Vice President Kamala Harris expected to attend funeral of longtime Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to return to Houston to attend the funeral of longtime Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who died July 19 at age 74 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

After the congresswoman’s death, Harris noted that Lee was “a fierce advocate for justice and a tireless fighter for the people of Houston and the American people.”

RELATED: Houston Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee Dies at 74

Harris said she and Lee are good friends and have shared many moments together. Rep. Lee and the vice president are members of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Incorporated sorority and the Congressional Black Caucus.

The visit will be Harris’ third trip to Texas and his second visit to Houston in the past month.

The vice president visited Dallas after the July 4 weekend as the keynote speaker at the 71st Alpha Kappa Alpha Boulé.

On Wednesday, Harris arrived in Houston to tour the city’s emergency operations center to receive a briefing on ongoing recovery efforts after Hurricane Beryl hit the region on July 8.

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She met with several city officials, including Mayor Whitmire, who said he “looks forward to working with her.”

On Thursday, the vice president spoke at the George R. Brown Convention Center during the American Federation of Teachers convention and thanked teachers for “their service to the nation.”

Houston plans to celebrate Lee with a week of commemorations beginning Monday, July 29.