Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee dies at 74 after battle with Cancer

Following a fight with cancer, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, passed away at the age of 74, her family said on Friday.

"Today, 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," the Lee family stated in a statement.

According to the statement, she was a "local, national, and international humanitarian who was recognized worldwide for her valiant fights for criminal justice, human rights, and racial justice, with a special emphasis on women and children."

Jackson Lee said in June that she was receiving treatment for pancreatic cancer, after her diagnosis.

The seasoned lawmaker, who joined the House in 1995, is known for her advocacy of civil rights legislation.

Jackson Lee was the principal proponent of the George Floyd Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act, the Sentencing Reform Act of 2015, and the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act.

"This is the holiday in America. In a 2023 MSNBC interview, Jackson Lee stated that Juneteenth is not simply a Black celebration in America. "It is about freedom, and it is about democracy."

The Violence Against Women Act was reauthorized in 2022 after being sponsored by the Texas Democrat and signed by President Joe Biden.

Queens, New York, is where Jackson Lee was born. She was a staff counsel for the House Select Committee on Assassinations in addition to practicing law in private practice. She is a graduate of Yale University and the University of Virginia Law School.

Before being elected to Congress, she served in Houston's government as a municipal judge, member of the City Council, and chair of the Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Budget committees.

In the end, state senator John Whitmire defeated Jackson Lee in a runoff for Houston mayor in 2023. Later on, she won reelection to the House.

Politicians and fellow members of Congress on both sides of the dispute recalled Jackson Lee and her dedication to her people.

Republican governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, described Jackson Lee in a tweet as "a proud Texan and a tireless advocate for the people of Houston."

"Her legacy of public service and dedication to Texas will live on," added the governor.

Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, expressed his "deep sadness" over his friend and colleague's passing. "I will always cherish our friendship & the laughs we shared throughout the years," Cruz said.

Sen. Colin Allred, a Democrat from Texas, stated, "No one worked harder for her community and if Houston needed something, she got it done."

In a letter, Jackson Lee's opponent from the previous year, Sylvester Turner, the mayor of Houston, stated that "her uncanny ability to be everywhere, working every day for those who needed a champion, made her truly exceptional." Jackson Lee also campaigned against Turner.

Jackson Lee's family stated that the congresswoman's funeral plans are still being finalized.

Her family released a statement that said, "She will be deeply missed, but her legacy will continue to inspire all who believe in freedom, justice, and democracy." "God bless you Congresswoman and God bless the United States of America."

Her spouse, two kids, and two grandkids all survive her.