About

HONORABLE SHEILA JACKSON LEE

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee is an influential and forceful voice in Washington.  She is serving her tenth term (20 years) as a member of the United States House of Representatives. She represents the 18th Congressional District of Texas, centered in Houston, which is the energy capital of the world.  Considered by many as the “Voice of Reason”, she is dedicated to upholding the Constitutional rights of all people.

During Congresswoman Jackson Lee’s tenure in Congress she has served on various Committees including the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, and Judiciary.  In the 110th and 111th Congress, Congresswoman Jackson Lee served as Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection. As Chairwoman, Congresswoman Jackson Lee was a leader in support of enhanced technology, better intelligence, increased airplane cargo inspections, increased security for railroads, and implementation of the 9/11 Commission report.   She also served as the Ranking Member of the Border and Maritime Security Subcommittee. Congresswoman Jackson Lee is also a senior Member of the House Judiciary Committee where she is a leader on Bullying Prevention and the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.    She was the lead sponsor of the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act of 2011 and is leading the fight once again with her current bill HR 5770 with support from producers Harvey Weinstein and Lee Hirsch - producers of the film ‘Bully’.  She also led the fight for passage of the Fair Sentencing Act and this year garnered unanimous support to amend the 2012 Defense Authorization Bill that creates a day of honor for the return of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.  She has authored several immigration bills, such as H.R. 750, the "Save America Comprehensive Immigration Act", which sets forth a comprehensive and humane solution to the immigration problem, introduced legislation to enhance federal enforcement of hate crimes with H.R. 254, the David Ray Hate Crimes Prevention Act, played a significant role in the renewal and reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act, and contributed an amendment to the NASA reauthorization bill that will ensure equal access for minority and economically disadvantaged students to NASA’s education programs.  In addition, Congresswoman Jackson Lee launched the Dr. Mae C. Jemison Grant Program to work with institutions serving minorities to bring more women of color in the field of space and aeronautics.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee earned a B.A. in Political Science from Yale University with honors, followed by a J.D. from the University of Virginia Law School.  She is married to Dr. Elwyn Lee who is an Administrator at the University of Houston.  She has two children Jason Lee a graduate of Harvard University and Erica Lee a graduate of Duke University and a Member of the Harris County School Board in Houston, Texas.