Longtime Texas lawmaker Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee dead of cancer at 74: reports

Texas Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who served her Houston district for nearly 3 decades, has died at the age of 74, CNN reports.

Lee shared publicly in June she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. In a statement, Lee’s family called her “A fierce champion of the people,” who was “simply known as ‘Congresswoman’ by her constituents in recognition of her near-ubiquitous presence and service to their daily lives for more than 30 years.”

“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 from family said.

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Fellow Texan lawmaker Colin Allred praised Lee for her advocacy for the Houston community in a post on X.

“No one worked harder for her community and if Houston needed something, she got it done,” Allred said.

New York congressman Jamaal Bowman wrote on X that he was devastated by Lee’s death.

“She was a brilliant legislator, trailblazer for civil rights, and champion for reparations,” Bowman wrote on X. “I’m sending peace and strength to her family, loved ones, and constituents in this difficult time."