Global Peace & Security

To see video of Congresswoman Lee speaking on this issue, please click here.

“We are now spending $10 billion each month on the occupation of Iraq. Imagine if a small portion of that money was invested, instead, in conflict resolution, diplomacy, weapons reduction, food security or human rights. As the drum beats of war against Iran get louder, imagine if the debate included not only the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense, but a Secretary of Peace”
                                                   - Congresswoman Barbara Lee

Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s willingness to stand on principle and her balanced approach to security priorities have earned her recognition as a leader in promoting global peace and security through proactive efforts to reduce real threats and alleviate conditions that produce conflict.

As a member of the Human Rights Caucus, Congresswoman Lee has long been a champion of human rights and democracy.  She authored legislation to disavow the Bush administration’s doctrine of preemption, and when Congress was debating authorizing the use of force against Iraq, she introduced a substitute measure to require the US to work through the United Nations and exhaust all peaceful diplomatic means to ensure that Iraq was not developing weapons of mass destruction. She opposes wasteful 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 her efforts to support Global Peace & Security, Congresswoman Lee has been instrumental in:
 
• Directing Funds to Vital Defense Needs: The House version of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Defense Appropriations bill and Homeland Security Appropriations bill include an $833 million reduction in funding below the President’s request for the destabilizing missile defense system, $4.62 billion, or $2.07 billion above the President’s request for First Responder and Port Security Grant Programs, and provisions prohibiting the use of torture as well as the establishment of permanent military bases in Iraq.

• Addressing the Genocide in Darfur: Lee, who was arrested for protesting the genocide in front of the Sudanese embassy in Washington in June, 2006, has traveled three times to Darfur and sponsored legislation recognizing acts of genocide in the region, calling for divestment from the Sudan, and urging China as well as the Arab League to step up their efforts to stop the genocide in Darfur.  Her divestment legislation was enacted into law at the end of 2007.

• Leading the Opposition to the continued War and Occupation of Iraq: Lee has spearheaded congressional opposition to establishing permanent military bases in Iraq. The Defense Authorization Act passed by the House includes her amendment requiring congressional approval for any bilateral agreement obligating the United Stated to the defense of Iraq from internal or external threats. Congresswoman Lee continues to champion the fight to limit Iraq War funding to the safe redeployment of U.S. troops and contractors out of Iraq within 12 months.

Sponsored Legislation (110th Congress)

• H.RES.422: Urging China to help end the genocide in Darfur, Sudan.

• H.RES.1019: Highlighting the connection between the current economic recession and the enormous costs of the ongoing occupation of Iraq.

• H.RES.1028:  Reasserts Congressional prerogatives in carrying out US foreign policy with respect to Iraq by: (1) putting the House of Representatives on record in opposition to the Administration’s claim that the “Declaration of Principles for Friendship and Cooperation” with Iraq is akin to a routine Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) which properly can be executed by the President unilaterally and in secret; and (2) making clear that the Constitution requires congressional involvement and approval before the Administration can enter into any agreement obligating the United States to use the Armed Forces or to expend public funds to guarantee the security of a sovereign country.

• H.R. 2929: Limits the use of funds to establish any military installation or base for the purpose of providing for the permanent stationing of United States Armed Forces in Iraq or to exercise United States economic control of the oil resources of Iraq.

• H.R. 351: Establishes the Independent Commission on the 2004 Coup d'etat in the Republic of Haiti to examine the U.S. government's role in the February 2004 coup d'etat that removed the democratically elected President of Haiti, Jean Bertrand Aristide.

• H.R. 770: Iran Nuclear Nonproliferation Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that full diplomatic, political, and economic relations between the United States and Iran cannot be normalized unless enforceable safeguards are put in place to prevent the military use of Iran's nuclear program and the Government of Iran ends its support for international terrorist groups.  It also states as the policy of the United States not to enter into a preemptive war against Iran in the absence of an immediate threat, and then only in accordance with international law and constitutional and statutory requirements for Congressional authorization.

• H.R.5056: Iran Diplomatic Accountability Act of 2008 - Provides for the appointment of a Special Envoy for Iran for the purpose of encouraging diplomacy and easing tensions between the United States and Iran.

• H.R.5128: Disapproves any agreement obligating the United States to defend Iraq against internal or external threats, unless approved by Congress.

• H.R. 5507: Fully-Funded United States Military Redeployment and Sovereignty of Iraq Restoration Act of 2008 (Co-authored with Rep. Woolsey) – Requires the safe, complete, and fully-funded redeployment of United States Armed Forces and contractor security forces from Iraq within one year of enactment and continues to prohibit the establishment of any enduring or permanent United States military bases in Iraq. In addition, H.R. 5507: (1) provides for a diplomatic surge for security and stability in Iraq intended to preserve the territorial integrity of Iraq as a nation state with a strong, effective, and democratic central government consistent with the provisions of the Iraqi constitution; (2) directs that all appropriate measures be taken to account for any missing members of the U.S. Armed Forces or U.S. citizens in Iraq; and (3) requires the United States to turn over all internal security activities and military operations in Iraq to the elected Government of Iraq within one year of enactment.

• H.R. 6846: Iraq Security Agreement Act of 2008 – Provides that no provision in any agreement negotiated between the United States and the Government of Iraq that obligates the United States to the defense of Iraq from internal or external threats shall have any legal effect unless the agreement is in the form of a treaty requiring the advice and consent of the Senate, or is specifically authorized by an Act of Congress.

Co-Sponsored Legislation (110th Congress)

• H.R. 808: Department of Peace and Nonviolence Act – Establishes a Department of Peace and Nonviolence, which shall be headed by a Secretary of Peace and Nonviolence appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. Sets forth the mission of the Department, including to: (1) hold peace as an organizing principle; (2) endeavor to promote justice and democratic principles to expand human rights; and (3) develop policies that promote national and international conflict prevention, nonviolent intervention, mediation, peaceful resolution of conflict, and structured mediation of conflict.

• H.R. 5488: The Recovery and Stability of Iraq Act of 2008 – Addresses the growing crisis involving Iraqi refugees and internally displaced persons by creating in the Executive Office of the President an Iraqi Displacement Coordinator who is empowered to: (1) oversee the development of a strategic framework for addressing the displacement crisis; (2) coordinate the efforts of international relief organizations; and (3) report to Congress describing the nature, extent, and efficacy of the actions taken to resolve the humanitarian crisis involving Iraqi refugees and internally displaced persons.

• H.RES.68: Calls on the President to implement and observe all obligations and commitments of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and to revise national policies on nuclear weapons accordingly.

• H.RES.227: Calls for the adoption of a Sensible, Multilateral American Response to Terrorism (SMART) security platform for the 21st century that strengthens international institutions and respect for the rule of law, reduces the threat and stops the spread of weapons of mass destruction and reduces the proliferation of conventional weapons, addresses root causes of terrorism and violent conflict, shifts U.S. budget priorities to more effectively meet U.S. security needs, and pursues to the fullest extent alternatives to war.

• H.RES.564: Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that crime and violence pose a serious threat to peace and stability in Central America and calls for the President to follow with the commitment of U.S. funds to fight youth gangs in Central America.

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