Lynn Woolsey

Lynn Woolsey

Template:TOCnestleft Lynn Woolsey until the 2012 election, a far left Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 6th district of California. She has been a co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Woolsey is the "first former welfare mother to serve in Congress." Since entering the House in 1993, she has been an advocate for children and families. As chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, she oversees policies affecting millions of American workers. The San Jose Mercury News called her “the unofficial matriarch of the [anti-war] movement.” A member of the House International Relations Committee, she introduced the first resolution calling for troops to come home from Iraq and convened the first congressional hearing on military exit strategies. She calls for a complete re-evaluation of U.S. national security policy, emphasizing stronger global alliances and intelligence capabilities. She is an advocate of conservation and clean, renewable energy sources.

Woolsey was born on November 3, 1937 in Seattle, Washington. Now living in Petaluma, California.

Endorsed Communist Party event

Peoples Weekly World, September 11, 1999

In September 1999, Lynn Woolsey co - sponsored a fund raising event for the Communist Party USA newspaper Peoples Weekly World. Rep. Barbara Lee co-sponsored the same event.

Progressive Caucus SOTU Address

On Thursday, January 27 2000, from 3:30pm to 5:00pm in 2253 of RHOB, the Congressional Progressive Caucus held its 3rd Annual Congressional Progressive Caucus' State of the Union Address. This event was also sponsored by the Institute for Policy Studies' Progressive Challenge coalition whose Fairness Agenda for America is endorsed by 200 public interest groups nationally.

Caucus Chair Rep. Peter DeFazio(D-OR) stated "The Progressive Caucus Alternative State of the Union will provide a much needed reality check to politicians who would rather ignore the priorities of Americans left out of the economic boom -- priorities like access to quality health care and education, repairing crumbling schools, addressing the growing gap between the rich and poor, and creating a sustainable global economy that works for everyone, not just the corporate architects."

Anticipated speakers included: Peter DeFazio (D-OR), House Minority Whip David Bonior (D-MI), Earl Hilliard (D-AL);Dennis Kucinich (D-OH); Cynthia McKinney (D-GA);. Major Owens (D-NY)Bernie Sanders (I-VT). Tammy Baldwin (D-WI);. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY);Barbara Lee (D-CA); Jerrold Nadler (D-NY); and Lynn Woolsey(D-CA). John Cavanagh, director of the Institute for Policy Studies also made some remarks regarding public interest groups support of a progressive agenda.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus, Chaired by Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), consists of over a quarter of the House Democrats, one Independent and Senator Paul Wellstone. The Caucus will be releasing position papers on Health Care and Income Inequality, with reports on the Alternative Federal Budget, Social Security, Minimum Wage, Education and the Global Economy.

DSA supported Vaccines Compensation Bill

Democratic Socialists of America backed Dennis Kucinich nationally with his 2002 HR2459 Vaccines Compensation bill.

Lynn Woolsey and Barbara Lee both co-sponsored Kucinich's bill.

According to the minutes of a January 5, 2002 SF DSA Steering Committee meeting;

According to a (fundraising) call from DSA, supporting HR2459 is a national DSA project. The idea is to contact representatives about co-sponsoring the bill, which comes from Dennis Kucinich and is supported by the progressive caucus. Everyone said they would contact their rep (neither Pelosi nor Lantos has signed on; Woolsey and Lee are co-sponsors).

This led to the question of the best way to contact Congress post anthrax scare. The feeling was regular mail might not get through, and probably a phone call would have the greatest impact. e-mail is another option.

DSA endorsement

In July 1996, the Democratic Socialists of America Political Action Committee endorsed Lynn C. Woolsey, California 6, in that year's Congressional elections.

HR 3000

On September 3, 2003 Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) introduced H.R. 3000, the United States Universal Health Service Act, which would provide health coverage for all Americans. H.R. 3000 would establish a United States Health Service (USHS), which would eliminate profit issues from health care because it would be owned and controlled by the public and administered primarily at the local level.

According to the Communist Party USA's People's World, initial supporters of HR 3000 were Julia Carson, (D-Ind.), Donna Christensen (D-Va.), John Conyers (D-Mich.), Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), Danny Davis (D-Ill.), Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.), Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), Major Owens (D-N.Y.), Donald Payne (D-N.J.), and Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.).

The World went on to say;

We will not win the United States Health Service without a massive, prolonged struggle by working people against the corporate defenders of the current for-profit health care industry.

The Institute for Food and Development Policy/Food First

Lynn Woolsey is on the list of Congressional Representatives who have participated in hearings/briefings since 1998, with the very radical Institute for Food and Development Policy/Food First, founded by Frances Moore Lappe (Democratic Socialists of America, Institute for Policy Studies) and Joseph Collins (Institute for Policy Studies), authors of the book "Food First".

Posada letter

In 2005 several far left Congressmembers wrote to President Bush urging him to extradite alleged terrorist Luis Posada Carriles to Venezuela to face justice.

We are writing to urge you to oppose the application for asylum by Luis Posada Carriles, and to support the request for extradition to Venezuela, where he is a fugitive from justice.

Signatories were; Dennis Kucinich, Barbara Lee, Cynthia McKinney, John Olver, James McGovern, Donald Payne, Lane Evans, Carolyn Maloney, Tammy Baldwin, Lynn Woolsey, Jose Serrano, Raul Grijalva, Maurice Hinchey, Bobby Rush, Edolphus Towns, Sam Farr, Bennie Thompson, Ed Pastor, Sheila Jackson Lee, Maxine Waters.

Peace activism

In July 2006 Woolsey addressed the Peace Action National Congress at Wayne State University, with Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) and activist Tom Hayden.

Sheinbaum fund raiser

Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, the first Member of Congress to call on the President to bring our troops home, was be in Los Angeles on Saturday February 4th 2006, for a 'very exciting but critical fundraiser against the most well-known, well-financed challenger she's ever faced". woolsey was facing a primary challenge from a termed-out Assemblyman Joe Nation, a moderate Democrat who has been critical of her stand on the war and on bringing home our troops. He is raising money from people who have given money to Tom DeLay and Bush-Cheney and his legislative district covers 60+% of Congresswoman Woolsey's district. Congresswoman Woolsey is a "champion of equal rights, civil liberties, protecting the environment and fighting for single payer healthcare. Congresswoman Woolsey must be re-elected by the same victory margin she has had in the past to send a message to progressives everywhere that's it IS OK to be courageous, and to not back down on issues that matter."

The Host Committee for this fundraiser includes:

Ben Affleck; Ed Asner; Warren Beatty; Jodie Evans; James Cromwell; Matt Damon; Tom Hayden; Wendy Herzog; Mimi Kennedy; Norman Lear; Stephen Rohde; Susie Shannon; Stanley Sheinbaum & Betty Sheinbaum; Lorraine Sheinberg; Kathy Spillar; Gloria A. Totten; Peg Yorkin; Senator Barbara Boxer; Congressman Joe Baca; Congressman Xavier Becerra; Congresswoman Lois Capps; Congresswoman Jane Harman; Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald; Congresswoman Grace Napolitano; Congresswoman; Lucille Roybal-Allard; Congresswoman Linda Sanchez; Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez; Congressman Adam Schiff; Congresswoman Hilda Solis; Congresswoman Maxine Waters; Congresswoman Diane Watson; Senator Sheila Kuehl and Assemblywoman Karen Bass.

The fundraiser was at the Stanley & Betty Sheinbaum residence in Brentwood. Both Sheinbaums have been members of Democratic Socialists of America.

Progressive Democrats of America

May 24, 2011

Lynn Woolsey served on the Advisory Board of Progressive Democrats of America.

Take Back America Conferences

Lynn Woolsey was on the list of 237 speakers at the 2007 Take Back America conference, which was organized by the Institute for Policy Studies, and Democratic Socialists of America dominated Campaign for America's Future.

Congressional Progressive Caucus

In 1998 Lynn Woolsey Democrat was listed as a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

On November 19 2008 the Congressional Progressive Caucus announcedits elected leadership for the 111th Congress.

• Co-Chairs are Congressman Raul Grijalva (AZ) and Lynn Woolsey (CA)
• Whip Diane Watson
• Vice-Chair Liaison to Black Caucus Sheila Jackson-Lee
• Vice-Chair Liaison to Women's Caucus Hilda Solis
• Vice-Chair Liaison to Asian Pacific American Caucus Mazie Hirono
• Vice-Chair Liaison to LGBT Equality Caucus, Dennis Kucinich

As of February 20 2009 Lynn Woolsey was listed as Co-Chairof the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus

In 2012, Lynn Woolsey was listed as an associate member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

Vietnam delegation

U.S. Sen. Al Franken is part of a Senate delegation that will travel to Vietnam July 2010.

The group will "look into environmental remediation of dioxin and the joint funding of medical services for people with disabilities, and meet with Vietnamese government officials to discuss education initiatives, labor issues and trade relations."

He'll also continue on to Laos. Minnesota has a large community of Hmong who originally came from Laos.

Other Senators on the Vietnam leg of the trip are: Democratic Sens. Tom Harkin of Iowa, Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Jeff Merkley of Oregon).

Representative Lynn Woolsey of California, also accompanied the delegation.

War Is Making You Poor Act

In combination with fellow House of Representatives members including Ron Paul, Walter B. Jones, Dennis Kucinich, Lynn Woolsey, Barbara Lee, and John Conyers, Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) on May 21st 2010, introduced a bill entitled “The War Is Making You Poor Act.” If passed, this legislation would stop funding for the wars against Iraq and Afghanistan and use those revenues to eliminate federal taxes on the the first $35,000 of income, or $70,000 for couples.

Supported by Council for a Livable World

The Council for a Livable World, founded in 1962 by long-time socialist activist and alleged Soviet agent, Leo Szilard, is a non-profit advocacy organization that seeks to "reduce the danger of nuclear weapons and increase national security", primarily through supporting progressive, congressional candidates who support their policies. The Council supported Lynn Woolsey in her successful House of Representatives run as candidate for California.

Anti-war activism

As president of Americans for Democratic Action, Congresswoman Woolsey is a vocal and visible leader on progressive issues, particularly those dealing with education, children and families. A passionate and outspoken opponent of the Iraq war, she helped move public opinion against President Bush’s Iraq policy. She introduced the first resolution calling for US troops to be brought home and has been called “the unofficial matriarch of the [anti-war] movement in Congress,” by the San Jose Mercury News.

EMILY's List

Woolsey has been supported by EMILY's List during her campaigning.

Supported Lifting the Gaza Blockade

On Jan. 27, 2010, U.S. Representatives Keith Ellison and Jim McDermott led 52 other members of Congress in signing a letter addressed to President Barack Obama, calling for him to use diplomatic pressure to resolve the blockade affecting Gaza. Lynn Woolsey was one of the signatories of the letter. The entire letter together with a complete list of signatories can be read by clicking here.

Campaign to Make Immigration Reform a Top Issue in 2010

On October 13 2010 , immigration activists from around the country gathered to join in a vigil and rally in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC., where Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez and other elected officials launched a new push for comprehensive immigration reform, building to the opening months of 2010. their banners read “Reform Immigration FOR Families” and “Family Unity Cannot Wait.”

More than 750 people traveled to Washington on buses from up and down the Eastern seaboard and as far away as Texas, Florida, Ohio, Minnesota, and Michigan. They spent Tuesday morning meeting with Congressional offices before being joined by thousands of people from the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area, who gathered on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol to listen to testimonies from families, veterans, and children who face family disintegration because of immigration laws and deportation.

Religious leaders from a diverse array of faith traditions around the country, some organized through Familias Unidas, added their voices.

At the event Congressman Gutierrez outlined a set of principles for progressive immigration reform that needs to include a rational and humane approach to legalize the undocumented population, to protect workers’ rights, to allocate sufficient visas, to establish a smarter and more humane border enforcement policy, to promote integration of immigrant communities, to include the DREAM Act and AgJOBS bills, to protect rights guaranteed by the Constitution, and to keep families together.

The lawmakers who joined Rep. Gutierrez on stage, and addressed the gathering included Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chairman Rep. Michael Honda (D-CA), Congressional Progressive Caucus Chairs Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Congressional Black Caucus Member, Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Jared Polis (D-CO), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Michael Quigley (D-IL), and Delegate Gregorio Sablan (Northern Mariana Islands).

Americans for Democratic Action

When asked what she plans to do when she leaves office, at the end of 2012, Woolsey said she will remain active with Americans for Democratic Action, a liberal organization founded by Eleanor Roosevelt, John Kenneth Galbraith, and other liberal thinkers after President Franklin Roosevelt died. Woolsey is currently the group's president.

Staff

The following have worked as staff members for Lynn Woolsey:

• Bartholomew M. Acocella
• Rebecca M. Adam
• Eric John Aweeney
• Nicholas Barnaby
• Pamela Ann Barry
• S. Heather Brewer
• Cortney Hoover Bright
• Susannah L. Cernojevich
• Gloria S. Chan
• Steven R. Chew
• Lisl K. Christie
• Raymel A. Clark
• Eric M. Colchamiro
• Mary C. Cronin
• Jennifer P. Dawes
• Jessica L. Diaz
• Jasmine Dickerson
• Michelle M. Donches
• Lynn Dondis
• Amanda Eaton
• Piper S. Evans
• Chris R. Fadeff
• Jason Feld
• Brian Fishman
• Anita W. Franzi
• Erica Fremault
• Wendy Friefeld
• Diana Gambrel
• Brian S. Geiger
• Jamison Girard
• Jennifer A. Goedke
• Katherine Goktepe
• Katherine M. Gomez Madrigal
• Claudia Gonzalez
• J. William Goold
• Margaret McDow Gumbinner
• Jode Hamilton
• Julius Lloyd Horwich
• Nicholas M. Hromalik
• Allegra A. Jones
• Laura Joshua
• Stephanie Kenny
• Willa Laskowitz
• Anita Savage Lawson
• Ricky Xuan Le
• Stacey E. Leavandosky
• Jane Lott
• Rosalinda Lynch
• Alexis Summer Marks
• Andrea D. Martin
• Kristin Mastromarino
• Nora E. Matus
• Lindsay E. McAllister
• EmRay D. Morgan
• Janice L. Morris
• Amanda M. Ott
• Molly M. Pelton
• Jeana Marie Plas
• Patricia K. Pobywajlo
• Jonathan Poverud
• Eric B. Powers
• Deborah A. Quam
• Sifra Quintana
• Carl R. Rauscher
• Samuel Ricketts
• Niall M. Roberts
• Katherine Rodriguez
• Christopher Rogers
• Ethan R. Rosenkranz
• Richard Thomas Roth
• Deanne R. Samuels
• Gregory Alex Schernecke
• Alene Seward
• Erin Patricia Sheerin
• Edward P. Sheffield
• Christopher D. Shields
• Laurel Sipes
• Paul Smolarcik
• Jennifer Anne Snidow
• Megan D. Solomon
• Tondrea L. Stewart
• Kate Tansey
• Lynda P. Theil
• Paula Trynn
• Alexandra Walter
• Kristin E. Wikelius
• Alanda T. Wraye

External links

• Woolsey's website with the House of Representatives

References

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