Press Releases
Congresswoman Lee: House Budget is a Morally Bankrupt Trojan Horse
Washington, D.C. - Once again, Republicans proved they have no concern for everyday Americans and families struggling to make ends meet. At its heart, the federal budget is a moral document that spells out the principles and priorities of a nation. The Republican budget is nothing more than a morally bankrupt Trojan horse that steals healthcare from children and rips food from the hungry just to fast track massive-tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires. In nearly two decades of service, I … Continue Reading
October 20, 2017
Congresswoman Lee Condemns Callous & Dangerous Republican Budget
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement regarding the extreme Republican budget which passed the Senate last night: "Budgets are moral documents. They put on paper the principles and priorities of a nation. The budget passed by Congressional Republicans betrays those principles and undermines families' basic standard of living, just to push through more tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires. "This budget guts basic necessities: job training, … Continue Reading
October 17, 2017
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Announces $3.2 Million HUD Grants to City of Berkeley
Oakland, CA - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee announced that the City of Berkeley was awarded three grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development totaling $3,244,837. The city will receive a $2,438,062 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to develop sustainable urban communities; an Emergency Solution Grant (ESG) totaling $222,915 to help support homeless individuals and families on the street; and $583,860 grant from the HOME program to expand affordable housing … Continue Reading
October 13, 2017
Congresswoman Lee Slams President Trump’s Dangerous Decision to Withhold Certification for Iran Deal
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement regarding President Trump's announcement that he will withhold certification for the Iran Nuclear Deal: "By undercutting the Iran Deal, President Trump is gambling with the safety of the American people. His actions are reckless, illogical and, above all, dangerous. "Withholding certification for the Iran Deal will isolate the United States and alienate our allies. It could also bring the United States back to the … Continue Reading
October 13, 2017
Congresswoman Lee Applauds Signing of AB 480
Oakland, CA - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement in response to Governor Jerry Brown's signing of AB 480, which allows counties to provide cash benefits to qualified low-income families and individuals to purchase diapers: "I am pleased with Governor Brown's signing of AB 480 which will ensure struggling families in our community have access to clean diapers. In the richest country in the world, too many families have to choose between buying diapers and buying … Continue Reading
October 10, 2017
Congresswoman Lee Responds to North Bay Fires
Oakland, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement in response to the outbreak of wildfires in the North Bay: My thoughts and prayers are with the victims whose lives have been devastated by the horrible North Bay fires and I thank the brave first responders whose courage has helped save countless lives and protected homes & businesses. At a time in our nation when the damage from natural disasters are at an all-time high, Congress must ensure all federal disaster … Continue Reading
October 10, 2017
Congresswoman Lee Slams Trump Administration’s Decision to Rescind Clean Power Plan
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on the Trump Administration's plans to roll back the Clean Power Plan: "The Trump Administration's decision to rescind the Clean Power Plan ignores scientific consensus, public health and basic common sense. Climate change is a reality. Extreme weather is already wreaking havoc on our communities - and further inaction will only worsen these climate disasters. "Make no mistake: our children and grandchildren will … Continue Reading
October 06, 2017
Congresswoman Lee Celebrates Signing of California’s HIV Decriminalization Law
Oakland, CA - Today, Governor Jerry Brown signed California Senate Bill 239, reforming outdated and anti-science HIV criminalization laws. Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who is the sponsor of federal legislation, H.R. 1739, the REPEAL HIV Discrimination Act, applauded California's progress on this issue. With Governor Brown's signature, California becomes the third state to modernize HIV transmission laws. More than 30 U.S. states still have criminalization laws on the books. "I am pleased that … Continue Reading
October 06, 2017
Congresswoman Lee Statement on Lifting of Sudan Sanctions
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on the Trump Administration's decision to lift sanctions on the government of Sudan: "I am deeply concerned by the Trump Administration's decision to provide sanctions relief to the Sudanese government. Lifting these sanctions, especially in light of recent violence in Darfur and absent of clear progress from the government on human rights, sends the wrong message to President Bashir and other Sudanese officials. … Continue Reading
October 05, 2017
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Urges President Trump to Recertify Iran Deal
Washington, D.C. - This week, Congresswoman Barbara Lee joined more than 180 members of the House Democratic Caucus in sending a letter to President Trump reiterating support for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and urging the White House to recertify Iran's compliance with the deal. "The Iran Deal, negotiated over the course of several years, is the gold standard for international diplomacy. Because of this agreement, we have reduced the threat of war and made the world a safer … Continue Reading
October 05, 2017
Congresswoman Barbara Lee: GOP “Trojan Horse” Budget Benefits Billionaires on Backs of Everyday Americans
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement in response to passage of House Republicans' Budget resolution: "The House Republicans are using this budget as a vehicle to offer massive giveaways to wealthy special interests, paid for on the backs of everyday Americans. Make no mistake: this "Trojan horse" budget benefits millionaires and billionaires, while making heartless cuts to food stamps, denying healthcare to millions and ending Medicare and Medicaid as … Continue Reading
October 03, 2017
Congresswoman Lee Slams Trump Administration Decision to Kick Out Cuban Diplomats
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement regarding the announcement that staff at the Cuban Embassy in Washington would be reduced by sixty percent: "Let me be clear: The Trump Administration is using the tragic and unexplained 'sonic attacks' on Americans to advance its goal of reversing historic progress between the United States and Cuba. "Kicking out Cuban diplomats will not ensure the safety of Americans - it will only drag us backwards and … Continue Reading
September 29, 2017
Congresswoman Lee Statement on Travel Warning & U.S. Embassy Drawdown in Cuba
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Lee released the following statement on Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's announcement removing personnel from the U.S. embassy in Cuba and issuing a travel warning for Americans: "The safety and security of Foreign Service personnel must always be our priority, regardless of where they serve. I appreciate the cooperation of the Cuban government in the investigation of attacks on U.S. diplomats and their families and I strongly support efforts to hold those … Continue Reading
September 26, 2017
Congresswoman Barbara Lee: Congress Must Act Immediately to Provide Urgent Relief to Hurricane Impacted Areas
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement in response to the devastating impact of recent hurricanes in the U.S. and Caribbean. "Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Jose have torn through the Florida Peninsula and the Texas coastline, leaving millions of Americans without food, shelter or electricity. Now, Hurricane Maria has brought more devastation, slamming into Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and countries in the Caribbean. "As we provide support and … Continue Reading
September 20, 2017
Rep. Lee: Graham-Cassidy is a Betrayal of our Fellow Americans
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on the Graham-Cassidy proposal to block grant Medicaid and take away health care coverage and protections for millions of Americans: "Every American will get sick at some point. When a child is having an asthma attack, or a parent has been diagnosed with dementia, or a spouse is fighting metastatic cancer, families should be able to focus on care - not cost. "Graham-Cassidy would prevent people from getting the … Continue Reading
September 13, 2017
Rep Barbara Lee: Congress Must Stop Abdicating its Duty to Debate War
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released this statement on the Senate vote to table Senator Paul amendment to sunset the 2001 and 2002 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF): "For sixteen years, Congress has abdicated its fundamental constitutional responsibility to debate and vote on matters of war and peace. While young men and women risk their lives for this country, Congress has been unable to muster the courage to vote on our endless wars. "Earlier this year, … Continue Reading
September 12, 2017
Engel, Ros-Lehtinen, Lee, Curbelo, Espaillat Lead 75 Members in Urging Trump to Protect Foreign Nationals in U.S. After Hurricane Irma
WASHINGTON-Representative Eliot L. Engel (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman Emeritus of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA); Representative Carlos Curbelo (R-FL); Representative Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) and 70 others today wrote President Trump urging him to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to foreign nationals in the United States who are from Hurricane Irma-affected … Continue Reading
September 12, 2017
Hoyer, Lee Statement on 2016 Census Bureau Report
Washington, D.C. - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA), chair of the Democratic Whip Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality, 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: under President Obama's leadership, our recovery spread across the economic spectrum. We've seen sustained improvement in the three key economic … Continue Reading
September 07, 2017
Booker, Lee Introduce Bicameral Bill to Remove Confederate Statues From Capitol
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and U.S. Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) introduced a bicameral bill to remove Confederate statues from the U.S. Capitol. The Confederate Monument Removal Act would remove all statues of people who voluntarily served the Confederate State of America from the National Statuary Hall Collection within 120 days. "The National Statuary Hall Collection is intended to honor American patriots who served, sacrificed, or made tremendous … Continue Reading
September 05, 2017
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on President Trump’s Cruel End of DACA
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on President Trump's announced decision to end DACA: "The United States of America is, has been, and will always be a nation of immigrants. As such, our immigration policies should be focused on keeping families together, not tearing them apart. "Undocumented students who were brought to the U.S. through no fault of their own are working, going to school, living their lives, and contributing billions to the … Continue Reading