Press Releases
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Denounces Trump’s Formal Withdrawal from Paris Agreement
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement in response to the Trump Administration's formal announcement that the United States will withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement: "Trump's formal withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement is a reckless dismissal of scientifically proven threats facing the world. The climate crisis is the most severe threat ever facing mankind, and we will not stand for Trump's attempts to dismantle the progress made … Continue Reading
October 24, 2019
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Introduces Resolution Supporting United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to End Poverty, Reduce Inequality, and Fight Climate Change
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee introduced a House resolution supporting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which lays out seventeen goals that will help end poverty, reduce inequality, and protect the climate. The resolution, whose objectives were adopted by the United Nations in 2015, provides a clear pathway for countries to increase prosperity and peace for all. The resolution also provides a shared blueprint of progressive goals to reach peace … Continue Reading
October 17, 2019
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on the Passing of Chairman Elijah Cummings
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) issued the following statement on the passing of House Oversight Committee Chairman Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (MD-7): "My heart is heavy upon learning of the passing of my friend and colleague, Chairman Elijah Cummings. Indeed a giant has fallen. "Elijah was a great man, a magnificent leader, and a kind and gentle human being that led with both his head and his heart. He was a strong advocate for the people he served in Maryland and … Continue Reading
October 15, 2019
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds the Introduction of College Affordability Act, With Scholarship Program Honoring the Late Congressman Ron Dellums
Washington, D.C. - Today, in response to the introduction of the College Affordability Act, a comprehensive higher education reauthorization bill that seeks to cut the cost of college, lift the burden of student loan debt, and help all students complete their degree or credential on time, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) released the following statement: "I thank House Education and Labor Committee Chair Bobby Scott for his bold and progressive College Affordability Act, which includes the … Continue Reading
October 09, 2019
Constituent Guide on Power Outages in East Bay
In anticipation of high winds and potential fire conditions, PG&E has announced a public safety power shutoff in parts of the East Bay, including in Oakland, Berkeley, and San Leandro, beginning today, October 9. Outages may last for several days. The power will be turned off to neighborhoods in stages depending on the timing of the severe wind conditions. BART trains will be running normally. Below are several ways you can prepare: Check if your home is in the impacted area. Consider … Continue Reading
September 30, 2019
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Joins Speaker Pelosi, State and Local Officials, and Community Advocates for Press Conference Kicking Off the 23rd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2020) to be held in Oakland and San Francisco
OAKLAND, CA - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee joined 23rd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2020) organizers, community leaders, state and local elected officials, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for the first public media event highlighting the planning and preparation for AIDS 2020. The event focused on what to expect at AIDS 2020 and the unique and large-scale collaborative effort that took place between Oakland and San Francisco to secure the bid to host the world's largest conference on … Continue Reading
September 27, 2019
Congresswoman Lee Reintroduces Congressional Resolution Calling For More Sickle Cell Trait Research
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee reintroduced her bipartisan resolution calling for increased efforts for Sickle Cell Trait research and a national campaign to raise awareness about the Sickle Cell Trait, and released the following statement: "Sickle Cell Disease is our nation's most commonly inherited blood disorder and affects an estimated 100,000 Americans and disproportionately impacts communities of color. "More than three million Americans, including one in … Continue Reading
September 24, 2019
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Attends the Seventy-Fourth UN General Assembly
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Congressional Representative of the United States to the Seventy-Fourth Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, will spend the next two days in New York for a series of high-level meetings. "From climate change to peacebuilding, the global community faces unprecedented challenges. These are complex problems that require all countries - and all people - to work together to make change. Now, more than ever before, the United States … Continue Reading
September 19, 2019
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Stands With Students to Support Teaching Climate Change in Schools
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee stood with dozens of youth activists on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. to call on Congress to support teaching climate change in schools. Congresswoman Lee plans to introduce a House Resolution that supports the teaching of climate change in the coming days. "I am introducing this resolution to urge more climate change education in American schools.," said Congresswoman Barbara Lee. "We need to teach every young person the human impacts of … Continue Reading
September 19, 2019
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Introduces Resolution in Support of Victims of Hurricane Dorian
Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, Congresswoman Barbara Lee introduced House Resolution 562 - a bipartisan resolution expressing condolences and long-term support for the people of the Bahamas in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian. "My heart is with the people of the Bahamas who were devastated by Hurricane Dorian, and I want to thank the first responders and officials who risked their lives to help their neighbors and communities. In the days to come, we must continue to work together to ensure … Continue Reading
September 16, 2019
Congresswoman Lee Appointed Democratic Congressional Representative to the United Nations
Washington, D.C. - Today, The White House and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the appointment of Congresswoman Barbara Lee to serve as Congressional Representative of the United States to the Seventy-Fourth Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. This is the fourth time Congresswoman Lee has been appointed to this position. Congresswoman Lee will continue to represent the 13th Congressional District of California while she assumes the duties of a Representative to the … Continue Reading
September 16, 2019
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Commemorates Hispanic Heritage Month
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, following the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement: "Every year, our nation comes together to recognize the lasting contributions of the diverse Hispanic community during Hispanic Heritage Month. "Growing up in El Paso, Texas, I learned from and gained a deep respect for the Latinx community and their heritage. "Today, I have the honor of representing California's beautiful 13th district, one of the most … Continue Reading
September 14, 2019
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Observes the 18 Years Since Her No Vote on Blank Check for War Authorization
Washington, D.C. - In recognition of the 18 years since Congresswoman Barbara Lee was the sole "no" vote on the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) on September 14, 2001, Rep. Lee released the following statement: "I voted against the 2001 AUMF because I believed it was a blank check for endless war. Sadly, this turned out to be true. A recent report from the Congressional Research Service showed that the 2001 AUMF has been used as a justification for military force 41 … Continue Reading
September 10, 2019
Hoyer, Lee Statement on 2018 Census Bureau Report
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 today's report by the U.S. Census Bureau: "Today's report by the U.S. Census Bureau makes one thing abundantly clear: anti-poverty programs work. While we are pleased the report shows that the poverty rate has fallen slightly to 11.8 percent, with 1.4 million Americans rising above the … Continue Reading
August 30, 2019
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Calls on the Senate to Uplift Workers in Celebration of Labor Day
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement in observance of Labor Day: "As we celebrate Labor Day, we must remind the U.S. Senate to do their job and uplift working people by passing the House bills for fair pay and affordable health care," said Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13). "American families are working harder than ever to put food on the table, pay rent and mortgages, afford childcare, and save for a secure retirement. Yet wages for middle and … Continue Reading
August 20, 2019
Congressional Pro Choice Leaders Condemn the Trump Administration's Continued Attacks on Reproductive Health
Washington, D.C. - Congresswomen Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Diana DeGette (D-CO) released the following statement after Planned Parenthood exited the Title X family planning program as a result of the Trump Administration's continued attacks on reproductive health: "Make no mistake: the Trump Administration's continued attacks on reproductive and abortion rights will have devastating consequences for the health of millions of low-income families across the country. The Title X program was created … Continue Reading
August 13, 2019
Reps. Lee, Kennedy, DeGette Lead 125 House Democrats in Denouncing Trump’s Health Care Rights Law Rollback
Washington, D.C. - Today, 125 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, led by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Congressman Joe Kennedy, and Congresswoman Diana DeGette, sent a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Azar asking him to withdraw a proposed rule that would roll back key provisions of the Health Care Rights Law, Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The proposed rule would embolden widespread discrimination in health care, including by allowing insurance … Continue Reading
August 12, 2019
Congresswoman Lee Joins National Labs Caucus Congressional Delegation Trip to California
Oakland, CA - Today, Congresswoman Lee joined a congressional delegation joined by Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL), co-chair of the National Labs Caucus in the 116th Congress, on a tour of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, California, the first of a weeklong trip to national science laboratories in California. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory brings together multidisciplinary teams of researchers and creates world-class tools for scientific discovery, including the … Continue Reading
August 12, 2019
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Denounces the Trump Administration’s Public Charge Rule
Washington, D.C. - Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the finalized public charge rule that negatively targets the health and wellbeing of immigrants in the United States by making it nearly impossible for them to receive a green card if DHS considers them likely to use public assistance. "Denying immigrants visas and green cards because they need help is wrong and xenophobic," said Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13). "This proposed rule is a clear attempt by the Trump … Continue Reading
July 26, 2019
Congresswoman Lee, Pro-Choice Caucus Leaders, and 146 House Members Urge Administration to Immediately Reverse Decision to Withdraw Funding from UNFPA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Co-Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus, joined with Congresswoman Jackie Speier (CA-14), Co-Chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus (DWC), Diana DeGette (CO-1), Co-Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus, Committee on Appropriations Chair Nita Lowey (NY-17), DWC Co-Chair Lois Frankel (FL-21) and 146 additional colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of State Michael Pompeo urging the Administration to immediately reverse its decision to withhold U.S. … Continue Reading