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Sheila Jackson Lee served as U.S. Representative for Texas’s 18th District from 1995 until she died in 2024. A Yale graduate and civil rights champion, she authored the legislation making Juneteenth a federal holiday and sponsored hundreds of bills focused on criminal justice reform, healthcare access, and women’s rights.
Sheila Jackson was born in Queens, New York, on January 12, 1950. Her father worked as a comic book artist, and her mother practiced as a nurse. She graduated from Jamaica High School before earning a political science degree from Yale University in 1972 and a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1975.
After moving to Houston in 1987 with her husband, Elwyn Lee, Jackson Lee began building a career in local politics. She worked at a prominent law firm before Houston Mayor Kathy Whitmire appointed her as a municipal judge. In 1989, she won an election to the Houston City Council, serving until 1994.
Her congressional career began with a bold primary challenge. In 1994, Jackson Lee defeated four-term incumbent Craig Washington with 63% of the vote. Washington had opposed projects beneficial to Houston, opening the door for her victory. She won the general election easily in the heavily Democratic district with 73% of the vote.
Jackson Lee represented central Houston for nearly three decades. She served on the House Judiciary Committee, the Homeland Security Committee, and the Budget Committee. Her work touched everything from space policy oversight to counterterrorism measures.
She became a prominent member of the Congressional Black Caucus and later served as co-dean of Texas’s congressional delegation alongside Lloyd Doggett. According to FiveThirtyEight analysis, she voted with President Biden’s position 100% of the time during the 117th Congress (2021-2023).
Her committee assignments gave her influence over criminal justice reform, immigration policy, and national security issues. She chaired subcommittees and used these positions to advance legislation on issues affecting her Houston constituents and communities across the country.
Jackson Lee’s signature accomplishment came in 2021 when Congress passed her bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday. The legislation was recognized on June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Texas learned of their freedom. She had championed this cause for years before achieving success.
The path to federal recognition took persistence. Jackson Lee introduced versions of the bill multiple times before gaining the momentum needed for passage. When President Biden signed it into law, it became the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Following the death of Congressman John Conyers in 2019, she became the lead sponsor of H.R. 40. This bill would establish a commission to study reparation proposals for African Americans. She presided over a historic House Judiciary Committee hearing on the legislation on Juneteenth 2019.
She introduced the Sabika Sheikh Firearm Licensing and Registration Act in 2021, named after a Pakistani exchange student killed in the Santa Fe High School shooting. The bill proposed expanded firearm licensing requirements and ammunition restrictions. She also worked on the Essential Transportation Worker Identification Credential Assessment Act, directing Homeland Security to evaluate security credential programs.
Her legislative portfolio included criminal justice reform measures, healthcare expansion efforts, and women’s rights protections. She sponsored hundreds of bills addressing issues ranging from breast cancer research to airline worker protections during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jackson Lee positioned herself as a consistent voice for civil rights throughout her career. She supported policies aimed at reducing racial disparities in the criminal justice system and expanding access to healthcare. She backed Medicare for All and opposed efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
On immigration, she called for increased border security while expanding pathways to legal status for people living in the U.S. She opposed guest worker programs, arguing they sent mixed messages to potential immigrants. Her Houston district’s diversity shaped her approach to immigration policy.
She voted against the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force in Iraq. She traveled to international conferences on racism and human rights, including the 2001 World Conference against Racism in South Africa. In 2006, she was arrested with other Congress members while protesting Sudan’s role in the Darfur genocide.
Jackson Lee advocated for women’s rights legislation throughout her tenure. She supported the Paycheck Fairness Act and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. She voted for the Equality Act in 2019, which expanded federal civil rights protections to include sexual orientation and gender identity.
In March 2023, Jackson Lee announced her candidacy for Houston mayor. She secured endorsements from outgoing Mayor Sylvester Turner, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. These high-profile supporters signaled the race’s significance.
She finished second in the November election behind state Senator John Whitmire. No candidate reached the required 50% threshold, triggering a runoff. Despite her endorsements and congressional experience, Whitmire defeated her decisively in the December runoff with nearly 65% of the vote.
Two days after losing, Jackson Lee filed to run for reelection to her House seat. She won the Democratic primary in March 2024, ensuring her return to Congress. The failed mayoral bid marked a rare electoral setback in her political career.
Reports about Jackson Lee’s management style followed her throughout her congressional tenure. Multiple news outlets documented high staff turnover rates. In 2011, The Huffington Post reported she had eleven chiefs of staff in eleven years. A 2013 analysis found she had the highest turnover rate in Congress over the previous decade.
Washingtonian magazine named her the “meanest Democratic Congress member” in both 2014 and 2017. LegiStorm reported in 2018 that her annual turnover rate of 62% was the highest in Congress. During her mayoral campaign, an audio recording surfaced of her allegedly berating staffers with profanity. She expressed regret about the incident.
She also made several public misstatements that drew media attention. These included confusing Wikipedia with WikiLeaks, incorrectly stating the Constitution’s age, and calling the Moon a planet made of gas. In 2014, she claimed Democrats “did not seek an impeachment” of President Bush despite co-sponsoring a 2008 impeachment resolution. Her spokesperson later said she “misspoke.”
These controversies existed alongside her legislative work. Supporters argued her demanding nature reflected her commitment to constituent service. Critics suggested it revealed problematic leadership. The tension between her policy achievements and management challenges defined part of her public profile.
On June 2, 2024, Jackson Lee announced her pancreatic cancer diagnosis. She continued working while receiving treatment. She died at a Houston hospital on July 19, 2024, at age 74.
President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris attended her funeral at Houston’s Fallbrook Church on August 1, 2024. Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries delivered remarks. She became only the second person to lie in state at Houston City Hall.
Her daughter, Erica Lee Carter, was appointed to fill her vacant seat in Congress. This ensured continuity in representing the 18th District. Her son Jason serves as senior advisor to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
Jackson Lee’s legacy centers on her civil rights advocacy and legislative persistence. The Juneteenth federal holiday stands as her most visible achievement, recognizing a crucial moment in American history. Her work on criminal justice reform, reparations study proposals, and constituent services shaped her district and influenced national policy debates for three decades.
