“She Was Courageous”: Texas 18th Congressional District Staff Releases Statement in Memory of Sheila Jackson Lee

HOUSTON – Staff members from Texas’ 18th Congressional District and Washington DC offices issued a statement of remembrance following the passing of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.

The congresswoman died Friday after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

In a statement, staff members expressed their thanks and gratitude to everyone who sent cards, letters, flowers, well-wishes and prayers during the MP’s battle with cancer.

“She demonstrated courage and a keen focus on the needs of her constituents throughout her career, including during her recovery. We are grateful for her example of putting people first, regardless of their social status, ethnicity, faith, opportunities or lack thereof, because the only consideration was the needs of the person seeking help,” the statement read.

The statement also highlighted Lee’s lifelong work in politics.

“She worked to free Americans from foreign prisons, combated corruption targeting U.S. businesses overseas, and helped shine a light on cancer hotspots in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens. Because of her tenacity, EPA is now taking deep soil samples in the area to understand the cancer threat and report the results to residents,” the statement said.

The statement also thanked district staff for their assistance in managing the programs and initiatives overseen by Congresswoman Lee.

“In the weeks and months ahead, our offices will continue to work with congressional leadership on the priorities she set, including creating the Galveston Emancipation National Historic Trail, where General Order 3 was read on June 19, 1865, freeing the last 255,000 slaves in the United States, and tracing the path taken by soldiers and newly freed people to Houston. Her second wish was to see the creation of the Juneteenth Commission to conduct a root cause analysis of the effects of slavery on American society from its beginnings to the present, with a focus on understanding its impact on individuals and institutions so that the nation can better understand where work is needed to finally free our nation from the last vestiges of slavery,” the statement read.

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 and the Washington, D.C. offices would like to thank everyone who sent cards, letters, flowers, well-wishes, and prayers during Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s battle with cancer. She demonstrated courage and a singular focus on the needs of her constituents throughout her career, including during her recovery. We are grateful for her example of putting people first, regardless of their social status, race, faith, opportunity, or lack thereof, because the only consideration was the needs of the person seeking help. She worked to free Americans from foreign prisons, fought corruption targeting U.S. businesses overseas, and helped shine a light on cancer hotspots in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens. Thanks to his tenacity, the EPA is now taking deep soil samples in the region to understand the cancer threat and reporting the results to residents.

Special thanks to our district staff under the leadership of District Director Yuroba Harris, who managed Congresswoman Jackson Lee’s work, constituent programs, and projects that included managing our constituent field service projects, such as over 80 free testing and vaccination clinics during COVID; and after extreme weather events to ensure 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 ensure that the Washington, D.C. offices continue to work during this hurricane season to act as liaisons for the deployment of all constituent assistance and assist in the work of FEMA, SBA, and the Red Cross, joined by dozens of volunteers to provide assistance where it is needed.

In the weeks and months ahead, our offices will continue to work with congressional leadership on the priorities she set, including creating the Galveston Emancipation National Historic Trail, where General Order 3 was read on June 19, 1865, freeing the last 255,000 slaves in the United States, and tracing the path taken by soldiers and newly freed people to Houston. Her second wish was to see the creation of the Juneteenth Commission to conduct a root cause analysis of the effects of slavery on American society from its beginnings to today, with a focus on understanding its impact on individuals and institutions so that the nation can better understand where work is needed to finally free our nation from the last vestiges of slavery.

In the days ahead, we will mourn her loss and grieve her far too early departure from the life of service she so cherished. We will also reflect on the lessons we have learned and our commitment to the tasks at hand as we take the final step of dedication; we can offer her and her constituents a job of public service well done. Constituents of the 18th Congressional District can continue to make constituent service requests to Texas 18th Congressional District offices. We are here to serve you!