Longtime US Rep Sheila Jackson Lee Dies
Longtime US Rep Sheila Jackson Lee dies at age 74 from pancreatic cancer, known for advocating women’s rights and Juneteenth. Also she had breast cancer before and served her Houston district since 1995. Then Lee worked hard to protect women from domestic violence. And helped make Juneteenth a national holiday.
Firstly Jackson Lee was a strong supporter of women and minorities. She led efforts on social justice issues like policing reform. And also reparations for descendants of enslaved people. She updated the Violence Against Women Act. Then adding protections for Native American, transgender, and immigrant women.
Lee was born in Queens, New York. She graduated from Yale and the University of Virginia. Lee worked as a judge in Houston before joining the City Council in 1989. She ran for Congress in 1994 and won. She was also a strong opponent of the Iraq War.
Longtime US Rep Sheila Jackson Lee
Top Democrats praised Lee for her hard work and dedication. Rep. James Clyburn called her a determined fighter. Rep. Jamie Raskin said she was an extremely hardworking lawmaker. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi highlighted her strong efforts on Juneteenth.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and his wife praised Lee for her work in Houston. They were thankful for her dedication to the city. She won reelection to Congress easily. Later, she ran for Houston mayor in 2023 but lost. She won the Democratic nomination for the 2024 election, setting her up for another run at Congress.
In 2019, Lee stepped down from her leadership roles. This followed a lawsuit claiming she mishandled a sexual assault complaint. Her family expressed regret over an unverified audio recording of her yelling at staff. Then they were worried about the impact of the recording. Also Lee was a loving wife, sister, mother, and grandmother known as Bebe. Finally her legacy will inspire those who believe in freedom and justice.