U.S. House of RepresentativesCandidate for District 12

Congresswoman Lee was elected to Congress in 1998.

Congresswoman Lee serves on the House Budget Committee and the powerful Appropriations Committee, which oversees all federal government spending. Congresswoman Lee is the highest-ranking Woman of Color in Congressional Leadership, serving as Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations (SFOPS). She is the first African American Member of Congress to serve as Chair of the subcommittee, which funds many of the nondefense international affairs activities of the United States. Rep. Lee also serves as the House Democratic Co-Chair of the Policy and Steering Committee. As Co-Chair, Rep. Lee works to ensure that committees reflect the diversity, dynamism, and integrity of the Democratic Caucus. In addition, she currently serves as the Chair of the Majority Leader’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity, Co-Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus, Co-Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus’ Health Care Task Force, and Co-Chair of the Cannabis Caucus. She is the former Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and current Chair Emeritus of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

The 2020 feature documentary about her life, “Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power,” by filmmaker Abby Ginzberg, won a 2022 NAACP Image Award.

Congresswoman Barbara Lee is one of the most progressive Democrats serving in Congress. Congresswoman Lee states: These remain extremely difficult times. The pandemic has claimed almost a million lives and has upended the lives of millions more, especially in our communities of color. In the face of these challenges, I remain inspired by the spirit of the East Bay community and grateful for all those who have provided vital care and services for our communities.                                                 

We have worked hard to get people vaccinated and provide economic relief. We delivered transformational investments for families through the expanded Child Tax Credit. We’ve created millions of good-paying jobs, provided critical funding for infrastructure, investing in a green economy, public safety, affordable housing, tackled racial inequality, and more.