Press Releases
Congresswoman Lee Named “Most Valuable House Member” in The Nation's 2014 Honor Roll
Oakland, CA - The Nation has named Congresswoman Barbara Lee the “Most Valuable House Member” calling her a “full-spectrum advocate for peace, civil rights, civil liberties and economic justice.” “It is with a sense of humility that I thank The Nation for the tremendous honor of being named the ‘Most Valuable House Member’ in its 2014 Honor Roll,” said Congresswoman Lee. “From ensuring economic justice and fairness to securing global peace and security, progressives have a lot of work to do … Continue Reading
December 23, 2014
Congresswoman Lee Applauds “Step in the Right Direction” but Remains Disappointed by MSM Blood Donation Ban
Oakland, CA - Congresswoman Lee released this statement on news that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will recommend ending the lifetime blood donor deferral for MSM in favor of a one year deferral from last sexual contact: “I am pleased to see the FDA take a step in the right direction by re-examining the outdated and discriminatory policy regarding blood donations from the MSM community. Yet, I remain disappointed that their recommendation continues blood donation deferrals … Continue Reading
December 17, 2014
Congresswoman Lee Celebrates Historic Step to Normalize Relations with Cuba
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Lee released the following statement regarding the President’s historic announcement on Cuba. Congresswoman Lee recently returned from leading a congressional delegation to the island: “I applaud the President for his historic step towards normalizing relations with our neighbor. In the more than fifty years since the embargo began, U.S. policy towards Cuba has been an unpopular failure and it is past time for change. I have traveled to Cuba more than 20 … Continue Reading
December 17, 2014
Bipartisan Coalition of Congressional Leaders Call for Greater Diplomatic Action to End Violence in South Sudan
Washington, D.C. - More than two dozen Congressional leaders, led by members of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Sudan and South Sudan, wrote to President Obama asking his Administration to “increase diplomatic efforts to end this brutal conflict before more civilian suffer and the region is further destabilized.” Since the conflict began in December 2013, millions of South Sudanese have been displaced and thousands have killed. Nearly two million South Sudanese have been pushed to … Continue Reading
December 17, 2014
Congresswoman Lee Applauds the Release of Alan Gross
Congresswoman Lee released the following statement applauding the humanitarian release of Alan Gross: “The release of Alan Gross is both a diplomatic and a moral victory. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. “Over the last five years, I have met with Alan many times in Cuba and worked with all parties to secure his release. I applaud the President for his tremendous leadership and all those involved in securing his release. “The release of Alan Gross is an important … Continue Reading
December 17, 2014
Congresswoman Lee Announces $600,000 Grant for School-Based Health Centers
Oakland, CA - Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator, Jared Blumenfeld, presented a $600,000 grant to the Public Health Institute’s Regional Asthma Management & Prevention, in Oakland. This grant will help school-based health centers nationwide prevent and manage environmental asthma triggers for children at school and at home. “I am pleased these important federal resources are coming into the district to prevent, address and … Continue Reading
December 17, 2014
Congresswoman Lee's Statement on the Passing of Rudy Lombard
Oakland, CA - Congresswoman Lee issued the following statement remembering the life and legacy of Rudy Lombard: “I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of my dear friend, Rudy Lombard. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and community. Rudy’s passion, activism and leadership for justice have improved countless lives, including mine. Rudy was larger than life - he was a Freedom Rider, a civil rights legend, a mayoral candidate, an author-chef and a public health … Continue Reading
December 16, 2014
Congresswoman Lee and More Than 35 Other Members of Congress Call for U.S. Participation in Summit of the Americas and Engagement with Cuba
Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee and more than 35 other Members of Congress wrote to President Obama to encourage U.S. participation in the 7th Summit of the Americas and to change current U.S. policy toward Cuba.” On the value of the summit, the letter reads: “the U.S. will have the rare opportunity to engage diplomatically with all of Latin America on our shared regional challenges.” “Regional diplomatic summits, like the Summit of the Americas, are critical to … Continue Reading
December 15, 2014
Legislators Call on HHS to End Discriminatory Blood Donation Policy, Implement Risk-Based Policies
Washington D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), and Representatives Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) and Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), led a letter with 75 of their congressional colleagues calling on Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell to replace the outdated and discriminatory lifetime ban on blood donations from men who have sex with men (MSM) with a policy based on individual risk factors. The legislators expressed deep … Continue Reading
December 12, 2014
Congresswoman Lee Praises Medical Marijuana Protection Provision
Washington, D.C. - Last night, the House passed the $1.1 trillion spending bill that was unfortunately littered with gifts for Wall Street and other harmful policy riders. However, the bill did contain a key provision that Congresswoman Lee strongly supported. The provision prevents federal overreach that would keep Californians from their medicine. The provision prohibits the use of funds by the U.S. Department of Justice to prevent states from implementing their own state laws that … Continue Reading
December 11, 2014
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Strongly Opposes Putting Taxpayers on the Hook for Wall Street Gambling in So-Called CROmnibus
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee spoke in opposition to the rule that would govern the so-called CROmnibus: “This bill [H.R. 83] funds many things that I support including Ebola funding and a critical $5.67 billion for the President's plan for AIDS relief, PEPFAR. However, it includes provisions that I cannot support. I cannot support provisions that would roll back the Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform bill and put taxpayers back on the hook for Wall Street … Continue Reading
December 11, 2014
Congresswoman Lee Speaks Out Against the Violence in South Sudan
Washington, DC – This morning, Congresswoman Lee spoke on the House floor about the humanitarian crisis devastating South Sudan and the need for increased diplomatic efforts to end the bloodshed. “Since fighting broke out last December, a humanitarian crisis has plagued this young nation. Almost 2 million people have been displaced and an estimated 50,000 civilian deaths have occurred,” said Congresswoman Lee. “And the situation is only likely to get worse in the … Continue Reading
December 09, 2014
Rep. Lee Condemns Abuses Revealed in Senate Intelligence Committee Report on Torture
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Lee released the following statement in response to the release of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence report on CIA torture: “The report from the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence released this morning confirms what I’ve long believed: the CIA not only embraced the widespread use of enhanced interrogation techniques, but they also repeatedly misled Congress and the American people about their activities. Furthermore, the report found that … Continue Reading
December 07, 2014
Congresswoman Lee’s Statement on the Protests in Berkeley
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Lee released the following statement on the ongoing protests in Berkeley: “I share the community’s outrage and frustration and stand with those peacefully making their voices heard. The destructive actions of a small minority of protestors are unacceptable - these protests must remain nonviolent. Additionally, I continue to call for police restraint as individuals exercise their First Amendment rights. As a nation and community, we must come together … Continue Reading
December 05, 2014
Congresswoman Lee's Statement on the November Jobs Report
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement upon the release of the Department of Labor’s November Jobs Report. The report announced an additional 321,000 jobs were created yet the unemployment rate held at 5.8 percent, the lowest unemployment rate since July 2008. November marks the 58th consecutive month of private sector job growth as businesses added 314,000 jobs. “I am pleased to see continued private sector job gains that build on the longest … Continue Reading
December 04, 2014
Progressive Caucus Supports Striking Fast Food Workers
Washington, D.C. - Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Keith Ellison (D-MN), along with Progressive Caucus members Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), and Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released the following statements in support of workers striking today across the country for a living wage and collective bargaining rights. “In the most … Continue Reading
December 04, 2014
Congresswoman Lee and Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen Call for Continued Coordination with the Department of Defense to Update Military HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B Policies
Washington, DC - Congresswomen Lee and Ros-Lehtinen released the following statement in response to the DoD’s “Report to Congressional Defense Committees on Department of Defense Personnel Policies Regarding Members of the Armed Forces with HIV or Hepatitis B”: We appreciate DoD’s cooperation in ensuring that our Armed Forces operate under comprehensive, medically sound and scientifically accurate HIV and Hepatitis B (HBV) policies that support our national defense strategy and protect the … Continue Reading
December 03, 2014
Congresswoman Lee’s Statement on the FY15 NDAA
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released this statement regarding the Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference bill: “While I am pleased to see bicameral and bipartisan cooperation and certainly support several elements of the bill, I have grave concerns about the conference report. This bill authorizes $63.7 billion for the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) fund. OCO funds are an accounting gimmick that allows the Pentagon to fight wars for … Continue Reading
December 03, 2014
Congresswoman Lee's Statement on the grand jury verdict concerning the murder of Eric Garner
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Lee released this statement on the grand jury verdict in the case of the murder of Eric Garner: “My heart continues to go out to Eric Garner’s family and community. I am, like so many others, outraged by today's verdict. The Department of Justice should act immediately to investigate this tragedy and ensure justice is done. We cannot allow the senseless murders of black men to continue. These tragedies have been happening for many years. But the … Continue Reading
December 01, 2014
Congresswoman Lee Calls for Greater Focus to Achieve an AIDS-Free Generation on World AIDS Day
Washington, DC - On the occasion of World AIDS Day, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, the founding co-chair of the bi-partisan, bi-cameral Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, released this statement: “As we commemorate World AIDS Day, we pause to both remember those lost to this pandemic and to look toward the goal of an AIDS-free generation. In order to effectively end this pandemic, we must remember that the U.S. is not apart from the rest of the world. Our efforts to end this disease must be … Continue Reading