Vice President Kamala Harris admitted with a smile at the memorial service for Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee that she sometimes considered hiding when she saw Jackson Lee coming down the hall. Harris explained that Jackson Lee was known for her directness and never wasted time on pleasantries. Instead, she would immediately dive into the issue at hand and what Harris could do to help.
Harris, who took a break from her presidential campaign to eulogize Jackson Lee on Thursday, praised the example she set over her nearly three decades in Congress. Harris stated that Jackson Lee demonstrated that once one has gained power, there is a responsibility to use it for good.
In the past week and a half since securing her party’s nomination for President, Harris has concentrated her public statements on distinguishing her work as a prosecutor from Donald Trump’s criminal history. She has also outlined her vision for a country that embraces greater inclusivity and success, a goal she said Jackson Lee dedicated her life to advocating for.
Speaking at the Fallbrook Church on the outskirts of Houston, Harris described Jackson Lee as “one of the smartest and most strategic legislators in Washington, D.C.” and also acknowledged her “unrelenting” nature.
Harris was joined on stage by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Steven Horsford, Rev. Jesse Jackson, former President Bill Clinton, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. “She always expected in all of us that we would rise to a point of excellence, knowing life was too short and there’s too much to be done,” Harris said.
A few days before Jackson Lee passed away on July 19 at the age of 74, Harris recounted a phone call where she thanked Jackson Lee for her support over the years. “I thanked her for her courage and her conviction and her relentless focus on those who are too often left out and left behind, and her unwavering belief in the power that we each have to change our country for the better.”
Harris shared a story from the summer of 2011 when several Houston community pools were closed due to budget cuts. Jackson Lee personally called city businesses and pressured them into donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to reopen the pools.
Harris described Jackson Lee as a “coalition builder” who understood that “the vast majority of us have so much more in common than what separates us.” Harris mentioned that her husband Doug Emhoff and Jackson Lee had developed a close bond over the years and attended many events with the Jewish community of Houston together. She highlighted Jackson Lee’s work as an advocate for women’s rights, protecting LGBTQ+ federal workers, founding the Congressional Children’s Caucus, and pushing for Juneteenth to become a federal holiday.
“To honor her memory, let us continue to fight to realize the promise of America, a promise of freedom, opportunity and justice, not just for some, but for all,” Harris concluded.