When Kamala Harris was in the Senate, there were times she had to fight an urge to hide when she’d see Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee approaching in the halls of the Capitol.
The late Texas Democrat was “unrelenting,” and a fierce advocate for her constituents, the vice president recalled at a celebration of life for Jackson Lee, who died July 19 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
“I knew, whatever else might be on my mind, Sheila Jackson Lee would require a very serious and specific conversation with you about what she had on her mind. And then she would tell you exactly what she needed you to do to help her get it done,” Harris said to the crowd of family, friends, former colleagues and elected officials who gathered at Fallbrook Church in Houston to pay homage to the hard-driving Texan.
“She never lost an opportunity to fight for the people she served. And her fight was born out of love. She had a big, big heart,” said Harris.
Jackson Lee represented Houston in Congress for nearly three decades and established herself as one of the most prominent Black women in Congress, where she fought for civil and women’s rights. She helped lead a reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which became law in 2022, and led the push to make Juneteenth a federal holiday.
Thursday’s service capped several days of remembrance for Jackson Lee and featured a star-studded lineup of Democratic congressional leaders, state and local officials and a former president, all of whom shared stories of a passionate public servant.
“I saw firsthand her brilliance, her work ethic, her dedication … She was always on the scene,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.
To him, the initials SJL stand for two things, he said: “Sheila Jackson Lee and social justice legend.”
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash. and chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, remembered Jackson Lee as one of the “first progressive women of color to have a national platform.”
“Sheila Jackson Lee was relentless and righteous, courageous and caring, fearless and forward-thinking,” Jayapal said. “She used that platform to speak with deep moral clarity at every opportunity, despite rampant racism, sexism and discrimination.”
Remembering Jackson Lee’s early days in Washington, former President Bill Clinton said her tenacity earned her a spot on an informal short list at the White House, alongside such determined congressional power players as Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sens. Barbara Mikulski and Ted Kennedy.
“It was called the ‘Just Say Yes’ list … whatever it is they want, sooner or later you’re going to do it, so you might as well save the taxpayers the time and money of hassling them over it,” Clinton said.
Jackson Lee was honored all week with a series of services. Viewings were held at local churches on Tuesday and Wednesday. President Joe Biden made his own appearance after a speech in Texas on Monday to pay his respects as Jackson Lee was lying in state at Houston City Hall. Biden didn’t address the media during his trip, but called her a “great American” who was “unrelenting in her leadership” in a statement released after her death.
Harris closed out the memorials Thursday by eulogizing Jackson Lee in what was an important moment in her recently launched bid for the White House.
The Harris campaign for president began July 21 after Biden exited the race, lagging in the polls and plagued by concerns about his age and mental acuity, which were exacerbated by a poor debate performance in June.
Delegates to the Democratic National Convention later this month began a virtual roll call Thursday to formally nominate Harris as the first Black woman and first Asian American to become a major party presidential nominee. Her emergence has reinvigorated the party and turned around some polling that suggested Republican nominee Donald Trump was cruising toward victory.
Harris didn’t address Trump or her campaign during her eulogy, though in what was perhaps a Freudian moment said she was honored to be there “as president” when Jackson Lee’s Juneteenth legislation was signed into law in 2021. Harris quickly corrected herself amid a large round of cheers and applause.
A few days before Jackson Lee’s death, Harris said she called her to thank her for the impact she’d had.
“To know Sheila is to know she could be tough. But oh my goodness, she was so loving, and so encouraging,” Harris said. “She was a force. But she never allowed anything to be mediocre. She always expected in all of us that we would rise to a point of excellence, knowing life is too short and there was too much to be done.”
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