February 6, 2012

Congresswoman Barbara Lee is a six term member of Congress, representing California’s 9th District. She was elected to Congress in 1998 and became the first woman to hold the 9th District Seat. She began her political career as an intern in the office of her predecessor Congressman Ron Dellums, where she worked her way up to becoming his Chief of Staff.

Rep. Lee had a seemingly untraditional route to Capitol Hill, first being a single mother of two while attending college she went on to receive a Masters degree in Social Work (M.S.W.) from the University of California Berkely and worked as a social worker. She went on to be a member of the California State Assembly and State Senate before becoming a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

During her tenure Rep. Lee has been a major proponent against the Iraq War and was the only member to vote NO to the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists (AUMF), which she felt gave then President Bush enormous discretion to wage war without clear direction or distinction of an actual conflict. Outside of advocating for California’s 9th District Rep.Lee is committed to strengthening U.S. and Carribean nation relations.

Rep. Lee currently serves on the House Committee on Appropriations, as well as the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services & Subcommittee on Financial Services. She is currently the Co-Chair of the Out of Poverty Caucus and the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus and was previously the Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus during the 111th Congress.