Chairperson of Pakistan Caucus in US Congress Sheila Jackson passes away

WASHINGTON: Chairperson of the Pakistan Caucus in US Congress, Congresswoman Jackson L Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, has died at the age of 74 after a battle with cancer, her family announced on Friday.

“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,” her family said in a statement.

“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 longtime congresswoman served in the House since 1995 and leaves a legacy of pushing for legislation related to civil rights.

The Texas Democrat introduced legislation for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which President Joe Biden signed in 2022.

She had worked with successive Pakistani governments and prominent leaders, serving as a bridge between Pakistan and the United States.

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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.