Barbara
Jean Lee is an American politician who became the first woman to represent California's
9th congressional district when she was elected in 1998, and has been elected
each term since. Although she grew up in a military family, Congresswoman Lee
has consistently been a strong advocate for peace through diplomacy. She has the
unique distinction of being the only member of Congress to vote against giving
the President a blank check to wage war on suspected terrorists after September
11. In 1998 she had been one of only five members of the House to vote against
bombing Iraq and in 1999 was the only House member to vote against the US sending
troops to Yugoslavia. In her passionate speech before Congress in 2001, she expressed
her concern that military action would not prevent future terrorist acts but would
in fact spawn more violence. Barbara Lee is the co-chair of the Congressional
Progressive Caucus and has been a leader in advocating policies that promote human
rights and international peace and security, as well as an outspoken advocate
for legislation to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. In 2002, Barbara Lee was awarded
the German Aachen Peace Award and in 2005 she was nominated for the Nobel Peace
Prize as part of the 1000 Women For Peace project.
