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Barbara Lee

Introduction

Lee is the former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and is current Whip and former Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus^[1].

She was a United States Representative at the United Nations 68th and 70th General Assemblies. Lee is also the co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus. She is the Vice Chair and a founding member of the LGBT Equality Caucus^[1].

Early Life and Education

Lee was a young single mother of two receiving public assistance when she began attending Mills College. She received an MSW from the University of California, Berkeley in 1975^[2]. (Change to this source and remove the first source listed in this spot on the current article because it makes no sense)

Political Career

AUMF Opposition

Lee explained,

"It was a blank check to the president to attack anyone involved in the September 11 events—anywhere, in any country, without regard to our nation's long-term foreign policy, economic and national security interests, and without time limit. In granting these overly broad powers, the Congress failed its responsibility to understand the dimensions of its declaration. I could not support such a grant of war-making authority to the president; I believe it would put more innocent lives at risk. The president has the constitutional authority to protect the nation from further attack, and he has mobilized the armed forces to do just that. The Congress should have waited for the facts to be presented and then acted with fuller knowledge of the consequences of our action"^[3].

Lee was arrested in 2006 along with five other Congress members as well as several activists for protesting in front of the Sudanese Embassy in Washington, D.C^[4]. The group was protesting against genocide going on in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Other Positions

Congressional Black Caucus

Article still says she hinted she would run for leadership - change to say:

Lee was Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus from 2008-2010^[1].

Gun Violence (New Sub-heading)

Lee is a strong advocate for common-sense gun reform legislation. She participated in the 2016 sit-in against gun violence in the House of Representatives. Democratic members of Congress adopted the slogan "No Bill, No Break" in an attempt to push the introduction of gun reform legislation.

In a statement on the sit-in, Lee said,

"Time and again, House Republicans have blocked our ability to keep Americans safe by preventing us from passing common sense gun reforms, including closing a glaring loophole that allows suspected terrorists to purchase weapons of war. These weapons of war, some of which can fire 900 rounds per minute, have no place on America's streets. We simply cannot allow this insanity. My constituents and people from all over the nation have been demanding action, but they are being ignored by the House's Republican leadership. Too many people have already been lost to senseless gun violence. Enough is enough; Congress must act to protect the lives of Americans"^[5].

Black Panthers (New Sub-heading)

In 1968, Lee began volunteering at the Black Panther Party's Community Learning Center in Oakland, California^[4]. Lee also worked on Bobby Seale's 1973 campaign for mayor in Oakland.

Lee disagreed with the National Park Service removing funding for a Black Panther Legacy Project in 2017. The Representative released a statement saying, "It is outrageous that the National Park Service has stripped resources from the Black Panther Party Research, Interpretation & Memory Project.  The Black Panther Party was an integral part of the civil rights movement and the public has a right to know their history. I call upon the National Park Service and the Department of Interior to provide a full explanation as to why these critical federal resources have been taken away"^[6].

Environmental Issues (New Sub-heading)

Lee introduced the Women and Climate Change Act in February of 2018. The bill aims to create a Federal Interagency Working Group on Women and Climate Change^[7]. Lee said on the Act, "Climate change is already impacting communities around the world with a disproportionate effect on the world's poorest residents. Women make up the majority of the world's poor and are especially vulnerable to abrupt changes in the environment. As leaders in their families, women are called upon to find food and clean water, secure safe housing, and care for loved ones. As climate change worsens, provoking historic droughts, rising sea levels and violent storms, women and girls will bear the brunt of this global crisis"^[8].

Awards (New Section)

115th Congress^[9]

• Champion of Magnet School Excellence Award - Magnet Schools of America
• 2018 Legacy Hall of Fame - NAACP of California and Hawaii
• Louis E. Martin Great American Award - Joint Center
• Barbara Lee Beacon of Hope Award - East Bay Young Democrats
• Sexuality Education Champion Award - State Sex Ed Summit 2017
• Environmental Champion Award - Environment California

114th Congress^[9]

• Lending Light Award - Immigration Equality
• 2016 National Leadership Awards Appreciation - National Forum for Black Public Administration
• Certificate of Recognition - National Center for Jewish Women
• 2016 Edward W. Brooke Housing Leadership Award - National Low Income Housing Coalition
• Lifetime Achievement Award - California Association of Black Lawyers

Committee Assignments (Flipping order of sections - committees above personal life)

Additions to different sections:

Committee on Appropriations^[1]

• Sub-Committee on Military Construction Veterans Affairs

House Committee on the Budget

Caucuses^[1]

• Whip Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality and Opportunity (Chair)
• Congressional Progressive Caucus (Former Co-Chair and current Whip)
• Congressional Black Caucus (Former Chair 2008-2010)
• Congressional Asian-Pacific American Caucus (Co-Chair)
  • Heath care Task Force
• Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus (Vice-Chair and Founding Member)
• Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus (Co-Founder and Co-Chair)

United Nations^[1]

• 68th and 70th General Assemblies (United States Representative)

Personal Life and Public Image

Shift information about her sons' professions to the bottom of this section below her own accomplishments!

References