Press Releases
Lee, González Colon Reintroduce Bipartisan Resolution to Modernize Laws and Policies to Eliminate HIV/AIDS Discrimination
February 25, 2021Washington, D.C. - Reps. Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Jenniffer González Colon (PR-At Large), Co-Chairs of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, reintroduced a bipartisan resolution to modernize laws and policies, and eliminate discrimination, with respect to people living with HIV/AIDS. Thirty-two states and two U.S. territories have criminal statutes or general criminal laws based on perceived exposure to HIV. Punishments under these laws or statutes include decades-long sentences and sex off… Continue Reading
Representative Barbara Lee and Senator Cory Booker Reintroduce Legislation to Form Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Commission
February 25, 2021Washington, D.C. --Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) announced the reintroduction of their legislation calling for the establishment of the first United States Commission on Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT). The Commission will examine the effects of slavery, institutional racism, and discrimination against people of color, and how our history impacts laws and policies today. "Inequality, systemic racism, and white supremacy are at the heart… Continue Reading
At the Request of Lee, Warren, Booker, and Wyden, Federal Research Agency Will Review the Use of Race-Based Algorithms in Medical Practice
February 24, 2021Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) was joined by United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), in releasing the following statement regarding the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) approving their request to review the use of race-based clinical algorithms in standard medical practices: "The COVID-19 pandemic and its disproportionate impact on communities of color have laid bare that racism is a public health c… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds Biden Executive Actions on Relief for Small Businesses
February 24, 2021Washington, D.C. - Rep. Barbara Lee released a statement applauding executive actions taken by President Joe Biden to increase economic relief for small businesses. President Biden's Executive Actions include several reforms to the Paycheck Protection Program to target relief the hardest hit businesses, including a two-week window for small businesses with fewer than 20 employees to apply for funding. Nearly 98 percent of small businesses have less than 20 employees. These actions also aim to… Continue Reading
Lee, Thompson, Booker Announce Re-Introduction of Bicameral Bill to Remove Confederate Statues From Capitol
February 19, 2021WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), announced the re-introduction of their 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 States of America from the National Statuary Hall Collection within 120 days of the bill being signed into law. This bill was originally introduced by … Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s Applauds Investment in Education and Child Care in Biden American Rescue Plan
February 18, 2021Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) today applauded the inclusion of critical funding for education in the FY21 budget reconciliation bill, which enacts President Biden's American Rescue Plan and will be considered on the floor of the House for a vote next week: The American Rescue Plan provides an estimated total of $170 billion in relief for K-12 schools and institutions of higher education. The plan also provides $39 billion in funding for childcare providers to help them … Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Joins Vice President Harris for Roundtable Discussion on Biden-Harris American Rescue Plan
February 18, 2021Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) joined Vice President Kamala Harris, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV), and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) for an official White House press conference and roundtable discussion on the Biden-Harris Administration's American Rescue Plan and its impact on women. The event began with a press availability for the White House press corps followed by a roundtable discussion on the American Rescue Plan (ARP… Continue Reading
Lee and Blumenauer Urge President Biden to Pardon Federal Cannabis Offenses
February 18, 2021WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), co-chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, led 35 lawmakers in urging President Joe Biden to use executive clemency to pardon individuals convicted of federal cannabis offenses. "Until the day that Congress sends you a marijuana reform bill to sign, you have a unique ability to lead on criminal justice reform and provide immediate relief to thousands of Americans," the lawmakers wrote in a letter … Continue Reading
Representative Lee Leads Congressional Democrats in Filing Amicus Brief in ACOG v. FDA
February 12, 2021Today, Representatives Barbara Lee (CA-13), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Jan Schakowsky. (IL-9), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), as well as Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR), led 148 Members of Congress in filing an amicus brief in the case of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists v. United States Food and Drug Administration (ACOG v. FDA). The brief challenges the FDA's in-person dispensing require… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Announces Funding for COVID-19 Funeral Expenses
February 10, 2021Washington, D.C. -- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) today announced $2 billion in special Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds for families to afford proper funerals for their loved ones who passed away as a result of COVID-19. This program replicates the funding used for funeral assistance after Hurricane Katrina, and was inspired by legislation introduced by Congresswoman Lee and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) in May. This program will allow families to be reim… Continue Reading
Co-Chairs of Majority Leader’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity Applaud Congressional Proposal to Expand Child Tax Credit, Reduce Child Poverty
February 08, 2021Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), co-chairs of the Majority Leader's Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity, applauded the recently released proposal from House Democrats to provide $3,000 per child to tens of millions of American families, with the goal of addressing child poverty as part of President Biden's $1.9 trillion economic relief package. Congresswoman Lee and Leader Hoyer released the following statement: "The level of this cri… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on U.S. Reengaging with UN Human Rights Council
February 08, 2021Washington, D.C. -- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) released a statement following U.S. Secretary of State Blinken's announcement that the U.S. will reengage with the UN Human Rights Council: "In reengaging with the UN Human Rights Council, the U.S. will play an active role in ensuring the Council serves its purpose in holding countries accountable for their human rights record and supporting the global fight against injustice. "The UN Human Rights Council is, without a doubt, in need of r… Continue Reading
Rep. Lee Applauds Senate Introduction of Bipartisan Legislation to Provide Critical Diaper Assistance to Families During Pandemic
February 06, 2021Washington, D.C.- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) today introduced legislation to assist families who are struggling to afford diapers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 Diaper Assistance Act, which was also introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), would provide $200 million in additional funds through the Social Services Block Grant program for diaper assistance. Prior to the pandemic, nonprofit diaper bank distribution only… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds the Passage of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021
February 05, 2021Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) today released the following statement of support for H.R. 447, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021, upon its adoption by the House of Representatives. This legislation will grant $3.9 billion over five years to expand registered apprenticeships through grants and modify the approval process for apprenticeship programs. The U.S. is facing a dire economic crisis, with more than 11.1 million unemployed and more than eight million people hav… Continue Reading
Rep. Lee Joins Dingell, Markey in Reintroducing THRIVE Resolution to Build Back Economy Following Coronavirus Pandemic
February 05, 2021Washington, D.C. - As the Biden administration begins to take immediate action to recover from the coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic depression, Representative Barbara Lee (CA-13) joined Representative Debbie Dingell (MI-12) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today in reintroducing the Transform, Heal, and Renew by Investing in a Vibrant Economy (THRIVE) Agenda. The resolution outlines a framework for a bold economic renewal plan that addresses the four current ongoing and inters… Continue Reading
Lee, DeLauro Applaud Biden for Ending Support for Saudi-Led War in Yemen
February 04, 2021State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee Chair Barbara Lee (D-CA-13) and House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) today released a statement on President Joe Biden's announcement that the United States will end its support for Saudi-led war operations in Yemen: "President Biden's announcement ending support for offensive operations in Yemen is the first step toward ensuring the United States is only engaging in humanitarian and diplomatic efforts to end th… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Recognizes Beginning of Black History Month
February 02, 2021Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee celebrated the beginning of Black History Month with the following statement: "Today marks the beginning of Black History Month, a time to honor and celebrate the countless African Americans who were trailblazers for justice and pioneers of innovation. "This month, we recognize the significant contributions that African Americans have made to our nation throughout its history - despite the overwhelming inequalities and injustices that have… Continue Reading
Lee, Pressley, Warren Reintroduce Bold Legislation to Confront Structural Racism as a Public Health Crisis
February 01, 2021The Anti-Racism in Public Health Act would create a "Center on Anti-Racism in Health" at the CDC, strengthening the federal government's ability to develop anti-racist health policy Bill would also create a Law Enforcement Violence Prevention Program to apply a comprehensive public health approach to ending police brutality Bill Text (PDF) | One-Pager (PDF) WASHINGTON - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) reint… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Calls on Congress to Address Poverty
January 29, 2021Washington, D.C. -- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), Co-Chair of the Majority Leader's Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity, today introduced legislation expressing Congress' moral responsibility to end poverty in the United States. In 2019, approximately 34 million people and nearly 11 million children were living in poverty. Alarmingly, 8 million more Americans have slipped into poverty since May 2020, 1 in 7 children live in poverty, and nearly 3 in 4 poor children are children of color… Continue Reading
Pro-Choice Caucus Leaders Commend President Biden’s Actions to Restore Reproductive Freedom
January 28, 2021Washington, D.C. - U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Diana DeGette (D-CO) as co-chairs of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, issued the following statement after President Biden today took executive action to restore access to reproductive freedom for everyone in the U.S. and around the world: "The Trump administration's Global Gag Rule has limited people's ability to access reproductive care and has had devastating consequences on low-income communities and communities of color. After yea… Continue Reading