HOUSTON – Staff members of the 18th Congressional District of Texas’ and offices in Washington D.C. released a statement of remembrance after the death of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
The congresswoman passed away on Friday following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
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In a statement, the staff members expressed thanks and gratitude for all the people who sent cards, letters, flowers, well wishes, and prayers during the congresswoman’s battle with cancer.
“She was brave and singularly focused on the needs of her constituents throughout her career, including during her convalescence. We are grateful for her example of putting people first—regardless of their station in life, ethnicity, faith, opportunities, or lack thereof because the only consideration was the needs of the person asking for help,” the statement read.
The statement also noted Lee’s work throughout her life in politics.
“She worked to free unlawfully detained U.S. persons held in foreign jails, fought bribery targeting U.S. companies abroad, and helped shed light on cancer clusters in Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens. Because of her tenacity today, the EPA is conducting deep soil samples in the area to understand the cancer threat and to report findings to residents,” the statement read.
The statement went on to thank district staff for helping to manage the programs and initiatives Congresswoman Lee oversaw.
“In the weeks and months ahead, our offices will continue to work with leadership offices on the Hill on the priorities she set, which include the establishment of the Emancipation National Historic Trail from Galveston, where General Order 3 was read on June 19, 1865, freeing the last 255,000 enslaved persons in the United States and follow the path took by soldiers and newly freed persons into Houston. Her second wish was to see the establishment of the Juneteenth Commission to conduct a root cause analysis of the effects of slavery on U.S. society from its beginnings through today, with a focus on understanding its impact on people and institutions so that the nation can better understand where work is needed to free our nation from the last vestiges of slavery finally,” the statement read.
The staff members said they will mourn and remember Lee, but remain committed to serving the constituents of the 18th Congressional District.
You can read the full statement below:
The staff of the 18th Congressional District of Texas’ District and Washington, DC offices extend our thanks to those who sent cards, letters, flowers, well wishes, and prayers during Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s battle with cancer. She was brave and singularly focused on the needs of her constituents throughout her career, including during her convalescence. We are grateful for her example of putting people first—regardless of their station in life, ethnicity, faith, opportunities, or lack thereof because the only consideration was the needs of the person asking for help. She worked to free unlawfully detained U.S. persons held in foreign jails, fought bribery targeting U.S. companies abroad, and helped shed light on cancer clusters in Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens. Because of her tenacity today, the EPA is conducting deep soil samples in the area to understand the cancer threat and to report findings to residents.
We offer special thanks to our District Staff under the leadership of the District Director Yuroba Harris, who managed Congresswoman Jackson Lee’s casework, constituent programs, and projects that included management of our constituent field services projects like over 80 free testing and vaccination clinics during COVID; and following extreme weather events to make sure food, water, and ice distributions reached constituents in need. The Congresswoman’s final message to her Chief of Staff, Lillie Coney, and her District Director was to see that the Washington DC Offices continue the work during this Hurricane Season to act as liaisons with the deployment of all assistance to constituents and assist in the work of FEMA, SBA, and Red Cross, joined by dozens of volunteers to get help where it is needed.
In the weeks and months ahead, our offices will continue to work with leadership offices on the Hill on the priorities she set, which include the establishment of the Emancipation National Historic Trail from Galveston, where General Order 3 was read on June 19, 1865, freeing the last 255,000 enslaved persons in the United States and follow the path took by soldiers and newly freed persons into Houston. Her second wish was to see the establishment of the Juneteenth Commission to conduct a root cause analysis of the effects of slavery on U.S. society from its beginnings through today, with a focus on understanding its impact on people and institutions so that the nation can better understand where work is needed to free our nation from the last vestiges of slavery finally.
In the coming days, we will mourn her loss and grieve her far too soon departure from the life of service she so enjoyed. We will also reflect on the lessons we have learned and our commitment to the tasks at hand as we perform the last measure of devotion; we can give her, and her constituents is a public service job that is well done. Constituents of the 18th Congressional District can continue to make casework and constituent services requests to the Offices of the 18th Congressional District of Texas. We are here to serve you!