Lee talks policy goals, race for US Senate

Nov. 14—As California approaches its first competitive U.S. Senate race in years, U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, visited Grass Valley on Friday to discuss her aspirations for becoming the next senator to represent the state and her goals regarding policy.

Lee has represented California's 12th district in Congress since 1998 and is the highest ranking African-American woman elected to Democratic leadership. She is currently co-chair of the Policy and Steering Committee, and serves on the Budget Committee and the Appropriations Committee.

After spending nearly two decades in Congress, Lee is currently facing off against Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Los Angeles, and Rep. Katie Porter, D-Orange County, in the U.S. Senate race as they approach the March 5, 2024, primary, when voters will select two candidates to advance to the November 2024 general election.

During Friday's event, Lee spoke on the key platforms guiding her run for U.S. Senate, some of the most prominent being the affordability crisis and environmental justice.

"These are my values also and these are fights that I've been mounting as an elected official, and even before I was elected. They're personal to me," Lee said. "For me, many of the issues I fight for, I've lived these issues. These experiences have made me who I am today and have informed me on how I approach the solemn responsibility of being an elected official and hopefully your next United States Senator."

Growing up in an immigrant community in El Paso, Texas, Lee recounted an area known as "Smelter Town" near her home, which was located next to a lead and copper smelter. According to Lee, several members of her family developed severe lung problems and overall health issues due to the pollution from this facility.

As a state representative, Lee has frequently advocated for increased investments in clean, renewable energy and ways to prevent and combat climate change. She was also one of the original sponsors of the Green New Deal.

"I know what environmental justice feels like and I know what environmental injustice feels like. I know why I fight for environmental justice each and every day because it's in my DNA," Lee said.

Many of her policy goals regarding housing affordability are fueled by her experiences as a working class single mother, Lee said. While pursuing her degrees in social work and raising her two sons, Lee relied on welfare and other public assistance to make ends meet.

"While I was earning my degrees, I could not afford childcare. The waitlist based on a sliding fee schedule was so long that they did not get to my name until I was about to graduate from grad school. And now families still cannot afford child care. This is a shame and disgrace," Lee said. "Part of the affordability crisis here in California is housing and child care. I know what economic injustice feels like. I've lived it."

Lee is one of many proponents of introducing a wealth tax in the face of rising costs of housing, child care, health care and other basic expenses. In July this year, Lee along with several other Congress members introduced the Oppose Limitless Inequality Growth and Reverse Community Harms (OLIGARCH) Act to tax extreme wealth and address wealth inequality on a national scale.

According to Lee, approximately 20 million people in California are one paycheck away from poverty. In the 12th district, $115,000 for a family of four constitutes as low-income.

"This OLIGARCH Act was introduced to tax extreme wealth, reduce inequality and combat the threat to democracy posed by aristocracy. The cost of living combined with inflation here in California forces people to commute two and three hours a day for work. Some are leaving the state. Child care and housing costs are drivers that keep a pathway to the middle class for ordinary families out of reach," Lee said. "We have got to understand that the cost of living and what is taking place here in California are forcing the most vulnerable people out on the streets."

Following Friday's event, the Appeal sat down with Lee to discuss her specific views on policy and today's political landscape.

Q: What do you believe are some of the key issues we see turning rural, often red communities in California into blue or purple areas, like Nevada County?

A: I think it's people realizing that Democrats are fighting for people, and putting people over politics. Over the years, the contrast has been there. I have to cite the Biden-Harris Administration in terms of how they have delivered. In places like Nevada County, people are delivering the message on how Democrats stand for people.

I work with Republicans on some issues, and it's really issue-by-issue. For example, repealing the authorizations to use military force. I've worked with Republicans to try to repeal them and sign into law the authorizations that gave over congressional responsibility for any president to use force.

I've worked with Republicans on cannabis reform, global AIDS and health issues. I think each member will work with Republicans where there's common ground, but of course now with a lot of MAGA extremists, people are seeing how dangerous they are. They're trying to take away our freedoms, and I think that's another reason why people are beginning to see a difference.

Q: As you previously mentioned, the affordability crisis appears through issues such as housing and child care. To some, imposing a wealth tax is seen as a straightforward solution. What does a wealth tax look like to you on a state and national level?

A: What it means is very simple: millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share. Tax reform and making sure the tax code ensures that the wealthy pay their taxes is absolutely essential if we're ever going to have any kind of economic justice in this country.

We have a lot of millionaires and billionaires here in California. I've talked with a lot of them, and there are different organizations that say, "Yes, we want this. We believe that we need to pay." These are people who are very, very wealthy, and they say they support the (OLIGARCH) bill and they need to pay more taxes because they care about the economy and making sure everyone has a shot.

Q: Some homeless consortiums in the greater Sacramento region are turning more efforts toward prevention alongside immediate outreach. As senator, how would you address issues like mental health and the affordability crisis that contribute to homelessness?

A: I'm a professional social worker and started in a mental health clinic, so mental health is a big deal to me. How social workers and the police work together and make sure people aren't criminalized if they're unfortunately unsheltered, I think it's really important. Once you get an intervention by a mental health professional, oftentimes you can help that person into shelter and mental health (treatment). Preventing evictions right now is a big thing because eviction moratoriums that the feds and the state had I believe are expired now.

We've got to help people. One policy I think is important is called the Deposit Act. In certain communities, like my area, it's $3,000 for a three-bedroom apartment. For a low-income person who doesn't have a lot of money and maybe works a minimum wage job, how do they make first and last month's rent and a security deposit? My idea is that the federal government can establish a revolving fund so people who need a deposit can go to this fund, get the deposit and move in. When they leave, the money goes back into a revolving fund. That's just one idea.

It's simple, but ideas like that, thinking out of the box, that's what the Senate needs. We can't do the same old thing. Nothing is working, we see. We have to be creative and work with people who have new ideas and incorporate them into the legislature.

Q: Given your stance on environmental justice, what sort of policies would you fight for in the face of climate change?

A: We've got to end our dependence on fossil fuels and transition into a green economy, but there are so many people who work in the fossil fuel industry that we have to have a just transition. That means when we transition these workers, we have to make sure they're retrained and there are no gaps in their salaries or benefits, so they can take care of their families during this transition.

Next, in terms of environmental justice, we have to make sure these polluters are held accountable and they pay for what they have done in terms of repairing the damage. In the (Donald McEachin Environmental Justice For All Act), we have an economic development assistance initiative where people and communities can get resources to be able to clean up and develop more. You have to employ people in those communities to solar installations and green the community.

Q: What sort of consequences could we face if the nation fails to tackle climate change on a united front?

A: Very dire consequences. Gen Z For Change has endorsed me, and they're concerned about the planet being here for them. That's the logical extreme. That's what we have to think about. Is this Earth going to be a planet where humans can survive? That's a concern every young person has.

Q: You are one of the few people in Congress to call for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid in Palestine. In your view, how can the United States intervene?

A: We've got to. I know the Middle East very well, and Hamas is a horrible terrorist organization. I've said early on that Israel deserves to be safe and secure and not have to worry about what took place. We have to condemn Hamas and ensure Israel's security; that's a given. People say if you're calling for a ceasefire, that means you don't support the security, and that's just not the case.

I think what's taking place now, in terms of the war, is being prosecuted in a way where innocent civilians — up to 11,000 now — are being killed. The only way this is going to stop is through a ceasefire, and that means Hamas, that means Islamic Jihad, that means all those who are at war. It doesn't just mean Israel. I also think it's important that we get that humanitarian assistance in. I'm on the subcommittee that helped negotiate the $11 billion that the president agreed to that we can't get the House of Representatives yet to vote for. We have to get that humanitarian assistance in. People are dying, including 4,000 children.

We have to see it with that viewpoint in mind because I know the United States cares about (the) killing (of) innocent civilians. The dangers of a regional war are real. The dangers of what is taking place now with the Arab nations — in terms of them not necessarily being committed to a diplomatic solution — we have to think about what happens after this. I don't want to see the Arab nations not be unified to move forward to help negotiate some stability so Palestinians have a state and Israel is secure, and so that justice, security and peace is made for Palestinians and Israel.

With what's taking place now, I worry it's going to destroy that ability. Where does it lead? I don't know, but we've got to see the end. I always cite what I said after 9/11: "Let us not become the evil we deplore." And recognize that Hamas is a terrorist group and there are ways to deal with counter-terrorism without killing civilians. Hopefully, the president and the United States can have some stabilizing factor in the war.