Congresswoman Lee, known by many as a coalition builder, fought successfully for progressive legislation despite the conservative administration in Sacramento.    In more than seven years as a California legislator working with a Republican governor, Lee sponsored 67 bills and resolutions that Governor Wilson signed into law. Lee’s legislative achievements address a broad spectrum of community concerns including public safety, education, women’s issues, environmental protections, labor, and health, and was one of the authors of  the landmark “healthy families” legislation to provide health care for California’s uninsured children. While in the California legislature, Congresswoman Lee provided leadership to support Sonoma Baylands project, which broke the log jam on Bay dredging by producing an environmentally sound solution for dredge disposal.  Lee also developed economic, political, and cultural ties between the State of California and Africa by leading several legislative delegations to the continent and by helping to spur the initiation of a California Trade and Investment Office in South Africa.