Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, Democrat of Texas, has died. His office made the announcement Friday evening. She is 74 years old.
The cause of death was not immediately released. Last month, Jackson Lee revealed She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
“A fierce champion of the people, she was fondly and simply called ‘Congress Woman’ by her constituents in recognition of her ubiquity and service rendered in their daily lives for over 30 years,” her office said in a statement.
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President Biden said in a statement Saturday that Jackson Lee, who represented the 18th congressional district, “is a towering figure in our politics.”
“Always fearless, she spoke truth to power and represented the power of the people of her district in Houston with dignity and grace,” he said.
The president said Jackson Lee’s spirit was unbreakable.
“I had the honor of working with him during his nearly 30 years in Congress,” said Mr. Biden said. “No matter the issue — from delivering racial justice to building an economy for working people — he was relentless in his leadership.”
she born in Queens, New York, and graduated from Yale University in 1972 and earned a law degree from the University of Virginia Law School. He was a municipal judge before starting his political career as a member of the Houston City Council in the late 1980s, then jumping to Congress in 1995. She lost The Houston mayoral race was closely watched last December.
In a statement, the Congressional Black Caucus hailed Jackson Lee as a “titan and stalwart” who is a “fierce advocate for social and economic justice, national and homeland security, energy independence, and children and working families.”
Jackson Lee was a leading proponent of the Act Signed into law In June 2021 Mr. Juneteenth was made a federal holiday by Biden.
“The possibility of having this national holiday opens up a whole world of debate for America to take stock of racism and systemic racism that permeates the nation,” he said. CBS Mornings said In June 2020 interview.
“Known for wearing her braided crown with pride, Congresswoman Jackson Lee fought every day for the underserved, the lost and the left, and was a warrior for racial and economic justice,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries noted in a statement late Friday. Jackson Lee was also the first woman to serve as chair of the House Judiciary Committee’s Crime Subcommittee.
Jackson Lee, who confirmed his pancreatic cancer diagnosis last month, said he was “undergoing treatment to fight this disease that affects tens of thousands of Americans every year.”
In 2012, Jackson Lee announced that she had been treated for breast cancer and made a full recovery. He later served in Congress Millions of security Dollars fund breast cancer research.
“It’s a tremendous loss,” Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced his passing Friday in a social media post. “Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee fought hard throughout her life to make our country a better place for all. May her memory be blessed.”
Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he and his wife, Cecilia, will always remember Jackson Lee as a “tireless advocate for the people of Houston.”
“His legacy is one of public service and dedication to Texas,” he said.
She has a husband and two children.
— Jordan Freeman contributed to this report.
