Vice President Kamala Harris to Attend Funeral Service for Late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee in Houston
Vice President Kamala Harris is set to attend the funeral service for her “dear friend,” the late U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, in Houston later this week. The “Celebration of Life” is scheduled for Thursday at Fallbrook Church, according to Jackson Lee’s office.
Jackson Lee, who passed away on July 19 at the age of 74 after battling pancreatic cancer, was a long-serving congresswoman who represented Texas’ 18th congressional district for 30 years. She was known for her tenacity and dedication to serving the people of Houston and the nation.
Harris, in a statement following Jackson Lee’s death, praised the congresswoman as a “tenacious advocate for justice and a tireless fighter for the people of Houston and the people of America.” She also highlighted Jackson Lee’s leadership on issues such as women’s rights and the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.
The vice president, who is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, remembered Jackson Lee as a “dear friend for many years” and a fellow sorority sister. Harris described Jackson Lee as one of the nation’s “fiercest, smartest, and most strategic leaders” and praised her dedication to realizing a vision of a more equal, fair, and free nation.
This will be Harris’ third visit to Texas in the last month and her second since becoming the Democratic Party’s presumptive presidential nominee. She recently visited Houston to receive a briefing on recovery efforts following Hurricane Beryl and delivered remarks at the American Federation of Teachers’ national convention.
The funeral service for Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee is expected to draw other elected officials from the U.S. and abroad, as well as friends, family, and supporters who will come together to honor her legacy and contributions to public service.
