Summer L. Lee
Lee has called for an arms embargo on U.S. weapons to Israel: "our military funding and political cover have enabled devastating violence," and Congress "must support an arms embargo to prevent further atrocities." She co-introduced the Block the Bombs Act.
Lee has represented Pennsylvania's 12th District, centred on Pittsburgh, since 2023, and her voting record on the measures tracked here is the most consistently against U.S. military assistance to Israel of anyone in this batch of research.
Her January 2025 statement on the ceasefire sets out the position and the reasoning together: "Our military funding and political cover have enabled devastating violence and the erasure of Palestinian lives and rights. The Biden administration—and Congress—must support an arms embargo to prevent further atrocities, hold those responsible for war crimes accountable, and immediately facilitate rebuilding efforts in Gaza."
She named what she thinks a settlement requires: "The path to a just and lasting peace is clear: an end to the occupation, the blockade of Gaza, and the apartheid policies that deny Palestinians their basic rights. We must fully support Palestinian self-determination and liberation, as justice for Palestinians is inseparable from lasting peace for both Palestinians and Israelis."
In June 2025 she was among 22 members introducing the Block the Bombs Act, which the release describes as withholding "the transfer of offensive weapons to Israel" and demanding compliance with U.S. and international law.
In December 2024 she co-led a letter with Rep. Greg Casar, signed by 20 House progressives, urging the administration to suspend offensive weapons transfers. In June 2026 she urged Congress to pass the Lebanon War Powers Resolution.
Her recorded votes appear as badges on this card and are consistent with all of it.
Tracked votes: opposed sending U.S. weapons or funding to the government of Israel in 6 of 6 recorded votes.
Research
U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel
- [Position, 2025-01-17] Her statement on the ceasefire agreement, opened and confirmed word for word: "Our military funding and political cover have enabled devastating violence and the erasure of Palestinian lives and rights. The Biden administration—and Congress—must support an arms embargo to prevent further atrocities, hold those responsible for war crimes accountable, and immediately facilitate rebuilding efforts in Gaza."
- [Position, 2025-06-05] Her release on the Block the Bombs Act, opened and confirmed word for word: she "joined Representatives Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), and Mark Pocan (WI-02), and 17 other colleagues in introducing the Block the Bombs Act. The legislation would withhold the transfer of offensive weapons to Israel and demand Israel's compliance with U.S. and international law." A 22-member introduction, so the bill description is the release's rather than her personal wording.
- [Position, 2026-06-04] Her release calling on Congress to pass the Lebanon War Powers Resolution, opened. Per the research she demanded an end to U.S. military involvement, targeting assistance and weapons supply used in Israeli operations in Lebanon. No verbatim span extracted, so it is recorded as the research's summary.
- [Position, 2024-12-10] Co-led a letter with Rep. Greg Casar, signed by 20 House progressives, urging the administration to suspend offensive weapons transfers (Common Dreams). A 20-signatory letter; no individual quote drawn from it. Not opened.
- [Position, 2025-09-11 and 2026-03-19, reported] Social-media calls for an immediate arms embargo, and a post calling U.S. funding of attacks across Gaza, Lebanon and Iran "sickening." Facebook sources, not readable; the verified January 2025 statement covers the same position.
- Her recorded votes appear as badges on this card.
U.S. aid to Palestinians
- [Position, 2025-01-17] Called for immediate facilitation of rebuilding efforts in Gaza (confirmed verbatim, above).
Characterization of the conflict
- [Position, 2025-01-17] Confirmed verbatim: "The path to a just and lasting peace is clear: an end to the occupation, the blockade of Gaza, and the apartheid policies that deny Palestinians their basic rights. We must fully support Palestinian self-determination and liberation, as justice for Palestinians is inseparable from lasting peace for both Palestinians and Israelis."
- [Position, 2024-04-24, reported] After her primary win, said "opposing genocide is good politics and good policy" (The Nation, Democracy Now). Not opened.
- [Position, 2025-10-07] Second-anniversary statement, as reported grieving the Israeli lives taken by Hamas while condemning "the genocide that followed." Not opened.
- [Position, 2026-05-14, reported] Co-sponsored a resolution with Rep. Rashida Tlaib, "Recognizing the Ongoing Nakba and Palestinian Refugees' Rights" (Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle). Resolution text is not her wording; not opened.
Related rhetoric and lobbying
- [Position, undated, reported] A post arguing that when super PACs "like AIPAC or crypto pour millions into our elections" they are not acting in voters' interests (her Facebook page). Not readable.
- [2024-04] Coverage of the AIPAC-linked spending against her in the 2024 primary (Mother Jones, Inside Climate News). Third-party reporting about spending against her, not her position.
- [2026-04-07] City & State PA on her defending an appearance while saying she condemns all forms of hate. Not opened.
- [Undated] An American Jewish Congress political guide entry. Advocacy source, consulted only (C3).
Safety and antisemitism (context)
- [After October 7, 2023-12-06] Statement on a resolution she called performative. From the weeks right after October 7.
- [Position, 2024-11-20] Statement on H.Res. 1449. Not opened.
- [After October 7, 2023-10-31 and 2024-03-05] Coverage of an open letter from Pittsburgh-area rabbis criticising her (Post-Gazette, Jewish Insider). Third-party criticism of her, recorded because §3.7 keeps the record; not opened and no claim about her position is drawn from it.
Note on the vote context
- On the July 2026 amendment, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that six Pennsylvania Democrats supported it and only pa2-boyle voted against, while all Pennsylvania Republicans present voted no. Confirmed verbatim.
Also in this race: James Hayes (Republican) · All Pennsylvania candidates.
See the full record →But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. Every claim on this page goes through at least two verification steps. Open the interactive card for votes, funding and contact details.