US Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, known for her strong progressive stance in the Democratic Party and her advocacy for African-American and women’s rights, has passed away, her family announced on X late Friday.
Sheila Jackson Lee, representing Texas, revealed last month that she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was undergoing treatment. She was 74, according to US media.
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“The road ahead will not be easy, but I stand in faith that God will strengthen me,” she stated when announcing her diagnosis.
“She was a fierce champion of the people, affectionately known as ‘Congresswoman’ by her constituents due to her constant presence and service in their lives for over 30 years,” her family said in a statement.
Lee chaired the Pakistan Caucus in the US Congress. In September 2022, the Pakistan government awarded her the Hilal-e-Pakistan for her significant contributions to Pakistan-US relations.
Following the devastating 2022 floods in Pakistan, Lee wrote a letter to US President Joe Biden urging assistance for Pakistan. She also expressed her concerns about the flood situation in a speech in the US House of Representatives.
Throughout her career, Lee was active in promoting legislation addressing social justice, economic inequality, and public health issues.
Sheila Jackson Lee, who represented parts of Houston, introduced legislation in the House of Representatives to make “Juneteenth” a federal holiday, commemorating the end of legal enslavement of Black Americans.
The holiday marks the day in 1865 when a Union general informed enslaved people in Texas of their freedom, two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a conservative Republican, posted on X that he and his wife Cecilia “will forever remember Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.”
“She was a proud Texan and a tireless advocate for the people of Houston. Her legacy of public service and dedication to Texas will live on,” Abbott said.
Jackson Lee served on several House committees, including judiciary, homeland security, and budget.
