Congresswoman Barbara Lee was first elected to represent California's Ninth District in 1998. She served as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus in the 111th session of Congress.

My favorite brave American, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, has again done a courageous thing: she has written a personal and powerful story about her life, from her childhood in El Paso, Texas to her extraordinary present day position as U.S. Congresswoman from the 9th district of Northern California. Renegade For Peace and Justice demonstrates how her faith in her God, her values, and her common sense caused her to say no to the Bush Administration's demand, following the attacks of 9/11, that Congress turn over its constitutional powers to declare war to the President, George W. Bush; giving him a blank check to fund endless aggression against a country that was not responsible for the attacks. Hers was the only dissenting vote. For the layperson this book is a wonderful way to begin to understand how our political system works, or of late, doesn't work, because of Lee's ability to explain, in practical terms, her own positions and those of other members of Congress. Lee is not only a hero and a champion of the marginalized and under-represented, she is also a marvelous teacher.