Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Houston Democrat who had served in Congress since 1995, has died.

Jackson Lee, who disclosed less than two months ago that she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, was 74.

Her family announced her death on Friday evening: “With incredible grief for our loss yet deep gratitude for the life she shared with us, we announce the passing of United States Representative Sheila Jackson Lee of the 18th Congressional District of Texas.” Jackson Lee’s death was confirmed by Lillie Conley, her chief of staff.

Along with fellow Democrat Lloyd Doggett, she was the senior member of the current Texas delegation.

Jackson Lee was known as a strong advocate for women and minorities, serving in the same Texas district once represented by Barbara Jordan, the first African American woman elected to Congress from the South since the Reconstruction era of the 19th century,

“Her unyielding zest for justice and fair play could never be suppressed,” said Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.) in a statement. “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,”

A vocal presence in the Congressional Black Caucus, Jackson Lee attempted to combat domestic violence through an expansion of the Violence Against Woman Act and also to have Juneteenth recognized as federal holiday, which occurred in 2021.

The holiday marks the day (June 19) in 1865 that the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally learned of their freedom, and it had long been celebrated in Texas.

In 2019, following in the footsteps of the late Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), she offered a proposal to study the idea of reparations for descendants of former slaves.

“We want to be responsive to all Americans and we know how diverse this country has become,” Jackson Lee said in an interview at the time. “We have consistently, as Democrats, wanted to say to the American people that we are for the people.”

That proposal, however, stalled.

In its obituary, the Texas Tribune noted how hard she had fought for Houston: “She often used her trademark chutzpah to fight for federal funds to be sent to Houston. In 2009, she secured $1 billion for the city’s light system after cornering then-Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood ahead of then-President Barack Obama’s first joint address to Congress. She could reliably be found in the aisle ahead of the State of the Union address, among the few members to directly meet with the president on his way to the dais.”

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg wrote on X: “She was an extraordinary advocate for her district and her values, and her impact and achievements will be long remembered.”

Fellow lawmakers in Texas saluted her legacy Friday night.

Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) wrote on X: “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.”

In discussing her work on behalf of Houston, Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) echoed Allred in his statement.

“It is with profound sadness that I acknowledge the passing of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a devoted leader, a proud-fellow Houstonian, and someone who I was proud to call a friend,” Hunt said.

He added: “Although we had our political disagreements, there were many moments with her, both public and private, that showed me that bipartisanship and service to country first can still bring members of Congress together.”

Sen. Ted Cruz also noted her advocacy for her home city. The Texas Republican added on X: “I will always cherish our friendship & the laughs we shared throughout the years.”

A native of Queens, New York, who was born on Jan. 12, 1950, Jackson Lee graduated from Yale and earned her law degree at the University of Virginia.

She was a judge in Houston before she was elected to Houston City Council in 1989, then ran for Congress in 1994. She was an advocate for gay rights and an early opponent of the Iraq War in 2003.

She could be counted on to chafe at Republican stances on numerous issues over the years. “First of all I’d like our Republican friends to stop a war on the working people of America,” she said in 2012 amid ongoing budget battles.

Jackson Lee routinely won reelection to Congress with ease. The few times she faced a challenger, she never carried less than two-thirds of the vote. But last year, she ran for mayor of Houston only to be defeated by Democratic state Sen. John Whitmire in a runoff in December.

At her election night party in December, Jackson Lee thanked her supporters, congratulated Whitmire and said she was committed to working with him. “It’s sweeter to be saying what a sweet victory it is. It’s equally as sweet to acknowledge we put up a good fight,” Jackson Lee said.

Also, in 2019, Jackson Lee stepped down from two leadership positions on the House Judiciary Committee and Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the fundraising of the Congressional Black Caucus, following a lawsuit from a former employee who said her sexual assault complaint was mishandled. “Other Judiciary panel members were uncomfortable with the optics of having a lawmaker mired in a messy legal battle heading a panel with jurisdiction over crime,” POLITICO reported at the time.

On June 2, Jackson Lee, who was seeking another term in Congress, announced that she was undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer.

“I am confident that my doctors have developed the best possible plan to target my specific disease,” Jackson Lee said. “The road ahead will not be easy, but I stand in faith that God will strengthen me.”

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Houston Democrat who had served in Congress since 1995, has died.

Jackson Lee, who disclosed less than two months ago that she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, was 74.

Her family announced her death on Friday evening: “With incredible grief for our loss yet deep gratitude for the life she shared with us, we announce the passing of United States Representative Sheila Jackson Lee of the 18th Congressional District of Texas.” Jackson Lee’s death was confirmed by Lillie Conley, her chief of staff.

Along with fellow Democrat Lloyd Doggett, she was the senior member of the current Texas delegation.

Jackson Lee was known as a strong advocate for women and minorities, serving in the same Texas district once represented by Barbara Jordan, the first African American woman elected to Congress from the South since the Reconstruction era of the 19th century,

“Her unyielding zest for justice and fair play could never be suppressed,” said Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.) in a statement. “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,”

A vocal presence in the Congressional Black Caucus, Jackson Lee attempted to combat domestic violence through an expansion of the Violence Against Woman Act and also to have Juneteenth recognized as federal holiday, which occurred in 2021.

The holiday marks the day (June 19) in 1865 that the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally learned of their freedom, and it had long been celebrated in Texas.

In 2019, following in the footsteps of the late Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), she offered a proposal to study the idea of reparations for descendants of former slaves.

“We want to be responsive to all Americans and we know how diverse this country has become,” Jackson Lee said in an interview at the time. “We have consistently, as Democrats, wanted to say to the American people that we are for the people.”

That proposal, however, stalled.

In its obituary, the Texas Tribune noted how hard she had fought for Houston: “She often used her trademark chutzpah to fight for federal funds to be sent to Houston. In 2009, she secured $1 billion for the city’s light system after cornering then-Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood ahead of then-President Barack Obama’s first joint address to Congress. She could reliably be found in the aisle ahead of the State of the Union address, among the few members to directly meet with the president on his way to the dais.”

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg wrote on X: “She was an extraordinary advocate for her district and her values, and her impact and achievements will be long remembered.”

Fellow lawmakers in Texas saluted her legacy Friday night.

Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) wrote on X: “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.”

In discussing her work on behalf of Houston, Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) echoed Allred in his statement.

“It is with profound sadness that I acknowledge the passing of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a devoted leader, a proud-fellow Houstonian, and someone who I was proud to call a friend,” Hunt said.

He added: “Although we had our political disagreements, there were many moments with her, both public and private, that showed me that bipartisanship and service to country first can still bring members of Congress together.”

Sen. Ted Cruz also noted her advocacy for her home city. The Texas Republican added on X: “I will always cherish our friendship & the laughs we shared throughout the years.”

A native of Queens, New York, who was born on Jan. 12, 1950, Jackson Lee graduated from Yale and earned her law degree at the University of Virginia.

She was a judge in Houston before she was elected to Houston City Council in 1989, then ran for Congress in 1994. She was an advocate for gay rights and an early opponent of the Iraq War in 2003.

She could be counted on to chafe at Republican stances on numerous issues over the years. “First of all I’d like our Republican friends to stop a war on the working people of America,” she said in 2012 amid ongoing budget battles.

Jackson Lee routinely won reelection to Congress with ease. The few times she faced a challenger, she never carried less than two-thirds of the vote. But last year, she ran for mayor of Houston only to be defeated by Democratic state Sen. John Whitmire in a runoff in December.

At her election night party in December, Jackson Lee thanked her supporters, congratulated Whitmire and said she was committed to working with him. “It’s sweeter to be saying what a sweet victory it is. It’s equally as sweet to acknowledge we put up a good fight,” Jackson Lee said.

Also, in 2019, Jackson Lee stepped down from two leadership positions on the House Judiciary Committee and Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the fundraising of the Congressional Black Caucus, following a lawsuit from a former employee who said her sexual assault complaint was mishandled. “Other Judiciary panel members were uncomfortable with the optics of having a lawmaker mired in a messy legal battle heading a panel with jurisdiction over crime,” POLITICO reported at the time.

On June 2, Jackson Lee, who was seeking another term in Congress, announced that she was undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer.

“I am confident that my doctors have developed the best possible plan to target my specific disease,” Jackson Lee said. “The road ahead will not be easy, but I stand in faith that God will strengthen me.”

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Houston Democrat who had served in Congress since 1995, has died.

Jackson Lee, who disclosed less than two months ago that she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, was 74.

Her family announced her death on Friday evening: “With incredible grief for our loss yet deep gratitude for the life she shared with us, we announce the passing of United States Representative Sheila Jackson Lee of the 18th Congressional District of Texas.” Jackson Lee’s death was confirmed by Lillie Conley, her chief of staff.

Along with fellow Democrat Lloyd Doggett, she was the senior member of the current Texas delegation.

Jackson Lee was known as a strong advocate for women and minorities, serving in the same Texas district once represented by Barbara Jordan, the first African American woman elected to Congress from the South since the Reconstruction era of the 19th century,

“Her unyielding zest for justice and fair play could never be suppressed,” said Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.) in a statement. “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,”

A vocal presence in the Congressional Black Caucus, Jackson Lee attempted to combat domestic violence through an expansion of the Violence Against Woman Act and also to have Juneteenth recognized as federal holiday, which occurred in 2021.

The holiday marks the day (June 19) in 1865 that the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally learned of their freedom, and it had long been celebrated in Texas.

In 2019, following in the footsteps of the late Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), she offered a proposal to study the idea of reparations for descendants of former slaves.

“We want to be responsive to all Americans and we know how diverse this country has become,” Jackson Lee said in an interview at the time. “We have consistently, as Democrats, wanted to say to the American people that we are for the people.”

That proposal, however, stalled.

In its obituary, the Texas Tribune noted how hard she had fought for Houston: “She often used her trademark chutzpah to fight for federal funds to be sent to Houston. In 2009, she secured $1 billion for the city’s light system after cornering then-Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood ahead of then-President Barack Obama’s first joint address to Congress. She could reliably be found in the aisle ahead of the State of the Union address, among the few members to directly meet with the president on his way to the dais.”

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg wrote on X: “She was an extraordinary advocate for her district and her values, and her impact and achievements will be long remembered.”

Fellow lawmakers in Texas saluted her legacy Friday night.

Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) wrote on X: “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.”

In discussing her work on behalf of Houston, Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) echoed Allred in his statement.

“It is with profound sadness that I acknowledge the passing of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a devoted leader, a proud-fellow Houstonian, and someone who I was proud to call a friend,” Hunt said.

He added: “Although we had our political disagreements, there were many moments with her, both public and private, that showed me that bipartisanship and service to country first can still bring members of Congress together.”

Sen. Ted Cruz also noted her advocacy for her home city. The Texas Republican added on X: “I will always cherish our friendship & the laughs we shared throughout the years.”

A native of Queens, New York, who was born on Jan. 12, 1950, Jackson Lee graduated from Yale and earned her law degree at the University of Virginia.

She was a judge in Houston before she was elected to Houston City Council in 1989, then ran for Congress in 1994. She was an advocate for gay rights and an early opponent of the Iraq War in 2003.

She could be counted on to chafe at Republican stances on numerous issues over the years. “First of all I’d like our Republican friends to stop a war on the working people of America,” she said in 2012 amid ongoing budget battles.

Jackson Lee routinely won reelection to Congress with ease. The few times she faced a challenger, she never carried less than two-thirds of the vote. But last year, she ran for mayor of Houston only to be defeated by Democratic state Sen. John Whitmire in a runoff in December.

At her election night party in December, Jackson Lee thanked her supporters, congratulated Whitmire and said she was committed to working with him. “It’s sweeter to be saying what a sweet victory it is. It’s equally as sweet to acknowledge we put up a good fight,” Jackson Lee said.

Also, in 2019, Jackson Lee stepped down from two leadership positions on the House Judiciary Committee and Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the fundraising of the Congressional Black Caucus, following a lawsuit from a former employee who said her sexual assault complaint was mishandled. “Other Judiciary panel members were uncomfortable with the optics of having a lawmaker mired in a messy legal battle heading a panel with jurisdiction over crime,” POLITICO reported at the time.

On June 2, Jackson Lee, who was seeking another term in Congress, announced that she was undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer.

“I am confident that my doctors have developed the best possible plan to target my specific disease,” Jackson Lee said. “The road ahead will not be easy, but I stand in faith that God will strengthen me.”

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Houston Democrat who had served in Congress since 1995, has died.

Jackson Lee, who disclosed less than two months ago that she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, was 74.

Her family announced her death on Friday evening: “With incredible grief for our loss yet deep gratitude for the life she shared with us, we announce the passing of United States Representative Sheila Jackson Lee of the 18th Congressional District of Texas.” Jackson Lee’s death was confirmed by Lillie Conley, her chief of staff.

Along with fellow Democrat Lloyd Doggett, she was the senior member of the current Texas delegation.

Jackson Lee was known as a strong advocate for women and minorities, serving in the same Texas district once represented by Barbara Jordan, the first African American woman elected to Congress from the South since the Reconstruction era of the 19th century,

“Her unyielding zest for justice and fair play could never be suppressed,” said Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.) in a statement. “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,”

A vocal presence in the Congressional Black Caucus, Jackson Lee attempted to combat domestic violence through an expansion of the Violence Against Woman Act and also to have Juneteenth recognized as federal holiday, which occurred in 2021.

The holiday marks the day (June 19) in 1865 that the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally learned of their freedom, and it had long been celebrated in Texas.

In 2019, following in the footsteps of the late Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), she offered a proposal to study the idea of reparations for descendants of former slaves.

“We want to be responsive to all Americans and we know how diverse this country has become,” Jackson Lee said in an interview at the time. “We have consistently, as Democrats, wanted to say to the American people that we are for the people.”

That proposal, however, stalled.

In its obituary, the Texas Tribune noted how hard she had fought for Houston: “She often used her trademark chutzpah to fight for federal funds to be sent to Houston. In 2009, she secured $1 billion for the city’s light system after cornering then-Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood ahead of then-President Barack Obama’s first joint address to Congress. She could reliably be found in the aisle ahead of the State of the Union address, among the few members to directly meet with the president on his way to the dais.”

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg wrote on X: “She was an extraordinary advocate for her district and her values, and her impact and achievements will be long remembered.”

Fellow lawmakers in Texas saluted her legacy Friday night.

Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) wrote on X: “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.”

In discussing her work on behalf of Houston, Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) echoed Allred in his statement.

“It is with profound sadness that I acknowledge the passing of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a devoted leader, a proud-fellow Houstonian, and someone who I was proud to call a friend,” Hunt said.

He added: “Although we had our political disagreements, there were many moments with her, both public and private, that showed me that bipartisanship and service to country first can still bring members of Congress together.”

Sen. Ted Cruz also noted her advocacy for her home city. The Texas Republican added on X: “I will always cherish our friendship & the laughs we shared throughout the years.”

A native of Queens, New York, who was born on Jan. 12, 1950, Jackson Lee graduated from Yale and earned her law degree at the University of Virginia.

She was a judge in Houston before she was elected to Houston City Council in 1989, then ran for Congress in 1994. She was an advocate for gay rights and an early opponent of the Iraq War in 2003.

She could be counted on to chafe at Republican stances on numerous issues over the years. “First of all I’d like our Republican friends to stop a war on the working people of America,” she said in 2012 amid ongoing budget battles.

Jackson Lee routinely won reelection to Congress with ease. The few times she faced a challenger, she never carried less than two-thirds of the vote. But last year, she ran for mayor of Houston only to be defeated by Democratic state Sen. John Whitmire in a runoff in December.

At her election night party in December, Jackson Lee thanked her supporters, congratulated Whitmire and said she was committed to working with him. “It’s sweeter to be saying what a sweet victory it is. It’s equally as sweet to acknowledge we put up a good fight,” Jackson Lee said.

Also, in 2019, Jackson Lee stepped down from two leadership positions on the House Judiciary Committee and Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the fundraising of the Congressional Black Caucus, following a lawsuit from a former employee who said her sexual assault complaint was mishandled. “Other Judiciary panel members were uncomfortable with the optics of having a lawmaker mired in a messy legal battle heading a panel with jurisdiction over crime,” POLITICO reported at the time.

On June 2, Jackson Lee, who was seeking another term in Congress, announced that she was undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer.

“I am confident that my doctors have developed the best possible plan to target my specific disease,” Jackson Lee said. “The road ahead will not be easy, but I stand in faith that God will strengthen me.”

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Houston Democrat who had served in Congress since 1995, has died.

Jackson Lee, who disclosed less than two months ago that she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, was 74.

Her family announced her death on Friday evening: “With incredible grief for our loss yet deep gratitude for the life she shared with us, we announce the passing of United States Representative Sheila Jackson Lee of the 18th Congressional District of Texas.” Jackson Lee’s death was confirmed by Lillie Conley, her chief of staff.

Along with fellow Democrat Lloyd Doggett, she was the senior member of the current Texas delegation.

Jackson Lee was known as a strong advocate for women and minorities, serving in the same Texas district once represented by Barbara Jordan, the first African American woman elected to Congress from the South since the Reconstruction era of the 19th century,

“Her unyielding zest for justice and fair play could never be suppressed,” said Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.) in a statement. “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,”

A vocal presence in the Congressional Black Caucus, Jackson Lee attempted to combat domestic violence through an expansion of the Violence Against Woman Act and also to have Juneteenth recognized as federal holiday, which occurred in 2021.

The holiday marks the day (June 19) in 1865 that the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally learned of their freedom, and it had long been celebrated in Texas.

In 2019, following in the footsteps of the late Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), she offered a proposal to study the idea of reparations for descendants of former slaves.

“We want to be responsive to all Americans and we know how diverse this country has become,” Jackson Lee said in an interview at the time. “We have consistently, as Democrats, wanted to say to the American people that we are for the people.”

That proposal, however, stalled.

In its obituary, the Texas Tribune noted how hard she had fought for Houston: “She often used her trademark chutzpah to fight for federal funds to be sent to Houston. In 2009, she secured $1 billion for the city’s light system after cornering then-Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood ahead of then-President Barack Obama’s first joint address to Congress. She could reliably be found in the aisle ahead of the State of the Union address, among the few members to directly meet with the president on his way to the dais.”

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg wrote on X: “She was an extraordinary advocate for her district and her values, and her impact and achievements will be long remembered.”

Fellow lawmakers in Texas saluted her legacy Friday night.

Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) wrote on X: “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.”

In discussing her work on behalf of Houston, Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) echoed Allred in his statement.

“It is with profound sadness that I acknowledge the passing of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a devoted leader, a proud-fellow Houstonian, and someone who I was proud to call a friend,” Hunt said.

He added: “Although we had our political disagreements, there were many moments with her, both public and private, that showed me that bipartisanship and service to country first can still bring members of Congress together.”

Sen. Ted Cruz also noted her advocacy for her home city. The Texas Republican added on X: “I will always cherish our friendship & the laughs we shared throughout the years.”

A native of Queens, New York, who was born on Jan. 12, 1950, Jackson Lee graduated from Yale and earned her law degree at the University of Virginia.

She was a judge in Houston before she was elected to Houston City Council in 1989, then ran for Congress in 1994. She was an advocate for gay rights and an early opponent of the Iraq War in 2003.

She could be counted on to chafe at Republican stances on numerous issues over the years. “First of all I’d like our Republican friends to stop a war on the working people of America,” she said in 2012 amid ongoing budget battles.

Jackson Lee routinely won reelection to Congress with ease. The few times she faced a challenger, she never carried less than two-thirds of the vote. But last year, she ran for mayor of Houston only to be defeated by Democratic state Sen. John Whitmire in a runoff in December.

At her election night party in December, Jackson Lee thanked her supporters, congratulated Whitmire and said she was committed to working with him. “It’s sweeter to be saying what a sweet victory it is. It’s equally as sweet to acknowledge we put up a good fight,” Jackson Lee said.

Also, in 2019, Jackson Lee stepped down from two leadership positions on the House Judiciary Committee and Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the fundraising of the Congressional Black Caucus, following a lawsuit from a former employee who said her sexual assault complaint was mishandled. “Other Judiciary panel members were uncomfortable with the optics of having a lawmaker mired in a messy legal battle heading a panel with jurisdiction over crime,” POLITICO reported at the time.

On June 2, Jackson Lee, who was seeking another term in Congress, announced that she was undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer.

“I am confident that my doctors have developed the best possible plan to target my specific disease,” Jackson Lee said. “The road ahead will not be easy, but I stand in faith that God will strengthen me.”

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Houston Democrat who had served in Congress since 1995, has died.

Jackson Lee, who disclosed less than two months ago that she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, was 74.

Her family announced her death on Friday evening: “With incredible grief for our loss yet deep gratitude for the life she shared with us, we announce the passing of United States Representative Sheila Jackson Lee of the 18th Congressional District of Texas.” Jackson Lee’s death was confirmed by Lillie Conley, her chief of staff.

Along with fellow Democrat Lloyd Doggett, she was the senior member of the current Texas delegation.

Jackson Lee was known as a strong advocate for women and minorities, serving in the same Texas district once represented by Barbara Jordan, the first African American woman elected to Congress from the South since the Reconstruction era of the 19th century,

“Her unyielding zest for justice and fair play could never be suppressed,” said Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.) in a statement. “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,”

A vocal presence in the Congressional Black Caucus, Jackson Lee attempted to combat domestic violence through an expansion of the Violence Against Woman Act and also to have Juneteenth recognized as federal holiday, which occurred in 2021.

The holiday marks the day (June 19) in 1865 that the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally learned of their freedom, and it had long been celebrated in Texas.

In 2019, following in the footsteps of the late Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), she offered a proposal to study the idea of reparations for descendants of former slaves.

“We want to be responsive to all Americans and we know how diverse this country has become,” Jackson Lee said in an interview at the time. “We have consistently, as Democrats, wanted to say to the American people that we are for the people.”

That proposal, however, stalled.

In its obituary, the Texas Tribune noted how hard she had fought for Houston: “She often used her trademark chutzpah to fight for federal funds to be sent to Houston. In 2009, she secured $1 billion for the city’s light system after cornering then-Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood ahead of then-President Barack Obama’s first joint address to Congress. She could reliably be found in the aisle ahead of the State of the Union address, among the few members to directly meet with the president on his way to the dais.”

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg wrote on X: “She was an extraordinary advocate for her district and her values, and her impact and achievements will be long remembered.”

Fellow lawmakers in Texas saluted her legacy Friday night.

Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) wrote on X: “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.”

In discussing her work on behalf of Houston, Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) echoed Allred in his statement.

“It is with profound sadness that I acknowledge the passing of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a devoted leader, a proud-fellow Houstonian, and someone who I was proud to call a friend,” Hunt said.

He added: “Although we had our political disagreements, there were many moments with her, both public and private, that showed me that bipartisanship and service to country first can still bring members of Congress together.”

Sen. Ted Cruz also noted her advocacy for her home city. The Texas Republican added on X: “I will always cherish our friendship & the laughs we shared throughout the years.”

A native of Queens, New York, who was born on Jan. 12, 1950, Jackson Lee graduated from Yale and earned her law degree at the University of Virginia.

She was a judge in Houston before she was elected to Houston City Council in 1989, then ran for Congress in 1994. She was an advocate for gay rights and an early opponent of the Iraq War in 2003.

She could be counted on to chafe at Republican stances on numerous issues over the years. “First of all I’d like our Republican friends to stop a war on the working people of America,” she said in 2012 amid ongoing budget battles.

Jackson Lee routinely won reelection to Congress with ease. The few times she faced a challenger, she never carried less than two-thirds of the vote. But last year, she ran for mayor of Houston only to be defeated by Democratic state Sen. John Whitmire in a runoff in December.

At her election night party in December, Jackson Lee thanked her supporters, congratulated Whitmire and said she was committed to working with him. “It’s sweeter to be saying what a sweet victory it is. It’s equally as sweet to acknowledge we put up a good fight,” Jackson Lee said.

Also, in 2019, Jackson Lee stepped down from two leadership positions on the House Judiciary Committee and Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the fundraising of the Congressional Black Caucus, following a lawsuit from a former employee who said her sexual assault complaint was mishandled. “Other Judiciary panel members were uncomfortable with the optics of having a lawmaker mired in a messy legal battle heading a panel with jurisdiction over crime,” POLITICO reported at the time.

On June 2, Jackson Lee, who was seeking another term in Congress, announced that she was undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer.

“I am confident that my doctors have developed the best possible plan to target my specific disease,” Jackson Lee said. “The road ahead will not be easy, but I stand in faith that God will strengthen me.”

House Republicans are escalating their investigation into the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, subpoenaing Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for information related to security at the rally.

House Homeland Security Chair Mark Green (R-Tenn.) on Friday demanded various records, including security plans for the rally site, Secret Service protocol on the day of the rally and documents and communications about coordination for screening rally attendees. Green also wants any records related to increasing Trump’s security detail since Nov. 15, 2022.

Under the terms of the subpoena, the department would have until noon on July 26 to hand over the materials.

“On July 14, 2024, the Committee requested specific documents and information relating to the attempted assassination of President Trump. Due to the extraordinary and urgent circumstances under investigation, and with less than four months before the election, the Committee seeks swift and thorough compliance with its requests for documents and information,” Green wrote in a letter on Friday to Mayorkas.

He added that his panel needs the subpoenaed information “to effectively carry out oversight of the Department’s handling of security for presidential candidates and other high-profile protectees, as well as to fully evaluate potential legislation to reform the Department’s handling of this responsibility.”

Green’s committee is one of several investigating Saturday’s shooting. Green invited Mayorkas, FBI Director Christopher Wray and Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to testify before his panel on Tuesday.

The FBI declined that invitation earlier this week. Green noted in his letter to Mayorkas that DHS had also declined to have the secretary appear on Tuesday and that the committee is still waiting for a response about Cheatle’s appearance. Green added in his letter that his committee has been trying to set up a phone call for him with Mayorkas but has so far been unable to do so.

“This lack of cooperation is unacceptable and must come to an end,” he added.

Cheatle will testify before the House Oversight Committee on Monday, and Wray is expected to testify before the House Judiciary Committee next week. The latter’s appearance was already on the books before Saturday’s shooting, but Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) warned Wray in a letter this week to expect many questions about the assassination attempt.

In addition to Wray, Mayorkas and Cheatle, Green has also said he wants to hear from state and local law enforcement. He did not announce a date for that hearing but said it would be in the coming days.

Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle will appear before the House Oversight Committee on Monday, the Secret Service said Friday, capping off a back-and-forth with the panel.

“Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle will testify before the House Committee on Oversight on Monday. The Secret Service is fully accountable for the safety of its protectees,” Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesperson for the Secret Service, said in a statement. “We are committed to better understanding what happened before, during and after the assassination attempt of former President Trump to ensure it never happens again. That includes complete cooperation with Congress, the FBI and other relevant investigations.”

Secret Service confirming Cheatle’s appearance on Monday comes after Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) issued a subpoena for her to appear on Monday. The Department of Homeland Security subsequently sent a letter to Comer asking if the hearing could be delayed until later in the week, or the week of July 29, “given her travel and operational commitments.”

Comer, however, rejected that request, vowing to go forward with the hearing on Monday. And Comer and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), in a rare joint statement Friday, said Cheatle “must appear” on Monday “to answer our many questions and provide the transparency and accountability that Americans deserve and that are at the foundation of our government.”

“While we often have passionate disagreements about policies and investigative priorities, we are united in condemning all political violence and ensuring that America will prevent such a horrific event from ever happening again,” the two said.

Cheatle was part of a team that briefed lawmakers earlier this week, when she acknowledged that Saturday was a “failure.” But Republicans fumed after the virtual meetings that they were given little time for questions and got few new details since the discussion was unclassified.

The House Oversight Committee is one of several panels investigating Saturday’s assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump. House Homeland Security Chair Mark Green (R-Tenn.) has also invited Cheatle to testify before his panel on Tuesday. Speaker Mike Johnson is expected to announce a bipartisan task force Monday to streamline the House’s investigation.