The Jamaican diaspora in the US have paid tribute to late longtime Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who died on Friday at age 74.
Jackson Lee, whose grandparents had been Jamaicans, died from pancreatic most cancers a month after publicly disclosing that she was battling the illness and present process remedy.
The Democrat had been serving in the House for 15 phrases spanning 30 years.
Brooklyn Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, stated Jackson Lee was unwavering in her dedication to the folks of Texas.
“Sheila was a fierce advocate and legislator, who all the time rose for the causes and communities near her coronary heart. She was a mentor to me, as she was to many others, and a visionary who was relentless in her pursuit of justice,” stated Clarke.
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“Congresswoman Jackson Lee would name out and proper any and all injustices that she perceived. Regardless of the topic of debate, there she stood, within the hole, ensuring that her district, and by extension, all of us would profit. Actually, she labored with a transformative and singular concentrate on legislating coverage that achieved important progress for the oppressed,” she added.
Former Broward County legislator Dale Holness stated that Jackson Lee lived a lifetime of excellence, little doubt rooted in her Jamaican heritage.
“Her life confirmed that folks of Jamaican heritage dedicate their lives to the perfect of excellence, and I’m positive that her Jamaican heritage performed a big half in how she lived her life,” he stated.
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Holness added that Jackson Lee led the way in which for the inclusion of all communities, however particularly the black group, to partake within the financial lifetime of the US.
New York State Senator Leroy Comrie, who additionally has Jamaican roots, stated that whereas he had not personally met Jackson Lee, her work on behalf of the Caribbean community was well-known.
The Congressional Black Caucus additionally paid tribute to the late Congresswoman, describing her as a fierce advocate for social and financial justice.
“Consultant Jackson Lee was a titan and stalwart member of Congress, who served the Houston space and our nation honourably for practically 30 years within the US Congress. From the Houston Metropolis Council to the US Congress, Congresswoman Jackson Lee was a fierce advocate for social and financial justice, nationwide and homeland safety, power independence, and kids and dealing households,” the caucus stated in an announcement.
“… Jackson Lee was a faithful and lively member of our caucus, who championed many causes, together with racial fairness and bettering policing and group security in America – most lately reintroducing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in Could 2024.”
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee was the Democratic Chief Deputy Whip for the U.S. Home of Representatives.
She sat on three Congressional Committees — as a senior member of the Home Committees on the Judiciary, Homeland Safety, and the essential Price range Committee. She was appointed the primary feminine Rating Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee for Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Safety.
She is the writer and lead sponsor of the Juneteenth Nationwide Independence Day Act, which established the primary new federal vacation in 38 years.
She was additionally the writer and fighter for the passage of the Violence In opposition to Ladies’s Act—signed by the President for the primary time in nearly a decade.
Congresswoman Jackson Lee’s main legislative initiatives embrace the Sentencing Reform Act, the George Floyd Legislation Enforcement Belief and Integrity Act, The RAISE Act, The Honest Likelihood for Youth Act, the Kimberly Vaughan Firearm Secure Storage Act, Kaleif’s Legislation, the American RISING Act.
She has additionally launched the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Reauthorization and Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act, the Federal Jail Bureau Nonviolent Offender Aid Act. She is a champion for girls and kids, supporting the Paycheck Equity Act and the Pregnant Employees Equity Act and introducing an modification to funding payments that gives for outreach to minority- and women-owned companies regarding enterprise alternatives within the business area business, and authored the Triple-Adverse Breast Most cancers Analysis and Training Act.
She was named by ‘Congressional Quarterly’ as one of many 50 handiest Members of Congress. The ‘U.S. Information and World Report named her as one of many ten most influential legislators within the U.S. Home of Representatives.
