Biden, Harris pay tribute to Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee

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President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, will each travel to Houston this week to pay tribute to former U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, the White House said.

Jackson Lee died of pancreatic cancer on July 19 at the age of 74. The Houston Democrat was one of the longest-serving members of the Texas congressional delegation and was known as a strong advocate for progressive causes.

Harris called Lee a “dear friend” in a statement after the congresswoman’s death and praised her work on Hurricane Harvey relief efforts and her advocacy for women’s rights. Harris and Lee were both members of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, a historically black sorority, and worked together on legislation, including the law that made Juneteenth a national holiday.

“Sheila Jackson Lee was, above all, a dedicated leader serving the people of her beloved city,” Harris said in a statement. “No job was too small as long as it was the right thing to do.”

Biden and Harris’ visits to Houston are not expected to overlap. Biden will travel to Houston on Monday and is expected to visit Houston City Hall, where Jackson Lee lies in state.

Harris will arrive three days later and attend Jackson Lee’s celebration of life ceremony at Fallbrook Church on Thursday. The ceremony will be broadcast live.

The trip will mark Harris’ third visit to Texas in the past month. On July 10, Harris traveled to Dallas, where she addressed approximately 20,000 members of Alpha Kappa Alpha at their annual convention.

Last week, Harris traveled to Houston and received a briefing on the ongoing rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Beryl. The next day, she spoke at the American Federation of Teachers national convention in Houston.

Biden was scheduled to travel to Texas on July 15 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. That trip was postponed after an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump and was rescheduled for Monday. The president will travel to Houston after delivering his speech at the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library.

Biden withdrew from the presidential race on July 21 and quickly endorsed Harris, urging Democrats to rally behind the vice president to defeat Trump, the Republican challenger.

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