Barbara Lee

Date of Birth: July 16, 1946

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Biography

Barbara Jean Lee is an American politician who has served as the U.S. Representative for California’s 13th congressional district since 1998. She is a member of the Democratic Party and is known for her progressive policies and advocacy for social justice. Lee was born in El Paso, Texas, and grew up in California, where she attended Mills College and later earned a Master of Social Work from the University of California, Berkeley. Before her tenure in Congress, she served in the California State Assembly and the California State Senate. Lee gained national recognition for her lone vote against the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) in 2001, following the September 11 attacks, arguing that it granted the President too much power to wage war without further congressional oversight.

5 Interesting Facts about Barbara Lee

1. Barbara Lee was the only member of Congress to vote against the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) in 2001, just days after the September 11 attacks.

2. She co-founded the Out of Iraq Caucus in 2005, advocating for the end of the U.S. military involvement in Iraq.

3. In 2018, Lee became the first woman to see through the passage of a bill to repeal the 2002 Iraq AUMF.

4. She served as the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus from 2009 to 2011.

5. Barbara Lee is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, where she has been a staunch advocate for social programs, healthcare, and education.