NASSAU, Bahamas, October 14, 2019 — Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee visited The Bahamas last week to meet with U.S. and Bahamian officials about the ongoing relief efforts in response to Hurricane Dorian, which caused tremendous damage in Abaco and Grand Bahama, two major northern islands in The Bahamas archipelago.
In a post on its Facebook page on Monday, October 14, 2019, the United States Embassy in Nassau noted: “The Congresswoman met with Government Redevelopment Coordinator Jack Thompson at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Marsh Harbour, and surveyed The Mudd, one of the worst affected areas during the storm. She also met with National Emergency Management Agency personnel in Nassau, as well as with Foreign Minister Darren Henfield, to talk about how the U.S. can continue to support recovery efforts.”
“The Congresswoman’s visit demonstrates the ongoing engagement of the U.S. government at the highest levels to assist recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Dorian,” the U.S. Embassy in Nassau added in its posts that was accompanied by four photographs.
Congresswoman Jackson Lee, who is serving her 11th term as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, represents the 18th Congressional District of Texas, centered in Houston, is considered by many as the “Voice of Reason” who “is dedicated to upholding the Constitutional rights of all people,” according to her Congressional website.
“She sits on three Congressional Committees — a senior member of the House Committees on the Judiciary and Homeland Security and newly appointed by the leadership as a Member of the crucial Budget Committee,” her website adds. “She is currently the first female Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee for Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations and in the beginning of the 116th Congress she authored, introduced and saw passage of the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.”
The website continues: “Additionally, she introduced several bills, including the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Reauthorization and Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act, H.R. 71, the Federal Prison Bureau Nonviolent Offender Relief Act of 2015, and H.R. 4660, an Amendment to the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2015 affirming the authority of the Attorney General to reduce prison overcrowding by developing and implementing lawful policies relating to requests for executive clemency from deserving petitioners.
“She is the past Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee for Maritime and Border Security wherein she co-authored HR 1417, a bipartisan bill which has been touted as the best vehicle for accomplishing comprehensive immigration reform in the U.S. House of Representatives. Congresswoman Jackson Lee is also the past Chairwoman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection, which under her leadership she passed the Transportation Security Act of 2007 which increased the funding for America’s transportation security. As Chairwoman, Congresswoman Jackson Lee supported enhanced technology, better intelligence, increased airplane cargo inspections, increased security for railroads, and implementation of the 9/11 Commission report.”
The website adds: “She is the past Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Maritime and Border Security wherein she co-authored HR 1417, a bipartisan bill which has been touted as the best vehicle for accomplishing comprehensive immigration reform in the U.S. House of Representatives. Congresswoman Jackson Lee is also the past Chairwoman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection which under her leadership she passed the Transportation Security Act of 2007 which increased the funding for America’s transportation security. As Chairwoman, Congresswoman Jackson Lee supported enhanced technology, better intelligence, increased airplane cargo inspections, increased security for railroads, and implementation of the 9/11 Commission report.
“She was named by ‘Congressional Quarterly’ as one of the 50 most effective Members of Congress and the ‘U.S. News and World Report’ named her as one of the 10 most influential legislators in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is a founder, member, and co-chair of the Congressional Children’s Caucus and authored and introduced H.R. 83, the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act of 2013. She is also chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Energy Braintrust, co-chair of the Justice Reform Task Force, a leadership appointed member of the International Helsinki Commission. She serves as Chief Deputy Whip for the Democratic Caucus, past Chairperson of the Texas Congressional Democratic Delegation for the 113th Congress, and past Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Board”
Congresswoman Jackson Lee earned a B.A. in Political Science from Yale University “with honors in the first graduating class including females, followed by a J.D. from the University of Virginia Law School.”
“She is married to Dr. Elwyn Lee who is also a Yale Graduate and an Administrator at the University of Houston,” the website notes.
She has two children — Jason Lee, a graduate of Harvard University, and Erica Lee, a graduate of Duke University, who is also a Member of the Harris County School Board in Houston, Texas. She is also the “proud grandmother of two grandkids (twins), granddaughter Ellison Bennett Carter and grandson Roy Lee Carter, III.”
