Barbara Lee

Barbara Lee, a Democrat, has represented the 9th District of California in the U. S. House of Representatives since 1999.

Iraq War
During the debate over the resolution giving the president the right to use military force against Iraq in 2002, Lee introduced an amendment (H.AMDT.608) urging the president to use diplomacy and work through the United Nations rather than launching a military strike against Iraq. Supporters felt as though doing so would ensure that the U.S. maintained the cooperation of the global community. Opponents believed that the U.S. did not require the permission of other nations to protect itself.

As the FY2004 Intelligence Authorization was being debated in June 2003, no weapons of mass destruction had been found in Iraq. In response, Lee introduced an amendment (H.AMDT.195) calling for a study into how much intelligence was shared between the Pentagon and U.N. inspectors in the months leading up to the war. Supporters argued that an investigation was necessary to see whether intelligence was withheld or falsified in order to improve the Bush administration's case for war against Iraq. Many Republicans, such as House Intelligence Committee Chairman Porter Goss (R-Fla.), who later headed the CIA, opposed Lee's idea as "unnecessary."

During the March 2007 debate over the Iraq supplemental bill, Rep. Lee, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, introduced an amendment calling for a complete withdrawal of U.S. troops and contractors from Iraq by December 31, 2007, much earlier than the original September 2008 deadline. Specifically, it called for the “continued protection of members of the Armed Forces...and Department of Defense contractor personnel” and fully funding “the safe and complete withdrawal from Iraq of all members of the Armed Forces and contractor personnel...not later than December 31, 2007.”

Environmental record
For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Biography
Lee was born July 16, 1946 in El Paso, Texas. She was educated at Mills College and the University of California, Berkeley, and was chief of staff for United States Representative Ron Dellums and a member of the California State Assembly and the California State Senate before entering the House.

In 2001, Congresswoman Lee cast the only "no" vote to the US invasion of Afghanistan.

2006 elections
In 2006, the Republicans nominated John Den Dulk, and the Libertarian Party nominated Jim Eyer to face Lee in her November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) Lee retained her seat.

Money in Politics
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Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Appropriations
 * Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services
 * Subcommittee on Legislative Branch
 * Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

 * House Committee on Financial Services
 * Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity
 * Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy Trade and Technology
 * House Committee on International Relations
 * Subcommittee on Africa Global Human Rights and International Operations
 * Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere

Coalitions and Caucuses

 * Congressional Black Caucus
 * Congressional Progressive Caucus

Affiliations

 * Director, Africa Action
 * Congressional Advisory Board, Humpty Dumpty Institute
 * Director, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
 * Founding Board, Project Vote Smart
 * Director, Churches' Center for Theology and Public Policy

Articles and resources

 * Official website
 * Campaign website
 * Mother Jones Interview With Barbara Lee
 * In These Times Op Ed By Barbara Lee Permanent Occupation
 * A Progressive State of the Union By Barbara Lee and Lynn Woolsey
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Tiger Beat: Music, Culture, and Politics