Sheila Jackson Lee, the longtime Democratic congresswoman from Texas who was an outspoken advocate for black Americans for decades, has died. Today we will discuss about Sheila Jackson Lee cause of death: What happened,Health problem.
Sheila Jackson Lee cause of death: What happened,Health problem
Longtime Texas Democratic Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Leehas died. She was 74 years old.
Lee’s family posted a statement on X announcing the following:
“Today, with incredible sadness for our loss and with deep gratitude for the life we shared, we announce the passing of Sheila Jackson Lee, U.S. Representative for the 18th Congressional District of Texas. A fierce champion of the people. , she was warm and simple. She is known as “Congresswoman” by her constituents for her almost omnipresent presence and service in their daily lives for more than 30 years.
Lee announced in June that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
In a statement posted to X in June, Lee said that his doctors had confirmed pancreatic cancer and he was being treated.
“I am confident that my doctors have developed the best possible plan to target my specific disease,” Lee said in the statement. “The road ahead will not be easy, but I believe God will strengthen me.”
Jackson Lee has been representing the 18th district of Texas in the House of Representatives since 1995. Now in his 15th term in Congress, Jackson Lee is a member of the House Judiciary, Homeland Security and Budget Committees and a member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security.
In his statement, Jackson Lee made no mention of stepping down, writing that he was looking forward to “serving this country and working with our congressional leadership, including Leader Hakeem Jeffries and the Speaker of the House, to be present for the vote on important legislation.” Committed to doing.” For the prosperity and security of the American people.”
What happened
Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, a Democrat from Texas who was a leading voice for racial justice and progressive causes during three decades in the House, died on Friday. She was 74 years old.
His death was announced in a statement from his family. He said in June that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
“By God’s grace, I will soon be back with full strength,” she told voters.
The Congressional Black Caucus, in a statement released late Friday, called Ms. Jackson Lee “a titan” and “a fierce advocate for social and economic justice, national and homeland security, energy independence, and for children and working families.”
Ms. Jackson Lee, a former Houston City Council member who was elected to Congress in 1994, was an indomitable presence from the beginning, constantly lobbying senior members for speaking time and almost always getting her point across.
She used to say to critics that she was just serving her voters.
“It’s your responsibility to make sure that their concerns are heard, that they are answered,” he said in a 1999 interview with The New York Times. “I need to make a change. I don’t have money to write a check. But perhaps I can be a consistent voice arguing for change.
During her congressional career, Ms. Jackson Lee was Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, and as a senior member of the House Committees on Judiciary, Homeland Security and Budget.
Her last political race came last year, when she lost the Houston mayoral election to John Whitmire, a moderate Democrat and former state senator.
Ms. Jackson Lee entered the race with the strong support of many Democrats and black voters, but struggled to establish a message and expand her base of support.
She did not set out for a political career. When he and his brother were growing up in Queens, where their mother worked as a nurse and their father worked as a hospital orderly, he set a goal of becoming an expert.
Health problem
Her family said in a statement, “Today, with incredible sadness for our loss as well as deep gratitude for the life we shared, we announce the passing of Sheila Jackson Lee, United States Representative of the 18th Congressional District of Texas. We do.”
“A local, national and international humanitarian, she is acknowledged around the world for her courageous fight for racial justice, criminal justice and human rights, with a special emphasis on women and children,” the statement said.
Sheila Jackson Lee cause of death: What happened,Health problem
Jackson Lee announced in June that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was undergoing treatment.
The longtime Congressman served in the House since 1995 and left a legacy of advancing legislation related to civil rights.
Jackson Lee was the lead sponsor of the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, and he cosponsored the Sentencing Reform Act of 2015, as well as the George Floyd Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act.
“It’s America’s holiday. And America’s holiday isn’t just for black people,” Jackson Lee said about Juneteenth in a 2023 MSNBC interview. “It’s about freedom, and it’s about democracy.”
Texas Democrats introduced legislation to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law in 2022.
Jackson Lee was born in Queens, New York. A graduate of Yale University and the University of Virginia Law School, he worked as an attorney in private practice and as a staff attorney for the House Select Committee on Assassinations.
She worked in Houston government as a city council member and municipal judge before being elected to Congress, where she served on the Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Budget committees.
Congressional colleagues and political figures on both sides of the aisle remembered Jackson Lee and his commitment to his constituents.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, said in a post that Jackson Lee was “a proud Texan and a tireless advocate for the people of Houston.”