Statement by the Vice President on the Death of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee was a tenacious advocate for justice and a tireless fighter for the people of Houston and the people of America.

Her career in public service spanned well over three decades. As a judge in Houston, a member of the Houston City Council, and a member of the United States Congress, Sheila Jackson Lee's work improved the lives of millions of Americans.

In the United States House of Representatives, Sheila Jackson Lee distinguished herself as a dedicated advocate for her community, an effective legislator, and a fiercely loyal colleague and friend. To work alongside the Congresswoman was to marvel at her mastery of the legislative process.

Sheila Jackson Lee was, first and foremost, a leader dedicated to serving the people of her beloved city. She secured critical funding for much-needed infrastructure upgrades, coordinated disaster relief in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, and helped to stand up testing and vaccination sites during the COVID-19 pandemic. No task was too small so long as it was the right thing to do.

Congresswoman Jackson Lee was also a national leader. As a champion for women's rights, she played a vital role in reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act, landmark legislation that improved the lives of millions of women and girls across the country. She also authored the law that made Juneteenth a national holiday, a law I was proud to co-sponsor as a United States Senator. She saw what could be—a nation that is more equal, more fair, and more free—and she dedicated her life to realizing that vision.

Sheila Jackson Lee was a dear friend for many years, and a fellow member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. As a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, I had the opportunity to work closely with her on many issues and to observe her leadership firsthand. She was relentless—one of our nation's fiercest, smartest, and most strategic leaders in the way she thought about how to make progress happen. There was never a trite or trivial conversation with the Congresswoman. She was always fighting for the people of Houston and the people of America.

When I called Congresswoman Jackson Lee earlier this week, I conveyed my deep gratitude on behalf of our nation for her lifetime of leadership.

Doug and I send our prayers to her husband, Dr. Elwyn Lee, her children, Jason Lee and Erica Lee Carter, and her beloved grandchildren, Ellison Bennett Carter and Roy Lee Carter, III.