US Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, founder and co-chairperson of the Congressional Pakistan Caucus, has died at the age of 74 after a battle with cancer, her family announced. In a statement of Friday, her family said "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." “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 said. Jackson Lee announced in June that she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was undergoing treatment. The long-time congresswoman served in the House since 1995 and leaves a legacy of pushing for legislation related to civil rights. Jackson Lee was the lead sponsor of the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, and she pushed for the Sentencing Reform Act of 2015, as well as the George Floyd Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act.

"This is America's holiday. And America's holiday is not just for Black people," Jackson Lee said of Juneteenth in a 2023 MSNBC interview. "It is about freedom, and it is about democracy." The Texas Democrat introduced legislation for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which President Joe Biden signed in 2022. Jackson Lee was born in Queens, New York. A graduate of Yale University and the University of Virginia Law School, she worked as a lawyer in private practice and as a staff counsel for the House Select Committee on Assassinations. She went on to serve in Houston's government as a member of the City Council and municipal judge before being elected to Congress, where she sat on the Judiciary, Homeland Security and Budget committees. "She will be dearly missed, but her legacy will continue to inspire all who believe in freedom, justice, and democracy," her family's statement concluded. "God bless you Congresswoman and God bless the United States of America."

Jackson Lee's family said that funeral arrangements for the congresswoman are pending. She is survived by her husband, two children and two grandchildren. In September 2022, the Government of Pakistan had conferred the high civil award of Hilal-e-Pakistan upon Sheila Jackson Lee, in recognition of her outstanding services to Pakistan, highlighting the magnitude of devastation due to floods, being an ardent supporter of US assistance to Pakistan in recent floods, for her efforts to expand the scope of bilateral ties geared to improving lives and livelihoods of people in both countries, and her support and commitment towards a strong and effective Pakistan Congressional Caucus. She was accompanied by his delegation members, including Congressman Thomas Suozzi, who said last week he would lead efforts to reactivate the caucus, and Congressman Al Green at the presidential ceremony honouring her in Islamabad.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan