Jackson-Lee, Sheila, 1950-

JACKSON LEE, Sheila, a Representative from Texas; born in Queens, Queens County, N.Y., January 12, 1950; graduated from Jamaica High School, Jamaica, N.Y.; B.A., Yale University, New Haven, Conn., 1972; J.D., University of Virginia Law School, Charlottesville, Va., 1975; lawyer, private practice; staff counsel, United States House Select Committee on Assassinations, 1977-1978; member of the Houston, Tex., city council, 1990-1994; Houston, Tex., municipal judge, 1987-1990; elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Fourth and to the thirteen succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1995-present).

<p>Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee is an influential and forceful voice in Washington. She is serving her thirteenth term 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.</p>

<p>She sits on three Congressional Committees — a senior member of the House Committees on the Judiciary and Homeland Security and appointed by the leadership as a Member of the crucial Budget Committee.</p>

<p>In the beginning of the 116th Congress she authored, introduced and saw passage of the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. 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.</p>

<p>Sheila Jackson Lee (born January 12, 1950) is an American politician. She is currently the U.S. Representative for Texas's 18th congressional district, currently serving in her 14th term in the House, having served since 1995. The district includes most of central Houston. She is a member of the Democratic Party.</p>

<p>Jackson Lee was born Sheila Jackson in Queens, New York. Her parents were both immigrants from Jamaica. She graduated from Jamaica High School in Queens. She earned a BA in political science from Yale University in 1972, followed by a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1975. She is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.</p>

<p>Jackson Lee made three unsuccessful attempts at local judgeships before becoming a municipal judge from 1987 to 1990. Jackson Lee, along with Sylvia Garcia, was appointed by then Mayor of Houston Kathy Whitmire. In 1989, Jackson Lee won the at-large position for a seat on the Houston City Council, serving until 1994. While on the city council, she helped pass a safety ordinance that required parents to keep their guns away from children. She also worked for expanded summer hours at city parks and recreation centers as a way to combat gang violence.</p>

<p>In 1994, Jackson Lee challenged four-term incumbent U.S. Congressman Craig Washington in the Democratic primary. Washington had come under fire for opposing several projects that would have benefited the Houston area. Jackson Lee defeated Washington in a rout, taking 63% to Washington's 37%. The victory was tantamount to election in this heavily Democratic, black-majority district. In the general election, she defeated Republican nominee Jerry Burley 73%–24%.</p>