Vice President Kamala Harris is set to honor the legacy of U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who passed away on July 19 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, by delivering a eulogy at her celebration of life today. The service, scheduled to start at 11 a.m. at Fallbrook Church, marks the culmination of memorial events dedicated to the congresswoman. Joining the Vice President will be an assembly of dignitaries including former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.
Aged 74 at the time of her death, Jackson Lee served nearly three decades representing her Texas district and was a tenacious advocate for social justice, leading significant pieces of legislation such as the Violence Against Women Act and the federal recognition of Juneteenth. The Vice President, who arrived in Houston on Wednesday and also attended a private fundraiser during her trip, described Jackson Lee in a recent statement as "one of our nation’s fiercest, smartest, and most strategic leaders in the way she thought about how to make progress happen." Paying her respects earlier, Vice President Harris highlighted the Congresswoman's unwavering commitment to progress and her diligence in fighting for both Houston’s community and the American people, as per the AP News.
President Joe Biden joined the outpour of tributes for Jackson Lee, visiting Houston to pay his respects as the congresswoman lay in state at City Hall and praising her as fearless, proud, and bold. The President's sentiments echoed the broader admiration for Jackson Lee's life and work, as she stood as a prominent figure not only for Houston’s 18th Congressional District but also as a beacon of empowerment and dedication nationwide.
Throughout the week, multiple memorials have been held, with community members conveying their personal experiences with Jackson Lee. Notably, Calandrian Simpson Kemp, holding up a photo of her late son while posing next to a photograph of Jackson Lee in the church's foyer, reflected on the congresswoman's mentorship in her own advocacy against gun violence, having told the AP News that "She never let up for people. She left it all on the battlefield, and I think it’s up to us now to pick up the torch."
