Press Releases
Congresswoman Lee Votes to Pass H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Lee joined House Democrats in passing H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act. This legislation would allow Medicare to negotiate the costs of prescription drugs, lowering costs for families across the country. "It is beyond outrageous that the US government is not currently allowed to negotiate drug prices through Medicare. And it is shameful that Big Pharma is charging people in the US hundreds of times more than what they charge in … Continue Reading
December 11, 2019
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Opposes the FY20 NDAA Conference Report
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee voted against the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report, and released the following statement: "I'd like to thank my colleague, Chairman Adam Smith, for his efforts and advocacy to include key provisions from the House-passed NDAA in the conference report. I was very pleased to see that paid parental leave for all federal employees and policies to address and prevent sexual misconduct in the military … Continue Reading
December 10, 2019
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Speaks at Foreign Affairs Hearing to Address the Ongoing Crisis in Haiti
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee participated in the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing "Haiti on the Brink: Assessing U.S. Policy Toward a Country in Crisis," about the ongoing political and economic crisis in Haiti. "Throughout my time in Congress, I have worked with my colleagues to support the Haitian people and have visited Haiti several times. We have helped spearhead and guide US humanitarian assistance after the deadly earthquake, we have worked to improve … Continue Reading
December 09, 2019
Rep. Jenniffer González Colón Joins Rep. Barbara Lee to Lead Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), chair of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, announced that Congresswoman Jenniffer González Colón (R-Puerto Rico) would co-chair the caucus, a coalition of bipartisan and bicameral members who are committed to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic, improving the lives of those living with the infection, and ensuring that everyone is informed and knows their status. "We have made incredible progress in our fight for an AIDS-free … Continue Reading
December 06, 2019
DeLauro, Lee, Fudge Lead 100 House Dems in Introducing Legislation to Block USDA Rule Kicking People Off SNAP
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), and Congresswoman Marcia Fudge (OH-11) led 100 House Democrats in introducing the Protect SNAP Act, legislation to prevent the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) from implementing stricter work requirements under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The bill follows USDA's final rule restricting hundreds of thousands of Americans' access to SNAP-America's … Continue Reading
December 06, 2019
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Votes to Protect Access to the Ballot and Pass the Voting Rights Advancement Act
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee voted to pass H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act, critical legislation to restore the full strength of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA), following the disastrous Supreme Court Shelby v. Holder decision, which gutted the VRA's ability to combat voter suppression and discrimination. Since the Shelby v. Holder decision, at least 23 states have enacted voter suppression laws, including voter purges, strict ID requirements, poll … Continue Reading
December 04, 2019
Congresswoman Lee, Congressman Deutch Lead Letter Opposing the Nomination of Sarah Pitlyk
Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) and Congressman Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) led a letter opposing the nomination of Sarah Pitlyk to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. The letter urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to oppose her nomination. "Ms. Pitlyk's extreme record demonstrates that she is not fit, fair-minded, or committed to upholding our core constitutional protections, including … Continue Reading
December 04, 2019
Hoyer, Lee Statement on Trump Administration’s Finalized SNAP Rule to End Nutrition Assistance for Nearly 1.1 Million People Each Month
WASHINGTON, DC - House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA), Chair of the Majority Leader Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity, released the following statement in response to the Trump Administration's finalized Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) rule, which would put 1.1 million Americans each month at risk of losing nutrition assistance: "For years, Republicans have pushed to make life harder for everyday families living on the brink. This … Continue Reading
December 03, 2019
Congresswoman Lee Applauds Renewed Commitment to the Global Fund
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee spoke on the House Floor in support of H.RES. 517, a resolution supporting the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria, which later passed the House on a bipartisan voice vote. "This important resolution reaffirms our commitment to ending AIDS and calls on our government to maintain its historic contribution to the Global Fund. As one of the original authors of the Global Fund, PEPFAR and as co-chair of the HIV/AIDS Caucus, I am pleased … Continue Reading
December 03, 2019
Congresswoman Lee Leads a Congressional Black Caucus Delegation to the United Nations
New York, N.Y. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee led a trip to the United Nations (UN) in collaboration with the United Nations Foundation. The trip was attended by Rep. Karen Bass, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and other members of the CBC. The trip coincided with World AIDS Day and the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, where the members attended high-level meetings with a range of UN officials. "As Democratic Congressional Representative to the United Nations, it's … Continue Reading
December 02, 2019
Democrats Stand Up for Constitutionally Protected Right to Abortion; File Bicameral Amicus Brief in June Medical Services LLC v. Gee
Washington, D.C. - Today, 36 members of the U.S. Senate led by Senators Chuck Schumer, Patty Murray, Dianne Feinstein and Richard Blumenthal, along with 161 members of the U.S. House of Representatives led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Representatives Frank Pallone, Jr., Jerrold Nadler, Diana DeGette, Barbara Lee and Judy Chu, filed an amicus brief in the case of June Medical Services LLC v. Gee, which is currently pending before the Supreme Court of the United States and represents a direct … Continue Reading
December 01, 2019
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Observes World AIDS Day
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, co-founder and co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, released the following statement marking December 1st as World AIDS Day. "This year, as we mark World AIDS Day, I am reflecting on the progress we've made and recommitting to the work that remains. Because of programs like PEPFAR, the Global Fund, and the Ryan White Program, we have saved tens of millions of lives from AIDS, and helped millions of children be born … Continue Reading
November 23, 2019
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Visits US-Mexico Border with Members of the Congressional Black Caucus
SAN YSIDRO, CA - Yesterday, Congresswoman Barbara Lee joined Rep. Karen Bass, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus at a hearing in San Ysidro, California, to examine the humanitarian migrant crisis at the US-Mexico border. The hearing specifically highlighted the devastating effect that Migrant Protection Protocol (otherwise known as Remain in Mexico) and other immigration policies have on African immigrants seeking asylum. "Trump's … Continue Reading
November 20, 2019
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Praises House Judiciary Vote to Pass MORE Act, Decriminalize Marijuana at Federal Level
Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Judiciary Committee passed H.R. 3884, the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, by a vote of 24-10. The MORE Act is one of the most comprehensive marijuana reforms bills ever introduced in the U.S. Congress. The MORE Act aims to correct the historical injustices of failed drug policies that have disproportionately impacted communities of color and low-income communities by decriminalizing marijuana at the federal level, … Continue Reading
November 18, 2019
Reps. Price, Schakowsky, Yarmuth, Connolly, Lee, Welch, Lowenthal, Doggett, and Blumenauer Blast Secretary Pompeo and the Trump Administration for Israeli Settlement Policy Reversal
WASHINGTON, DC - On Monday, November 18, 2019, Representatives David Price (NC-04), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), John Yarmuth (KY-03), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Peter Welch (VT-At Large), Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), and Earl Blumenauer (OR-3) released the following statement on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's announcement that the Trump administration would no longer consider Israeli settlements built in disputed territory to be against international … Continue Reading
November 13, 2019
Lee, Sanders, and Tlaib Partner to Combat Outrageous CEO Pay
Washington, D.C. –Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) introduced the Tax Excessive CEO Pay Act, which rewrites the federal tax code to tackle the inequality crisis created by corporate America’s unrestrained greed. The typical restaurant employee at McDonald’s would have to work for more than 2,000 years to earn what the company’s CEO Chris Kempczinski received last year. A retail worker at Gap Inc. would have to … Continue Reading
November 12, 2019
Bill Introduced to Block Trump Administration’s Rule Permitting Widespread Discrimination in Health Care
Washington, D.C. - Today, the Put Patients First Act will be introduced by Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA), Chris Pappas (D-NH), and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), following the Southern District of New York's decision to block the Trump Administration's attempt to refuse to provide lifesaving care on religious or "conscience" bases. This legislation will affirm the court's decision and further safeguard the health of all Americans. Along with the court's ruling, it is important that … Continue Reading
November 11, 2019
Congresswoman Lee Honors Veterans and Calls for Increased Access for Veterans to Medicinal Marijuana on Veterans Day
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement marking Veterans Day: "On Veterans Day, we honor the brave servicemembers who serve and sacrifice for 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 World War II and the Korean War. He … Continue Reading
November 10, 2019
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on the Passing of Bernard Tyson
Oakland, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) issued the following statement on the passing of Kaiser Permanente CEO Bernard J. Tyson: "I am heartbroken upon learning of the passing of Bernard Tyson. Bernard dedicated his life to making health care more accessible for our communities. He lead Kaiser to success, and never lost sight of his dream to make health care affordable. My prayers and condolences are with his family and loved ones during this … Continue Reading
November 06, 2019
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds Court Decision Blocking Trump Administration’s Discriminatory Refusal of Care Rule
Washington, D.C. - In response to a federal judge blocking the Trump Administration's dangerous rule that would allow healthcare providers the ability to refuse to provide patients standard health care services based on personal belief, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) issued the following statement: "This is a huge win for patients around the country. The Trump Administration's rule would have allowed providers to deny essential health care - including comprehensive reproductive care - … Continue Reading