Longtime Congresswoman Loses Battle with Cancer
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Democrat representing Houston since 1995, has passed away at the age of 74. The congresswoman announced her pancreatic cancer diagnosis less than two months ago. Her family released a statement on Friday evening, expressing profound grief and gratitude for her life. Jackson Lee’s chief of staff, Lillie Conley, confirmed the news.
Legacy of Advocacy and Service
Jackson Lee was a senior member of the Texas delegation, along with Democrat Lloyd Doggett. She represented the 18th Congressional District of Texas, a seat once held by Barbara Jordan, the first African American woman elected to Congress from the South since the Reconstruction era. Known for her fierce advocacy for women and minorities, Jackson Lee left a lasting impact on her community and beyond.
“Her unyielding zest for justice and fair play could never be suppressed,” said Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.). “She worked so hard for what she believed in and made all of us around her work just as hard. I will miss my buddy, who refused to let the world silence her voice.”
Legislative Achievements
A vocal presence in the Congressional Black Caucus, Jackson Lee was instrumental in expanding the Violence Against Women Act and advocating for Juneteenth to be recognized as a federal holiday, which was achieved in 2021. The holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, when the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom.
In 2019, Jackson Lee proposed studying reparations for descendants of former slaves, following the footsteps of the late Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.). “We want to be responsive to all Americans, and we know how diverse this country has become,” she said at the time. “We have consistently, as Democrats, wanted to say to the American people that we are for the people.” However, the proposal stalled.
Champion for Houston
Jackson Lee was known for her relentless efforts to secure federal funds for Houston. In 2009, she secured $1 billion for the city’s light system by cornering then-Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood ahead of President Barack Obama’s first joint address to Congress. Her impact on the city was widely recognized.
“She was an extraordinary advocate for her district and her values, and her impact and achievements will be long remembered,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) echoed similar sentiments: “Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee was a fierce advocate for Houston and her constituents. No one worked harder for her community, and if Houston needed something, she got it done.”
Personal Background and Career
Born on January 12, 1950, in Queens, New York, Jackson Lee graduated from Yale and earned her law degree from the University of Virginia. Before her congressional career, she served as a judge in Houston and was elected to the Houston City Council in 1989.
Jackson Lee was an advocate for gay rights and an early opponent of the Iraq War in 2003. Throughout her career, she stood firm against Republican stances on various issues. “First of all, I’d like our Republican friends to stop a war on the working people of America,” she said in 2012 during budget battles.
Final Years and Health Battle
Despite her political achievements, Jackson Lee faced challenges, including stepping down from leadership positions in 2019 following a lawsuit from a former employee. She announced her pancreatic cancer diagnosis on June 2, expressing confidence in her medical team and faith in overcoming the disease.
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