Biography

Barbara Jean Lee (born July 16, 1946) is the U.S. Representative for California's 13th congressional district, serving since 1998. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district, numbered as the 9th District from 1998 to 2013, is based in Oakland and includes most of northern Alameda County. She is the first woman to represent this district. Lee is the former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and is the current Whip and former Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. She is the Vice Chair and a founding member of the LGBT Equality Caucus. Lee has been a hero among many in the anti-war movement, notable for her vocal criticism of the war in Iraq and for being the only member of either chamber of Congress to vote against the authorization of use of force following the September 11, 2001 attacks.