 million children in the United States experiencing poverty in 2022. This represents a significant backtracking from the progress made in 2021 and is the largest one-year increase of child poverty on record. “I am outraged by this devastating report. This spike in child poverty … Continue Reading
September 15, 2023
ICYMI: Op-Ed by Congresswoman Lee ‘22 years after military force was authorized in Afghanistan, Congress needs to restore basic checks and balances’
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) published the below op-ed in The Hill alongside co-contributor Stephen Miles, President of Win Without War, on the anniversary of her vote in the House of Representatives against invading Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks. The Hill - 22 years after military force was authorized in Afghanistan, Congress needs to restore basic checks and balances BY REP. BARBARA LEE (D-CALIF.) AND STEPHEN MILES, OPINION CONTRIBUTORS - 09/14/23 9:30 AM … Continue Reading
September 15, 2023
Congresswoman Lee Applauds POTUS Announcement of $9 Million in New Federal Funds for Urban Tree-Planting in California’s 12th District
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) applauded the Biden-Harris Administration for its announcement of $1 billion for direct federal support to local communities for urban tree-planting and management through the USDA Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program. Representative Lee’s district, CA-12, will receive a total of $9,000,000 in funding through the program, made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act. “I am excited by this historic investment from the … Continue Reading
September 04, 2023
Congresswoman Lee Nominated by President Biden to Represent the United States at the 78th UN General Assembly
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) issued the below statement following President Joe Biden’s announcement of his intent to nominate her to serve as Representative of the United States to the 78th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. If confirmed, this will mark the eighth time the Congresswoman has served as Congressional Representative of the U.S. to the UN General Assembly (UNGA). “I am deeply honored to be nominated for this role by President Biden, and … Continue Reading
September 04, 2023
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Honors Workers, Calls for Passage of PRO Act on Labor Day
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) released the following statement in celebration of Labor Day: “Today, we celebrate the millions of workers who make our communities and economy strong and honor those who have sacrificed for the rights and protections we have today. “Solidifying worker power is more important than ever. I’m proud to stand with workers across all industries and fight for their priorities in Congress by supporting the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the … Continue Reading
August 30, 2023
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Holds ‘District Download’ Event Highlighting Progressive Wins at Oakland Museum
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) held a ‘District Download’ event for constituents at the Oakland Museum in California’s 12th District to highlight federal funding coming to the district, answer constituent questions, and give a recap of the 118th Congress thus far. Click here to view a recording of the live event. The discussion was moderated by Lori Fogarty, Director and CEO of the Oakland Museum. Representatives from community based projects receiving federal funding … Continue Reading
August 17, 2023
Lee, Blumenauer, Joyce Urge Department of Veterans Affairs to Reconsider Guidance Prohibiting VA Doctors from Prescribing Medical Cannabis
Washington, DC – Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA-12), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-03), and Dave Joyce (R-OH-14) today sent a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) urging a reconsideration of their policy that prohibits VA providers from prescribing medical marijuana to their patients in states, territories and tribal lands where medical marijuana is legal. This comes after the lawmakers, along with Representative Brian Mast (R-FL-21), led a provision … Continue Reading
August 16, 2023
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on One Year Anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) issued the below statement on the one year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which was signed into law by President Biden on August 16, 2022. “On the first anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act, I’m proud to recognize its incredible benefits for our communities, families, and planet. With this bill, Democrats took decisive action to lower health and energy costs for families, deliver the … Continue Reading
August 09, 2023
Lee Celebrates Black Business Month and One-Year Anniversary of CHIPS Act by Touring Black-Owned Bay Area Tech Company
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) toured Black-owned satellite manufacturer Akash Systems in West Oakland to celebrate Black Business Month. This visit comes after Rep. Lee supported their bid to receive funding from the CHIPS and Science Act. The CHIPS and Science Act, passed one year ago Wednesday, makes historic investments in American manufacturing, supply chains, and national security. Akash Systems is pioneering the development and use of certain … Continue Reading
August 01, 2023
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Celebrates Launch of Ron V. Dellums Memorial SMART Fellowship
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) celebrated the launch of the Ronald V. Dellums Memorial SMART Fellowship which is aimed at boosting the number of minority students in science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics (STEAM) fields through robust financial scholarships to college students. Applications for the inaugural year of the program go live today, August 1st, 2023, through the Department of Defense. The fellowship, … Continue Reading
July 27, 2023
Reps. Lee, Kelly, Espaillat Introduce Bill to Recognize Gun Violence as a Public Health Emergency
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Today, Reps. Barbara Lee (CA-12), Robin Kelly (IL-02), and Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) introduced theGun Violence as a Public Health Emergency Act,which would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to coordinate with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to produce an annual report on gun violence, its public health effects, and action taken by the federal government. This report will help inform policymakers at every level on how to … Continue Reading
July 26, 2023
Reps. Barbara Lee, Summer Lee, Jamaal Bowman, and Rashida Tlaib Introduce OLIGARCH Act to Tax Extreme Wealth and Combat Aristocracy
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives Barbara Lee (CA-12), Summer Lee (PA-12), Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12)introduced the Oppose Limitless Inequality Growth and Reverse Community Harms (OLIGARCH) Act to tax extreme wealth, reduce inequality, and combat the threat to democracy posed by aristocracy. High levels of inequality plague the United States, with the richest 0.1% of US households holding 20% of the country’s wealth in 2018. … Continue Reading
July 20, 2023
CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA LEE, COLLEAGUES SUPPORT UNION WORKERS STRIKING AGAINST EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION AT LAGUNA CLIFFS MARRIOTT RESORT & SPA
Washington, DC– Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12), together with Reps. Maxine Waters (CA-43), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Mike Levin (CA-49), and Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), today led 16 members of the California Congressional delegation in a letter to Chairman Rich Leib of the University of California Board of Regents expressing concern about reports of racial discrimination and union busting practices at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa in Dana Point, California. “We write … Continue Reading
July 18, 2023
CONGRESSWOMAN LEE OFFERS AMENDMENT TO FIGHT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION
WASHINGTON, DC — Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) today offered an amendment in the House Appropriations Committee aimed to fight housing discrimination. Republicans included language in the annual housing funding bill (FY24 THUD Appropriations Bill) that would prevent the Biden Administration from effectively enforcing the Fair Housing Act. Rep. Lee’s amendment strikes the language blocking the Biden Administration’s “Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing” … Continue Reading
July 17, 2023
Congresswoman Lee Releases Statement on the Retirement of Rev. Jesse Jackson from Rainbow PUSH Coalition
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) released the following statement on the retirement of the Reverend Jesse Jackson from his role as president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, a leading civil rights organization he founded in 1996 as a result of a merger between two groups he had previously started. He will be replaced by the Reverend Frederick Douglass Haynes III, who has served as the senior pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas since … Continue Reading
July 14, 2023
Congressional Progressive Caucus Leaders Condemn Pentagon Authorization Bill
WASHINGTON —Representative Barbara Lee (CA-12), Chair of Emeritus of the CPC and Chair of the Caucus Peace and Security Task Force, and Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) issued the following statement upon passage of the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the House of Representatives: “The bill MAGA House Republicans passed today allocates the single largest funding total the Pentagon has ever … Continue Reading
July 13, 2023
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Celebrates FDA Approval of First Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) issued the below statement on the FDA’s approval of the first over-the-counter birth control pill in the United States. “This is amazing news. For far too long, contraception was unavailable to those who don’t have access to health care or the means to see a doctor regularly. This has disproportionately impacted low income people and people of color, who have historically faced higher barriers to health care. Making … Continue Reading
July 13, 2023
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement on Blocked NDAA Amendments
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12), senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, today released a statement on the Democratic amendments blocked by Republicans in the Rules Committee’s consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): “The extremists in the Republican party have taken the NDAA and held it hostage to enact their MAGA, right-wing agenda. Despite a record number of amendments being submitted this year; Republicans are … Continue Reading
July 03, 2023
ICYMI: Congresswoman Lee Publishes Opinion Piece on Affirmative Action Decision in Sacramento Bee
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) recently published an op-ed in the Sacramento Bee reflecting on the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn affirmative action. To read the piece as it was published, click here. --. By ruling that race and ethnicity cannot be considered in college admissions, the U.S. Supreme Court sets us back more than four decades. For generations, affirmative action has been a powerful means of lowering barriers to education for historically marginalized and … Continue Reading