Update: See our new postcard
campaign to Lee demanding an end to military aid to Israel.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee is often thought of as one of
the most progressive Congresspeople in the House of Representatives. Does
Barbara Lee challenge the reactionary AIPAC agenda? To answer that
question, it would be more helpful to
look at the full record, including statements and votes as they pertain to
the issue of peace and justice in the Middle East. How far does a
progressive congressperson go in fighting for human rights, given the
political reality?
A careful look at Lee's voting record and statements
shows a mixed record, and many applaud her courage to take an independent
line. She has at times taken positions that are directly at odds with
AIPAC, and other times takes a safe position and votes with the majority
in support of the AIPAC agenda. We hope that with this collection of
record of her votes and statements that the reader can gain a clearer
understanding of her positions.
We are concerned mostly about the limits of Barbara
Lee's actions, and her unwillingness, like nearly every member of
Congress, to address the issue of providing US military aid to Israel, despite
Israel's dismal human rights record, and its involvement in the
proliferation of nuclear weapons. That's why Stop AIPAC supports the
efforts of the newly formed "East Bay
Campaign for Responsible Aid". The East Bay Campaign for
Responsible Aid is a coalition of organizations, activists and community
leaders dedicated to the goal of halting U.S. Military Aid to the
government of Israel until certain conditions are met. The Coalition has
held vigils in front of Barbara Lee's Oakland office urging a cut-off of
military aid, and has already met with staff members in Lee's office.
Barbara Lee sits on the House Committee on Foreign
Affairs and is the leader of the Congressional Black Caucus. Her
leadership in the House makes it all the more important that we do all we
can to reach her on these vital issues.
Barbara Lee has not taken any donations from
AIPAC-related Political Action Committees.
Barbara Lee's Public Record on AIPAC-Related issues.
Barbara Lee's
position on U.S. Military Aid to Israel.
Dates highlighted in red indicate Lee acted in support of AIPAC policy.
6/2910 - Lee does
not sign the "Poe-Peters"
aipac letter, that
supported Israel's attack on the Gaza flotilla.
338 members of
the House do sign the letter.
87 members
of the Senate sign the
Reid
version.
6/24/10 - Lee
votes for the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability,
and Divestment Act of 2010, supported heavily by AIPAC. See her
statement of support. To see why this
brings us closer to war, read
this article by leaders of Peace Action. Complete Roll Call in House,
here.
6/4/10 - Lee issues statement
on Israeli attack on Gaza Flotilla, calls for end of blockade. Lee
provided no public statement of concern before the massacre, despite pleas
from flotilla participants in her own district to tell Israel to reject
violence.
5/20/10 - Lee votes to support
President Obama's decision to send an extra $200 million to Israel to
support the "Iron Dome" "missile defense" project. This aid is in
addition to the record $3 billion already allocated to Israel's
"defense" by Congress.
Roll Call in House.
4/28/10 - Lee introduces resolution in the House supporting a US
investigation into the shooting of Tristan Anderson.
H.CON.RES.270
1/21/10 - Lee signs letter to Obama
This “Dear Colleague” letter to President Obama draws attention to the
devastating humanitarian consequences of Israel’s illegal blockade of the
occupied Palestinian Gaza Strip. It terms Israel’s blockade of Gaza “de
facto collective punishment,” which is a war crime under the 4th Geneva
Convention.
11/3/09 - Lee votes to oppose an AIPAC Resolution calling for
rejection by the United States the UN report (Known as the "Goldstone
Report") on the attack on Gaza in the winter of 2008-9.
More here.
5/1/09 - Lee Does NOT sign the
Hoyer letter, an
AIPAC-initiated letter that in essence rebukes President Obama's mild
public concerns about Israel's refusal to end settlement construction in
the Occupied West Bank. 328 of Lee's House colleagues do sign.
4/22/09 - Lee asks Secretary of State Clinton about
what the State Dept is doing in regard to Tristan Anderson's incident and
touches on several other issues. No response from Clinton on that
question.
Press
Release and
Video
4/19/09 - Lee expresses opposition
to President Obama's decision to boycott Durban II,
3/27/09 - Responds to the shooting of Tristan Anderson.
Press Release and Statement
(Video) on the Floor
of the House.
1/15/09 -
Dennis Kucinich introduces a
resolution - H. Res 66, regarding the need for humanitarian aid
to Gaza, and it is cosponsored by 9 others. Not including Barbara Lee.
1/9/09 -
Barbara Lee Statement on
refusing to support House Resolution 34 (text
and vote here), Supporting Israel's actions in Gaza. While she was
willing to be part of the minority not to support the resolution, that she
did not vote No was the cause of some criticism from peace activists, see
here for example.
1/9/09 -
Letter to
President Bush and Secretary of State Rice urging humanitarian aid to
Gaza, signed by Congresswoman Barbara Lee and two dozen other
Congresspeople.
9/23/08 -
House Passes HR 1369, introduced by Barbara Lee on behalf of several
peace organizations in the Bay Area, including
The Rebuilding Alliance. "applauding" the "tireless work" of dozens of
non-governmental organizations promoting people-to-people coexistence and
reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians, Arabs and Jews in the
Middle East". See Lee's floor statement
here.
Text of Resolution. Passed by voice vote.
9/18/08 -
Barbara Lee introduces H.R. 6951, “to prohibit use of funds by the
Central Intelligence Agency or the Department of Defense to provide covert
or clandestine assistance for the purpose of overthrowing the Government
of Iran.” Text. This
bill never comes to a vote in the Committee.
4/22/08
- Barbara Lee supports AIPAC-supported resolution celebrating Israel's
60th anniversary and at the same time says "that we must take this
opportunity to encourage Israel and all the parties involved to find a
workable solution to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to redouble
efforts on the path to peace." See
statement. Lee gave no
mention of the ethnic cleansing of Israel in 1948. Dennis Kucinich, who
also voted for the resolution, did
talk of the refugees and those Palestinian Arabs who remained in
Israel and are subject to discrimination.
3/05/08 -
Barbara Lee votes in favor of AIPAC-supported resolution condemning
rocket fire into Israel, but makes note of humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
see statement.
1/10/08
- Barbara Lee writes letter to Secretary of State Rice regarding
humanitarian aid to Gaza. "The laws of war,
conflict, humanitarianism, international human rights and diplomacy demand
that innocent human beings cannot and must not be used as pawns to advance
political goals." More here...
7/15/04 -
Barbara Lee votes against a resolution supporting the barrier erected
in the West Bank, ruled illegal by the International Court of Justice
because it effectively annexes part of the West Bank.
Details
