Press Releases
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds Action to Protect SNAP, House Defeat of Farm Bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 20, 2013 Contact: Carrie Adams (202) 225-2661 Washington, D.C.- Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on the defeat of the Farm Bill: "I am so proud of my colleagues who joined me in the fight against the Republican's attack on our social safety net. This Farm Bill added insult to injury for the nation's poor. It was heartless, it was reckless, and now, I'm proud to say, it has failed. "The Republicans' proposed $20 billion in … Continue Reading
June 20, 2013
Congresswoman Lee Hails Supreme Court Decision on USAID v AOSI
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 20, 2013 Contact: Carrie Adams (202) 225-2661 Washington, D.C.-Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee issued the following statement as the Supreme Court issued their ruling on U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) v. Alliance for Open Society, International (AOSI). Congresswoman Lee, along with Senators Enzi, Leahy, Daschle and Frist, and Reps. Lowey, Waxman, Berman, and Kolbe, signed an amicus brief in support of AOSI: "At the heart of this case was a … Continue Reading
June 18, 2013
Congresswoman Barbara Lee on Comprehensive Immigration Reform
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 18, 2013 Contact: Carrie Adams, 202-225-2661 Today, Rep. Barbara Lee joined a press conference and released the following statement on HR 2278, the "Strengthen and Fortify Enforcement Act" : "Thank you so much for the opportunity to speak with you today. "Thank you to my colleague, Congressman Luis Guitierrez: your leadership on this issue has been truly incredible. Thank you to the Dreamers for joining us and to all the advocacy groups … Continue Reading
June 18, 2013
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Celebrates Small Business Week
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 19, 2013 Contact: Katherine Jolly (510) 763-0370 Congresswoman Barbara Lee Celebrates Small Business Week Oakland, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement recognizing the 50th Annual National Small Business Week: "This week it gives me great pleasure to honor our East Bay small businesses, who are truly the engine that drives our local economy. I join with my Democratic colleagues in placing small businesses and small business owners at … Continue Reading
June 17, 2013
Barbara Lee Announces $800K in Federal Grants for Housing Counseling
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 18, 2013 Contact: Katherine Jolly (510) 763-0370 Barbara Lee Announces $800K in Federal Grants for Housing Counseling Washington, D.C - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) announced $814,488 in federal grants through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to NID Housing Counseling Agency (NID-HCA), which is headquartered in Emeryville, CA. These federal funds will be used to assist families and individuals with their housing needs and … Continue Reading
June 14, 2013
Over Two Dozen Members of Congress Protest SNAP Cuts, Live on Food Budget of $4.50/day
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 14, 2013 Contact: Carrie Adams (202) 225-2661 (Lee) (Click here to download this photo) Washington, D.C.- In protest over the more than $20 billion in cuts proposed to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the 2014 Farm Bill, over two dozen Members of Congress have announced that they have committed to living on the food budget of an average SNAP recipient, just $4.50 a day. Members have been blogging, tweeting, and publicizing their … Continue Reading
June 13, 2013
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Hails Passage of Amendments Supporting Ending War in Afghanistan, Modernizing Discriminatory HIV Laws
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 13, 2013 Contact: Carrie Adams (202) 225-2661 Washington, D.C.- Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on the passage of two amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act on the floor of the House: On the passage of the McGovern-Jones-Smith-Lee-Garamendi Amendment on Afghanistan, which would ensure that the President completes the transition to Afghan control of combat operations by the end of 2014, Congresswoman Lee said, "I … Continue Reading
June 12, 2013
Council for a Livable World Applauds Passage of the Afghanistan Amendment to NDAA
The Council for a Livable World applauds the House of Representatives for the passage of the McGovern-Jones-Smith amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA.) The amendment was sponsored by Reps. Jim McGovern (D-MA,) Walter Jones (R-NC,) Adam Smith (D-WA,) Barbara Lee (D-CA,) and John Garamendi (D-CA.) "After more than a decade of war and billions of dollars, Congress has finally decided to end the war," said John Isaacs, executive director of Council for a Livable World. "For … Continue Reading
June 12, 2013
Full Member List of Congressional SNAP Challenge
Congressman John Carney (D, DE) Congressman Matthew Cartwright (D, PA-17) Congressman Joe Crowley (D, NY-14) Congressman John Conyers (D, MI-13) Congressman Peter DeFazio (D, OR-04) Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01) Congressman Theodore Deutch (D, FL-21) Congressman Keith Ellison (D, MN-05) Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham (D, NM-01) Congressman Hank Johnson (D, GA-04) Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D-DC) Congressman Jared Huffman (D, CA-02) Congresswoman Robin Kelly … Continue Reading
June 11, 2013
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Calls for Sunset of AUMF, Report on Lethal Use of Drones, Introduces Amendments to National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 11, 2013 Contact: Carrie Adams (202) 225-2661 Washington, D.C.- Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) submitted five amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2014. Lee offered amendments ranging from ending the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) to further disclosure and debate surrounding the lethal use of drones. First, Lee offered a sunset of the AUMF, which sets a date for repeal at the end of the war in … Continue Reading
June 07, 2013
#SNAPChallenge Graphics
During the 2013 SNAP Challenge, feel free to download and share these images widely! There are cover photos and easily sharealbe images for Facebook, but please note that there are several versions of each. Some have "I" language, some have "us." There are invitations, there are 'information' shareables for folks who are not participating in the challenge, but who want to elevate the issue. Please email Carrie Adams if you have any questions at … Continue Reading
June 04, 2013
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Marks Caribbean American Heritage Month, Introduces Resolution
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 4, 2013 Contact: Carrie Adams (202) 225-2661 Washington, D.C.- Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) introduced a resolution marking June as National Caribbean American Heritage Month and released the following statement: "I am so proud to see us again mark June as Caribbean American Heritage Month, and I encourage all Americans to celebrate and learn more about the rich history and culture of Caribbean Americans in the United States. "Caribbean American … Continue Reading
May 28, 2013
Rep. Barbara Lee on ‘Bank on Students Loan Fairness Act’
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 24, 2013 Contact: Carrie Adams (202) 225-2661 Washington, D.C.- Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement regarding the recent introduction of the Bank on Students Loan Fairness Act, H.R. 1979, which would allow students to borrow funds at the same low rate that banks borrow from the Federal Reserve for a year, providing a window for Congress to find a fair, long term solution on student loan interest rates. "I'm proud to be an original … Continue Reading
May 24, 2013
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Marks Memorial Day
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 24, 2013 Contact: Carrie Adams (202) 225-2661 Washington, D.C.- Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement to mark Memorial Day, which will be celebrated on Monday, May 27th: "Every Memorial Day, Americans can pause to not only remember those who have sacrificed their lives for our nation, but to recommit to bettering the lives of our troops and veterans who continue to give heroically to our country. "As the daughter of a veteran, it is … Continue Reading
May 23, 2013
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Responds to President Obama’s Call for AUMF Repeal, Introduces Legislation Creating Greater Oversight of Drones
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 23, 2013 Contact: Carrie Adams (202) 225-2661 Washington, D.C.- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) released the following statement in response to President Obama's speech focusing on drone warfare and national security. In advance of the speech, Congresswoman Lee introduced related legislation, The Drones Accountability Act. The bill would prohibit the CIA from making lethal drone strikes and require the disclosure of legal opinions and justifications surrounding … Continue Reading
May 23, 2013
Congresswoman Lee and Whip Hoyer Introduce “Half-in-Ten Act” to Eliminate Poverty, Combat Inequality
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 23, 2013 Contact: Carrie Adams (Lee) (202) 225-2661 Stephanie Young (Hoyer) (202) 225-5161 Washington, D.C.- Today, House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA) introduced the Half-in-Ten Act of 2013, which would establish the Federal Interagency Working Group on Reducing Poverty, which will develop and implement a national strategy to reduce poverty by half in ten years, as well as provide … Continue Reading
May 22, 2013
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on the Passing of David Glover
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 23, 2013 Contact: Katherine Jolly (510) 763-0370 Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on the Passing of David Glover Washington, D.C.- Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) issued the following statement on the passing of David Glover: "I am deeply saddened by the passing of David Glover, and my thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family. "David has been a driving force in revitalizing neighborhoods and communities throughout the Greater Oakland/Bay … Continue Reading
May 22, 2013
Congresswoman Lee Introduces “No More Ghost Money Act”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 22, 2013 Contact: Carrie Adams (202) 225-2661 Washington, D.C.- Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) introduced the No More Ghost Money Act of 2013. The bill would prohibit illegal payments to foreign officials and would require a report to Congress on payments made by the CIA to employees, officers, and elected officials to foreign entities. Recent revelations that Afghan President Karzai received under the table cash payments from the CIA prompted the … Continue Reading
May 21, 2013
House Appropriations Committee Passes Bill Requiring Monthly Reports on VA Backlog
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 21, 2013Contact: Carrie Adams (202) 225-2661 Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Appropriations Committee passed the FY2014 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill. This legislation includes language requested by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), which would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide more detailed reports on the backlog and the efforts of local regional offices to eliminate it. “I am … Continue Reading
May 17, 2013
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Introduces Resolution Recognizing International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 17, 2013 Contact: Carrie Adams (202) 225-2661 Washington, D.C.- Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) introduced a House resolution recognizing the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. The resolution highlights the estimated nine million Americans who identify as gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT), including the 2.5 million who are school-aged youth. The resolution also outlines the specific effects of homophobia and transphobia, including … Continue Reading