Clarke ‘heartbroken’ over death of congressional colleague Sheila Jackson Lee

Caribbean-American Democratic Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke says she is “heartbroken” over the death of her congressional colleague and granddaughter of Jamaican immigrants Sheila Jackson Lee.

Congresswoman Jackson Lee died on Friday after battling pancreatic cancer. She was 74.

“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,” said her family in a statement.

“A local, national and international humanitarian, she was acknowledged worldwide for her courageous fights for racial justice, criminal justice and human rights, with a special emphasis on women and children,” the statement added.

Clarke, the daughter of Jamaica immigrants, who represents the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York, told Caribbean Life on Saturday that Jackson Lee was not only her “dear colleague” but was also her “mentor” and “cherished friend.”

“On behalf of myself, the Clarke Family and the people of the 9th District of New York, I extend my deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to her loved ones,” said Clarke, the first vice chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). “Sheila devoted her life to the people of Houston, Texas, and was a fierce advocate and legislator who always rose for the causes and communities close to her heart.

“She was a mentor to me, as she was to many others, and a visionary who was relentless in her pursuit of justice,” Clarke added. “Congresswoman Jackson Lee would call out and correct any and all injustices that she perceived.

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Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke. Office of Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke

No matter the subject of debate, there she stood, in the gap, making certain that her district, and by extension, all of us would benefit,” she continued. “Truly, she worked with a transformative and singular focus on legislating policy that achieved essential progress for the oppressed.

“The granddaughter of Jamaican immigrants, Sheila Jackson Lee was raised in Queens, New York,” Clarke said. “Through our common background, and the ideals we shared, she and I were connected on so many levels. I will miss my sister colleague dearly. And I pray that the gentlelady from Houston will rest in power and rest in peace.”

CBC Chairman Steven Horsford, the son of a Trinidadian immigrant mother, who represents Nevada’s 4th District, and CBC members expressed their “deepest sadness” over the death of their colleague.

“We are holding her husband, Dr. Elwyn Lee, her two children Jason and Erica, and the entire Lee family in our hearts and prayers during this extremely difficult time,” they said in a joint statement. “Representative Jackson Lee was a titan and stalwart member of Congress, who served the Houston area and our country honorably for nearly 30 years in the US Congress.”

From the Houston City Council to the US Congress, Congresswoman Jackson Lee was “a fierce advocate for social and economic justice, national and homeland security, energy independence, and children and working families,” the CBC said.

A former CBC Whip and chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, CBC said Jackson Lee was “a devoted and active member of our Caucus who championed many causes, including racial equity, and improving policing and community safety in America – most recently reintroducing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in May 2024.”

CBC said Jackson Lee left her mark on the US Congress as a former chair and first female ranking member of the Judiciary Subcommittee for Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, and as a senior member of the House of Representatives’ Committees on the Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Budget.

During her tenure, CBC said Jackson Lee led many important legislative initiatives – authoring the Violence Against Women’s Act and the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, and introducing the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Reauthorization, the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act, and the Federal Prison Bureau Nonviolent Offender Relief Act.

“Congresswoman Jackson Lee was a patriot and a fighter to the very end,” CBC said. “Words cannot express the sense of loss our Caucus feels for our beloved friend. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.”

Jackson Lee’s full biography on her website states that she was the democratic Chief Deputy Whip for the US House of Representatives, and was the author and lead sponsor of the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, which established the first new US federal holiday in 38 years.

She was also “the author and fighter for the passage of the Violence Against Women’s Act — signed by the President for the first time in almost a decade.”

The biography says Jackson Lee was “an influential and forceful voice in Washington”, and served for 14 terms as a United States House of Representatives member. She represented the 18th Congressional District of Texas, centered in Houston, “the world’s energy capital.”

Considered by many as the “Voice of Reason”, the biography says Jackson Lee was “dedicated to upholding the Constitutional rights of all people.”

She sat on three Congressional Committees — as a senior member of the House Committees on the Judiciary, Homeland Security and the crucial Budget Committee.

The biography says she was appointed the first female Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee for Crime and Federal Government Surveillance, of which she served as chair during the 117th Congress.

Jackson Lee’s major legislative initiatives included the Sentencing Reform Act, the George Floyd Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act, The RAISE Act, The Fair Chance for Youth Act, the Kimberly Vaughan Firearm Safe Storage Act, Kaleif’s Law and the American RISING Act.

The biography states that she also introduced the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Reauthorization and Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act, and the Federal Prison Bureau Nonviolent Offender Relief Act; and was “a champion” for women and children, supporting the Paycheck Fairness Act and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.

Additionally, the biography says Jackson Lee had introduced an amendment to funding bills that provides for outreach to minority- and women-owned businesses concerning business opportunities in the commercial space industry, and authored the Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Research and Education Act.

According to her biography, the late congresswoman was named by Congressional Quarterly as one of the 50 most effective Members of Congress, and The US News and World Report had named her as one of the 10 most influential legislators in the US House of Representatives.

Jackson Lee was a founder, member and chair of the Congressional Pakistan Caucus and the Congressional Children’s Caucus.

She was also chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Energy Braintrust and co-chair of the Justice Reform Task Force.

Jackson Lee earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Yale University and juris doctorate (law degree) from the University of Virginia Law School.

Born on Jan. 12, 1950, in Queens, Jackson Lee was among the first women to graduate from Yale University.

In announcing her diagnosis with pancreatic cancer on Jun. 2, 2024, Jackson Lee said: “My adult life has been defined by my faith in God, my love for humanity and my commitment to public service.

“As a member of Congress, I’ve been honored to be one of the leaders in the fight for justice and equality for all; especially the disadvantaged and the dispossessed,” she said. “Today, my fight is more personal, but I will approach it with the same faith and the same courage.

“My doctors have confirmed my diagnosis of pancreatic cancer,” Jackson Lee added. “I am currently undergoing treatment to battle this disease that impacts tens of thousands of Americans every year. “I am confident that my doctors have developed the best possible plan to target my specific disease. The road ahead will not be easy, but I stand in faith that God will strengthen me.

“To the constituents of the 18th Congressional District: Serving as your representative in Congress for 30 years is one of my greatest honors,” she continued. “Your hopes and aspirations inspire my efforts on behalf of our community every day.”