Global Peace & Security
“Development, diplomacy, and international cooperation must be the cornerstones of our foreign policy. We need to stop these endless wars and rejoin the international community by investing in smart security, fighting global poverty, and combating HIV/AIDS and other diseases.” - Congresswoman Barbara Lee
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Congresswoman Lee's willingness to stand on principle has earned her the recognition as a leader in promoting global peace and security by reducing real threats and addressing the conditions that produce conflict.
As the former Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and current Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Peace & Security Task Force, Congresswoman Lee had been a champion of peaceful alternatives to military intervention. Days after the 9/11 attacks, she casted the lone dissenting vote against authorizing President Bush to use “all necessary and appropriate force” against anyone associated with the attacks. Since that vote of conscience, Congresswoman Lee has been joined by hundreds of her peers in Congress in votes to limit the executive branch’s use of military force. She spearheaded efforts to redeploy combat troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, and has ensured that no permanent military bases is established in either country. She has played a lead role in Congress in advocating for diplomatic alternatives to war with Iran. Congresswoman Lee opposes wasteful Pentagon spending and has worked to cut funds for the destabilizing missile defense system and to increase funding for programs to protect our nation’s ports and to keep nuclear materials out of the hands of terrorists.
In efforts to support Global Peace & Security, Congresswoman Lee has been instrumental in:
· Putting U.S. “Smart Power” to Work: As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I continue to work to increase our use of diplomatic, development, and reconstruction activities. In particular, I successfully pushed for the U.S. to become a global leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS. I have authored or coauthored every bill to combat global HIV/AIDS since I was elected to Congress in 1998.
· Reining in the bloated Pentagon budget: During the FY2012 Defense Appropriations debate, the Congresswoman introduced amendments to audit the Pentagon, redirect funding from an overseas slush fund to a deficit reduction account, and fund only the safe and swift redeployment of troops out of Afghanistan. I successfully had provisions included which prohibited the use of torture as well as the establishment of permanent military bases in Iraq.
· Addressing Humanitarian Crises across the World: I have played a critical role in raising the response on humanitarian disasters such as the 2010 earthquake in Haiti and the 2011 famine in the Horn of Africa. I helped bring the world’s attention to the genocide in Darfur, traveling there three times and sponsored legislation recognizing acts of genocide in the region, calling for divestment from Sudan, and urging China as well as the Arab League to step up their efforts to stop the genocide in Darfur. My divestment legislation was enacted into law at the end of 2007.
· Leading the Opposition to the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan: I introduced an amendment ahead of the U.S. invasion of Iraq that would have avoided the war by allowing for inspectors to certify that indeed there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. I spearheaded congressional opposition to establishing permanent military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan. I took a stand in the days after 9/11 and warned my colleagues of the dangers of signing a blank check for war anytime, anywhere, for any length of time. It is past time that we bring the war in Afghanistan to an end. I continue to champion the fight to limit war funding to the safe and responsible redeployment of U.S. troops and contractors out of Afghanistan.
· Avoiding a nuclear-armed Iran via diplomacy and not military confrontation: I introduced the Prevent Iran from Acquiring Nuclear Weapons and Stop War Through Diplomacy Act. My straight forward legislation directs the President to appoint a Special Envoy for Iran to pursue comprehensive sustained negotiations that will ensure that the diplomatic option is on the table.
Sponsored Legislation (112th Congress)
· H.R.384: Peace Stamp for the Peace Corps Act - Directs the U.S. Postal Service to issue a semipostal (a postage stamp sold at a premium in order to help provide funding for certain causes) to benefit the Peace Corps. (Introduced 1/20/2011)
· H.R.780: Responsible End to the War in Afghanistan Act – Requires that funds made available for operations of the Armed Forces in Afghanistan are to be used only for providing for the safe and orderly withdrawal of all U.S. military personnel and Department of Defense (DOD) contractor personnel in Afghanistan. (Introduced 2/17/2011)
· H.R.2757:Iraq Withdrawal Accountability Act of 2011 - To prohibit the use of funds to maintain United States Armed Forces and military contractors in Iraq after December 31, 2011. (Introduced 8/1/2011)
· H.R. 4173:Iran from Acquiring Nuclear Weapons and Stop War Through Diplomacy Act– Appoints a Special Envoy to Iran and ends “no contact” policy to seek diplomatic resolution to Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions. (Introduced 3/8/2012)
· H.RES.261: Encourages media organizations to publicize the issues addressed by the Cairo Consensus, and nongovernmental organizations, faith based organizations, community organizations, and private citizens to act to improve gender equality, end violence against women, expand access to reproductive, maternal, and other health services, lower infant, childhood, and maternal mortality rates, and eradicate world poverty. (Introduced 5/10/2011)
· H.CON.RES.11: Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should provide, on an annual basis, an amount equal to at least 1 percent of United States gross domestic product (GDP) for nonmilitary foreign assistance programs. (Introduced 1/20/2011)
· H.AMDT.86 to H.R. 1: Prohibits the use of funds by the Department of Defense (except personnel and the Defense Health Program account) in excess of the amount for fiscal year 2010, unless the financial statements of the Department for fiscal year 2010 are validated as ready for audit within 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (Offered 2/17/2011 and 7/7/2011)
· H.AMDT.150 to H.R. 1: Reduce appropriations in the bill for the Department of Defense to fiscal year 2008 levels. (Offered 2/18/2011)
· H.AMDT. 316 to H.R. 1540: An amendment to return Defense Department spending to 2008 level, with exemptions for personnel and health accounts. (Offered 5/25/2011)
· H.AMDT.525 to H.R. 2219: Amendment to strike the funding for combat operations in Afghanistan except for the safe and orderly return of all U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
· H.AMDT.530 to H.R. 2219: Redirect $5 billion in funds from the Overseas Contingency Operations Transfer slush Fund to the spending reduction account. (Offered 7/6/2011)
· H.AMDT.571 to H.R. 2219: An amendment to require the withdrawal of United States Armed Forces and military contractors from Iraq by December 31, 2011. (Introduced 7/7/2011)
· H. AMDT. 572 to H.R. 2219: An amendment to prohibit the use of funds to be used for
For more information contact the Office of Congresswoman Barbara Lee at 202-225-2661 or send a message from my email gateway at lee.house.gov