Press Releases
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Urges President Obama to Expedite Troop Withdrawal from Afghanistan
Contact: Katherine Jolly, 510-763-0370 Bi-partisan letter to Obama: No military solution in Afghanistan, bring troops home Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC) were joined by over 90 Members of the House of Representatives in sending a bipartisan letter to President Obama, calling for an accelerated end to the war in Afghanistan. "Our responsibility to our men and women in uniform in Afghanistan is as important as ever," said Lee. "As … Continue Reading
December 05, 2012
U.S. Reps. Lee and Peters lead the effort to protect our nation’s most vulnerable families
Contact: Katherine Jolly, 510-763-0370 Lee-Peters letter calling for full extension of Unemployment Insurance in Fiscal Cliff debate earns support of 78 members of Congress Washington, D.C. - Yesterday afternoon, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Congressman Gary Peters (D-MI) sent a letter to House and Senate Leadership requesting a full and robust extension of the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program. The current program is set to expire at the end of the year, stripping … Continue Reading
December 03, 2012
Congresswoman Lee Announces $120 Million in Federal Grant Funding to Advance Green Battery Technology
For Immediate Release: November 30, 2012 Contact: Katherine Jolly, 510-763-0370 Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) announced that a multi-partner team led by Argonne National Laboratory, which includes Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), has been selected for an award of up to $120 million over five years to establish a new Batteries and Energy Storage Hub. "I am proud to support Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's contributions to … Continue Reading
November 29, 2012
Lee Commends Administration for New PEPFAR Blueprint
Contact: Katherine Jolly, 510-763-0370 Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), a founding co-chair of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, issued the following statement regarding today's launch of the Obama Administration's AIDS Free Generation Blueprint: "I applaud Secretary Clinton, Ambassador Goosby and the Obama Administration for their commitment to achieving an AIDS-free generation. As we mark World AIDS Day on December 1, the Blueprint provides an important roadmap in … Continue Reading
November 28, 2012
Congresswoman Lee Elected Regional Representative on the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee
Contact: Katherine Jolly, 510-763-0370 Washington, D.C. - Today Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement regarding her election, by unanimous consent to serve as the Regional Representative on the Steering and Policy Committee (Region II): "I am pleased and honored to represent my colleagues as the Regional Representative on the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. In this role I will continue my advocacy for our region and my state. I am excited to work with my … Continue Reading
November 28, 2012
Congresswoman Lee Announces $13.4 Million in Federal Department of Energy Grants
Contact: Katherine Jolly, 510-763-0370 Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) announced $13.4 million in Federal funding to East Bay research organizations from the Energy Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E) through its "OPEN 2012" program. The selected projects will focus on a wide array of technologies, including advanced fuels, advanced vehicle design and materials, building efficiency, carbon capture, grid modernization, renewable power, … Continue Reading
November 10, 2012
Congresswoman Lee Issues Statement in Honor of Veterans Day
For Immediate Release: November 11, 2012 Contact: Katherine Jolly, 510-763-0370 Oakland - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-09) offered the following statement in support of America's troops and veterans in honor of the 93rd Veterans Day: "On this Veterans Day it is important that we remember those who have fought with dignity and honor to protect democracy and freedom throughout the world. As we recognize the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform, we must not forget … Continue Reading
October 09, 2012
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Announces $2.1 Million in Federal Grant Funding to Support Innovation in Advanced Manufacturing
Contact: Katherine Jolly, 510-763-0370 Oakland, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) announced today that five East Bay organizations including Laney College and University of California Berkeley will be awarded a total of $2.1 million in Federal grants through the Advanced Manufacturing Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge for the Advanced Manufacturing Medical/Biosciences Pipeline for Economic Development (AM2PED) project which will build a regional system to facilitate … Continue Reading
October 05, 2012
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on the Passing of Mervyn Dymally
Contact: Katherine Jolly (510) 763-0370 Oakland, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) issued the following statement on the passing of Mervyn Dymally: "I am deeply saddened by the passing of Mervyn Dymally, and my thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family. "Mervyn was truly a world renowned leader. As the California's first foreign-born black assemblyman in 1962, the first black senator in 1966, the first and only black lieutenant governor in 1974, he was a … Continue Reading
October 05, 2012
Congresswoman Barbara Issues Statement on September Jobs Numbers
Contact: Katherine Jolly (510) 763-0370 Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following response to the figures released by the Department of Labor showing the unemployment rate fell to 7.8 percent, and that the economy added 114,000 jobs in September: "I was encouraged by the September report showing that the overall unemployment rate dropped to 7.8 percent, the lowest unemployment rate since January 2009. September marked the 31th consecutive month of … Continue Reading
October 02, 2012
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Honored as 2012 Champion for Children
Contact: Katherine Jolly (510) 763-0370 Washington, DC - The bipartisan First Focus Campaign for Children announced today that it will recognize Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) as a 2012 Champion for children, based on her legislative agenda that prioritizes the needs of children and youth locally, nationally and globally. "I am truly honored to receive this recognition," Congresswoman Lee said. "The work that is being done by First Focus Campaign for Children gives me constant … Continue Reading
September 27, 2012
Barbara Lee Statement on National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement in observance of National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day: "September 27th, 2012 marks the 5th Annual National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. In the thirty years since HIV was discovered in the US, we have made great strides in treatment, care and prevention efforts; but much work remains. Gay men in the U.S. represent the largest proportion of new HIV infections--- and for African Americans, the … Continue Reading
September 26, 2012
Two Oakland Drug Treatment Programs to Receive a Total of $1 million in HHS Grant Funding
Contact: Katherine Jolly (510) 763-0370 Oakland, CA- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-09) announced today that two Oakland health agencies that provide services throughout the Bay Area will receive a total of $1 million in funding through Health and Human Services Mental Health & Substance Abuse Service Grants. Oakland-based AIDS Project of the East Bay and Native American Health Services, Inc will both receive $500,000 to provide HIV and Hepatitis testing, substance abuse treatment, … Continue Reading
September 25, 2012
Congresswoman Lee Fights Voter Suppression Efforts by Preparing California's Voters for Election Day
Oakland, CA - On September 25, 2012, National Voter Registration Day, hundreds of East Bay residents joined Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, Emeryville Mayor Jennifer West and community leaders to ensure that all voters in California are prepared to vote this fall. In response to moves throughout the country to enact strict voting laws that impose unfair restrictions on eligible voters, Representative Lee and the Congressional … Continue Reading
September 21, 2012
Trailblazing African American Marines honored with Congressional Gold Medal in Oakland
Contact: Katherine Jolly, 510-763-0370 Oakland, CA - Today, the Office of Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-09) honored two former members of the Montford Point Marines, a group of African American servicemen who broke the last color barrier in the US Armed Forces. Sergeant Riley A. McCray (Oakland, CA) and Corporal Lynn L. Williams (Berkeley, CA) received Congressional Gold Medals in a ceremony officiated by the U.S. Marine Corps at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building in Oakland on … Continue Reading
September 21, 2012
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Seeks Defense Budget Transparency With Latest Bill
Contact: Katherine Jolly (510) 763-0370 Washington, D.C.-Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee introduced the "Audit the Pentagon Act of 2012" for increased fiscal transparency and accountability in the defense budget. This bill will reduce the authority of any Federal agency by five percent if it does not receive an independent audit for the previous year. Both military personnel accounts and the Defense Health Program would be exempt from cuts and the President would be granted a … Continue Reading
September 19, 2012
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Announces $14.9 Million in Federal Grant Funding for Regional Job Training for Workers Displaced by Foreign Trade
Contact: Katherine Jolly, 510-763-0370 Oakland, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) announced today that a consortium of 10 East Bay community colleges, which includes Merritt College, Laney College, and Berkeley City College, will be awarded $14.9 million in grants for Design it-Build it-Ship it (DBS), a regional workforce initiative that seeks to retrain displaced workers in emerging manufacturing and technology fields through the Department of Labor's (DOL) Trade Adjustment … Continue Reading
September 19, 2012
Congresswoman Lee Statement on Women's Issues Scorecard
For Immediate Release September 19, 2012 Contact Katherine Jolly (202) 744-7293 Washington, D.C.- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) released the following statement following today's press conference held by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, and Congresswoman Janice Schakowsky. "The report issued by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce further underlines the persistent, unrelenting War on Women being waged by the Republicans in the House of … Continue Reading
September 14, 2012
Barbara Lee Commemorates National Hispanic Heritage Month
For Immediate Release WASHINGTON D.C. -Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement today in observance of Hispanic Heritage Month, which is observed from September 15 to October 15: "As a proud member of the Tri-Caucus - the coalition of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, and the Asian Pacific American Caucus - it is my honor to recognize Hispanic Heritage Month and its importance to our nation." "I have the privilege of serving a … Continue Reading
September 12, 2012
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Calls for Urgent Response to Poverty Crisis
Contact: Katherine Jolly (202) 744-7293 Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), co-chair of the Congressional Out of Poverty Caucus, issued the following response to the figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau showing 46.2 million Americans living in poverty. The data also displays a wide racial disparity, with the poverty rate for non-Hispanic whites standing at 9.8 percent, while the rates for African Americans and Hispanics remain unacceptably high at 27.6 … Continue Reading