Press Releases
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Delivers Remarks at National Civil Rights Museum Reopening, Commemorates Dr. King’s Death
[[{"fid":"243","view_mode":"teaser","fields":{"format":"teaser","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","attributes":{"style":"float: left;","class":"media-element file-teaser"}}]] Washington, D.C .— On April 5, Congresswoman Barbara Lee joined hundreds of celebrants to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination and mark the reopening of the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tenn. Remarks below are as … Continue Reading
April 04, 2014
Co-Chairs of Congressional Caucus on Sudan and South Sudan on Executive Order for South Sudan Sanctions
Carrie Adams (Lee) Mike Rosen (McCaul) Daniel Scandling (Wolf) Allison Mills (Capuano) Washington, D.C.— Today, Congressional Caucus on Sudan and South Sudan co-chairs Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Reps. Frank Wolf (R-VA), Michael Capuano (D-MA), and Michael McCaul (R-TX) released the following statement on President Obama's executive order on South Sudan: “Today’s executive order sends an unmistakable message that the United States will not sit idly by as violence and human … Continue Reading
April 04, 2014
Congresswoman Barbara Lee on March Jobs Numbers
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement today after the Department of Labor announced that the economy added 192,000 jobs. With businesses adding 192,000 jobs, this marks the 49th consecutive month of private sector job growth and recovering all the private sector jobs lost in the economic devastation of the Bush recession: “Today's jobs report shows our economy continues to move in the right direction. Yet with millions of Americans across the … Continue Reading
April 03, 2014
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Commemorates Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Death at the Grand Reopening of the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, TN
Oakland, CA - Friday, April 4th, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) will lead a delegation of seven East Bay students to the reopening of the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, TN, which was built around the historic Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. Congresswoman Lee will participate in several events, including speaking at ‘Breaking of the Chains Official Opening Ceremony” with remarks and a reading of names of Civil Rights leaders in a … Continue Reading
April 01, 2014
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Blasts Rep. Paul Ryan's Newest Budget
Washington, D.C.— Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement in response to Congressman Paul Ryan’s fiscal year 2015 budget proposal: “What we have here is a messaging document masquerading as a budget. These proposals are nothing but more attempts to eviscerate the social safety net and leave struggling families on the edge and in the dust. “What my colleague Chairman Ryan has outlined is pure talk and no solutions. This budget is one more example in … Continue Reading
April 01, 2014
Congresswoman Lee on the Passing of Anne Taylor
Oakland, CA— Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement upon the passing of friend and colleague, Anne Taylor: “Words cannot express my sadness as we mourn the untimely death of our beloved Anne Taylor. She served as my district director, but more importantly, was a trusted and loving friend. “Anne's contributions to the residents of the East Bay were enormous. With true compassion and commitment, she touched the lives of thousands of people. Not only was she a … Continue Reading
March 30, 2014
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Presents East Bay Student Award for Malaria Advocacy During the Golden State Warriors’ Nothing But Nets Night
Oakland - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) participated in the Golden State Warriors Nothing But Nets Night against the New York Knicks at Oracle Arena. For every event ticket purchased for this game, the Warriors will donate a life-saving insecticide-treated bed net to the United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign. Before the game, Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Nothing But Nets Director Chris Helfrich presented an award to Cooper Smith, a East Bay middle-schooler, who was … Continue Reading
March 28, 2014
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Hosts Peace Corps Acting Director for Diversity Recruitment Event at Laney College
Oakland, CA - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) hosted a Peace Corps diversity recruitment event at Oakland’s Laney College with special guest Peace Corps Acting Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet. Congresswoman Barbara Lee shared her experience as a leader in the fight against global poverty and diseases including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria and her current role as the Congressional Representative to the United Nations. She also encouraged attendees, many of who come from … Continue Reading
March 26, 2014
Congresswoman Lee Responds to Media Attacks
Washington, D.C.— Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement responding to recent remarks made by FOX News’ Bill O’Reilly. A full clip of these comments can be found here. “Unfortunately we’ve come to expect language like “welfare queens,” “food stamp president,” and now “race hustlers” from the right wing and Mr. O’Reilly. It is disgusting and divisive and should never be accepted in our national discourse. “For us to achieve the American dream for all, we must … Continue Reading
March 25, 2014
Barbara Lee Announces $2.8M Grant to Asian Health Services
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) announced a $2,757,336 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grant to Oakland-based Asian Health Services. This grant will allow Asian Health Services to provide quality and affordable medical and dental services to underserved populations in the East Bay. “I am proud that Asian Health Services will receive this critical federal funding to continue to respond to the medical needs of the most vulnerable in our community,” … Continue Reading
March 25, 2014
Congresswoman Lee on Supporting Women's Access to Contraception
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement today on the oral arguments before the Supreme Court reviewing the requirement in the Affordable Care Act that for-profit corporations include birth control coverage in employees’ insurance plans in the cases Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp. v. Sebelius: “As the Supreme Court hears oral arguments, millions of people across the country have a clear message: health care decisions … Continue Reading
March 20, 2014
Co-Chairs of Congressional Caucus on Sudan and South Sudan Call for Action on South Sudan Violence
Washington, D.C.— Today, Congressional Caucus on Sudan and South Sudan co-chairs Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Reps. Frank Wolf (R-VA), Michael Capuano (D-MA), and Michael McCaul (R-TX) were joined by 48 other members of Congress in sending a bipartisan letter to the Obama Administration. The letter details the need to sustain high-level engagement between the United States and South Sudan in brokering a durable peace, expanding access to humanitarian programs, and holding perpetrators … Continue Reading
March 16, 2014
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on the Passing of Henry Ramsey Jr.
Oakland, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) issued the following statement on the passing of Henry Ramsey Jr.: “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Henry Ramsey Jr., and my thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family. “Judge Henry Ramsey was truly a renowned leader in the fight for social justice. As an early activist in the Civil Rights Movement, a Contra Costa County prosecutor, a Berkeley City Councilmember, faculty at UC Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law, … Continue Reading
March 14, 2014
Congresswomen Lee, Bass, and Holmes Norton, Members of CBC, Address Anti-LGBT Legislation Worldwide
Washington, D.C.— Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee was joined by Congresswoman Karen Bass, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, and every member of the Congressional Black Caucus in sending a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry concerning anti-LGBT legislation in Uganda and around the world and the impact that these harsh and inhumane laws have on human rights and public health. Text of the letter: (A PDF of the letter can be found here.) March 18, 2014 The Honorable John … Continue Reading
March 13, 2014
Barbara Lee Reintroduces Resolution to Honor Social Workers on World Social Work Day
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee reintroduced a resolution marking March 18th as National Social Work Month and World Social Work Day and to highlight social workers and their impact on communities. “As a professional social worker myself, I am proud of the contribution that social workers make to society,” said Congresswoman Lee. “My resolution promotes this critical profession within the House of Representatives and brings recognition to the incredible positive force … Continue Reading
March 12, 2014
Congresswoman Lee Responds to Ryan’s Racially Charged Comments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 12, 2014 Contact: Carrie Adams (202) 225-2661 Washington, D.C.- Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement today in response to Rep. Paul Ryan's offensive and racially charged remarks about American poverty: Rep. Ryan's Remarks: "We have got this tailspin of culture, in our inner cities in particular, of men not working and just generations of men not even thinking about working or learning to value the culture of work, so there is a … Continue Reading
March 04, 2014
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Slams Ryan Poverty Report, Applauds President Obama's Budget
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 3, 2014 Contact: Carrie Adams (202) 225-2661 Washington, D.C.- Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on Rep. Paul Ryan's recent report, 'The War on Poverty: 50 Years Later': "This report is nothing more than an ideologically bankrupt battle plan to attack the poor. Not only does this report disregard current and respected data in the field, this is a callous look at the state of our country. Republicans are continuing their attack … Continue Reading
February 28, 2014
Congresswoman Lee on U.S. Relations with Uganda in Light of Discriminatory LGBT Law
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 28, 2014 Contact: Carrie Adams (202) 225-2661 Washington, D.C.- Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement regarding the future of US relations with Uganda in light of discriminatory, anti-LGBT legislation signed into Ugandan law this week: "I am extremely concerned by the enactment of the Anti-Homosexuality legislation in Uganda. This law is deeply cruel and goes against evidence-based science. As a founding Member and Vice Chair of the … Continue Reading
February 27, 2014
Congresswoman Lee Hails President Obama's New Initiative for Men of Color, 'My Brother's Keeper'
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 27, 2014 Contact: Carrie Adams (202) 225-2661 Washington, D.C.- Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement upon attending President Obama's launch of "My Brother's Keeper": "It was an honor to join Congressional colleagues, community leaders, the faith community, and non-profit innovators at the President's launch of "My Brother's Keeper." As a mother of two phenomenal black men, who I raised as a single mother, I … Continue Reading
February 12, 2014
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Announces $4.1 Million Federal Grant for the Alameda County Fire Department
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 12, 2014 Contact: Carrie Adams (202) 225-2661 WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) announced the Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD) was awarded a two-year $4.1 million federal SAFER grant to hire and train 12 new firefighters. The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. "I am excited that … Continue Reading