18th Congressional District of Texas
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee is an influential and forceful voice in Washington, D.C., serving the 18th Congressional District of Texas, centered in Houston – the energy capital of the world. Rep. Jackson Lee is in her tenth term as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Considered by many as the “Voice of Reason,” she is dedicated to upholding the Constitutional rights of all people.
During Rep. Jackson Lee’s tenure in Congress, she has served on various committees including the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, and Judiciary. She is 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 currently serves as the Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee for Border and Maritime Security and is also a senior Member of the House Judiciary Committee. She was the lead sponsor of the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act of 2011, led the fight for passage of the Fair Sentencing Act, authored several immigration bills – such as H.R. 750 – which sets forth a comprehensive and humane solution to immigration reform, introduced legislation to enhance federal enforcement of hate crimes with H.R. 254, and played a significant role in the renewal and reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act. Additionally, she contributed an amendment to the NASA reauthorization bill that ensures equal access for minority and economically disadvantaged students to NASA’s education programs and 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.
Rep. Jackson Lee earned a Bachelor in Arts 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.
