Vice President Harris will be in Houston on Thursday for the funeral of Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, the White House confirmed Monday, after the Texas Democrat died earlier this month
Jackson Lee, a three-decade House veteran and stalwart of Houston politics, died shortly after revealing she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Harris called Jackson Lee a “dear friend” in a statement after it death, remembering her as a “tenacious defender of justice and a tireless fighter for the people of Houston and the people of America.”
“Sheila Jackson Lee was a dear friend for many years and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated,” Harris said. “As a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, I have had the opportunity to work closely with her on many issues and observe her leadership firsthand.”
“She was relentless – one of our nation’s fiercest, smartest and most strategic leaders in the way she thought about how to make progress happen,” she continued. “There was never a banal or trivial conversation with the deputy. She always fought for the people of Houston and the people of America.”
President Biden traveled to Houston on Monday, where he is expected to visit City Hall, where Jackson Lee is in the state.
Harris will travel to Houston on Wednesday for a political event and then deliver a eulogy at Jackson Lee’s funeral on Thursday, according to the White House.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
