Washington, DC – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12), Co-Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus, released the following statement on Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk’s decision in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine et al v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration et al to side with anti-abortion hate groups and suspend the FDA’s approval of mifepristone.

Mifepristone is the first drug in a two-medication regimen that has been used safely and effectively by millions of people for over 20 years for early abortion care and for miscarriage management.

“Study after study has found mifepristone to be an exceedingly safe and effective way to end a pregnancy; in fact, unfortunately, there are statistically more risks associated with pregnancy itself – especially for Black women. Since its approval by the FDA in 2000, mifepristone has been used safely by more than 5 million Americans. It is critical to remember right now that mifepristone is still legal and accessible, and we will not stop fighting to ensure it stays that way.

“Make no mistake: if the Supreme Court upholds this extreme and dangerous ruling, it will be the greatest loss for abortion rights since the fall of Roe. This is just the next step in the decades-long coordinated effort by anti-abortion groups to ban abortion care in every form, in every state.

“We can’t let that happen. As Co-Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus, I am working closely with our partners to respond to this egregious ruling and preserve access to mifepristone nationwide. People—not politicians—should have the freedom to make their own health care decisions, and we won’t stop fighting until they do.”

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By Tanu Henry

California Black Media

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA12), the highest-ranking African American woman serving in the U.S. Congress, announced on February 21, that she will enter the race to replace 89-year-old Dianne Feinstein — California’s senior U.S. Senator who has announced that she will not seek another term.

“No one is rolling out the welcome mat – especially for someone like me. I am the girl they didn’t allow in, who couldn’t drink from the water fountain, who had an abortion in a back alley when they all were illegal,” Lee said in a video she released announcing her senatorial bid. “I escaped a violent marriage, became a single mom, a homeless mom, a mom who couldn’t afford childcare and brought her kids to class with her.”

“By the grace of God, I didn’t let that stop me,” Lee said over a soundtrack of loudening applause. “And even though there are no African American women in the U.S. Senate, we won’t let that stop us either. Because when you stand on the side of justice, you don’t quit when they give you a seat at the table. You bring a folding chair for everyone, and they’re here to stay.”

A week earlier, Lee, a 12-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives who is known for her progressive politics, filed the required paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to be a candidate in the 2024 race.

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“It has been an immense honor to serve alongside Senator Dianne Feinstein, the longest-serving woman senator in our nation’s history,” Lee said in a statement after Feinstein’s announcement. “For over two decades, we’ve worked closely together to represent the best interests of our great state of California; create an economy that works for all; and advance justice and equity.”

“The progress we’ve made in the fight for equity can be seen in the Senator’s tenure itself: when she was elected in ’92, there were just two women senators. Today, there are 25,” Lee said, continuing her homage to Feinstein.

If Lee wins, she will be the only Black woman serving in the U.S. Senate. Just two Black women, Vice President Kamala Harris and former Illinois Senator Carol Moseley Braun, have served in the upper house of the United States Congress in the body’s 230-year history.

“As one of the most liberal states in the nation, we must continue to send an independent voice who will be diverse in their perspective and positions,” said Kellie Todd-Griffin, founding convener of the California Black Women’s Collective, a statewide organization whose membership includes women representing various professional backgrounds.

“That is Congressmember Barbara Lee. She speaks for all of us,” added Griffin.

In 2020, after Kamala Harris became vice president, Black women advocates across California called on Gov. Gavin Newsom to appoint a Black woman to replace her. They made the case that there would be no other Black woman in the Senate after Harris left, and that Black women are the most loyal, most powerful, and  most consistent voting bloc in the Democratic Party.

Instead, Newsom appointed Sen. Alex Padilla, the first Latino from California to serve in the U.S. Senate. Although Black political advocates and Black leaders in the California Democratic Party eventually embraced Padilla’s nomination, many felt Newsom’s decision to not appoint a Black woman to replace Harris was a slap in the face.

“That is a terrible loss for America. That is our seat,” said Amelia Ashley Ward, publisher of the San Francisco Sun-Reporter, after Padilla was nominated. “It was won by an African American woman, and she had hundreds of thousands of African American women working hard with her, holding her up, standing behind her to win that seat.”

Lee, 76, will be competing for Feinstein’s Senate seat against two other Democratic members of California’s delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives: Katie Porter (D-CA-47), 49, and Adam Schiff (D-CA-30), 62.

Both Porter and Schiff, like Lee, have progressive voting records. Both Democratic competitors have already amassed tens of millions of dollars, respectively, in campaign donations. Their early fundraising places them in a stronger position than Lee to win the 2024 Democratic primary which will be held about a year from now.

In the U.S. House, Lee serves as co-chair of the Policy and Steering Committee. She is also a member of the Appropriations and Budget committees. She is former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and chair emeritus of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Lee has also been hailed by her Democratic colleagues as the only member of Congress who had the courage to vote against the use of force in Iraq after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

As a young activist, Lee was a volunteer for the 1973 Oakland mayoral campaign of Black founder co-founder Bobby Seale.

Griffin says for Black women particularly, and for African Americans in general, it is important to have representation in the United States Senate.

“Congressmember Lee has been a progressive leader whose record demonstrates she will fight to solve the issues that impact our community.

She has effectively served California by advancing meaningful policy while standing up for the things that matter to everyday citizens,” said Griffin.

Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the below statement on Wednesday following President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address to Congress:

Last night, our nation and the world saw President Biden outline the historic, unprecedented progress we have made over the past two years with a Democratic government.

We should all take time to celebrate this progress, especially considering the state of our nation when Biden took office. In just two years, we’ve created 12 million jobs—more than any other president has created in four years. Unemployment is down to its lowest level in half a century, and real wages—especially in underpaid sectors—are increasing.

Seniors on Medicare can finally stop worrying about outrageous health care costs now that insulin has been capped at $35/month out-of-pocket, and the Affordable Care Act Enrollment is at a record high.

U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, Congressman Gregory Meeks (center) and President Joe Biden. (Photo: NBC News / Youtube)

In just a single Congress, we’ve made more progress on climate and gun violence legislation than in the past 30 years with the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. And we’ve continued to make progress towards an AIDS-free generation as we mark the 20^th anniversary of PEPFAR.

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But as POTUS emphasized in an impassioned call to Congress, we have more work ahead to finish his agenda. The economy still isn’t working for everyone. I applaud the President’s bold call for new taxes on billionaires and stock buybacks; universal childcare, home care, and pre-K; paid sick leave; and bold housing investments—some of the biggest inflationary costs hitting working people.

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and Congresswoman Lee.

The President also spoke powerfully to the need for reform to our policing system and the racial injustice that plagues our country. From combatting systemic racism to the war on reproductive rights, it is vital that Congress hold the line against Republican extremism and take back our rights.

While these extreme MAGA Republicans attempt to raise taxes and destroy Social Security and Medicare, I look forward to working with the president and my Democratic colleagues to continue delivering for the people of this country in the coming year.

At Leader Jeffries’ #StateoftheUnion reception “with my amazing
Democratic colleagues & guest, Pastor Mike McBride,” said Rep. Lee.