(DailyAnswer.org) – Democratic Texas Representative Sheila Jackson Lee has passed away aged 74 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Jackson Lee’s office released a statement on July 19, which expressed “deep grief” as well as gratitude for the life that she shared with her staff. The lawmaker announced in June that she had been diagnosed with cancer after serving the 18th congressional district of Texas for almost three decades.
Jackson Lee was placed on the House judiciary committee in 1995. The appointment came just after she had been elected to represent the Houston district, which was previously represented by Barbara Jordan, the first African American woman elected to Congress in the Southern states since the Reconstruction era. Jackson Lee suggested to reporters in 2022 that she had been viewed through Barbara Jordan’s work, and described it as an “honor” to have been added to the high-profile committee.
The lawmaker was an outspoken advocate for both African American Communities and women’s rights throughout her political career. A staunch supporter of President Joe Biden, Jackson Lee shared her dying wish in her final tweet, in which she called on Democrats to unite behind the incumbent president. She previously said there was no greater leader in the country. Biden stepped down from his presidential campaign on July 21 following mounting pressure from leading Democrats and donors.
Jackson Lee has also praised Vice President Kamala Harris, who secured enough support from Democratic delegates to be formally nominated as the party’s presidential candidate. She acknowledged Harris’ support for women’s rights and reproductive rights, and argued the vice president is capable of leading internationally.
Jackson Lee already battled breast cancer in 2011, before announcing that she was in the clear the following year. Her office described her as a humanitarian – locally, nationally and internationally – and recognized her fights for human rights and racial equality. The statement noted that the representative’s work was heavily focused on supporting women and children.
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