Biden, Harris travel to Houston to pay tribute to Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee

HOUSTON (AP) — Several days of events honoring the life of longtime U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas were set to begin Monday, with the lawmaker lying in state at Houston City Hall.

President Joe Biden was also scheduled to travel to Houston on Monday evening to pay tribute to Jackson Lee, according to the White House.

“No matter the issue — from racial justice to building an economy for working people — she demonstrated unwavering leadership,” Biden said in a statement after Jackson Lee’s death.

The congresswoman, who helped lead federal efforts to protect women from domestic violence and recognize Juneteenth as a national holiday, was 74 when she died July 19 after battling pancreatic cancer.

His body will lie in state in the rotunda of Houston City Hall for 10 hours Monday.

The Democrat had represented her Houston-based district and the nation’s fourth-largest city since 1995. She previously suffered from breast cancer and announced her diagnosis of pancreatic cancer on June 2.

Mayor John Whitmire, along with members of Jackson Lee’s family and faith leaders, is expected to participate in a prayer service Monday morning on the steps of City Hall before the rotunda opens to the public.

“For decades, Congresswoman Jackson Lee has been a dedicated fighter for the people of Houston. I encourage everyone to come to City Hall to honor this true public servant and honor her unwavering commitment to our community,” Whitmire said.

Before being elected to Congress, Jackson Lee served on the Houston City Council from 1990 to 1994.

She will be only the second person to have the honor of being laid to rest in the Houston City Hall rotunda. The other person was renowned cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Michael DeBakey, who died in 2008.

Jackson Lee will also be remembered at wakes and religious services Tuesday and Wednesday before her funeral Thursday.

Vice President Kamala Harris was scheduled to attend the funeral in Houston.

After her first election, Jackson Lee quickly established herself as a fierce advocate for women and minorities and a leading figure for House Democrats on a range of social justice issues, from police reform to reparations for the descendants of slaves. She led the first overhaul of the Violence Against Women Act in nearly a decade, which included protections for Native American, transgender and immigrant women.

Jackson Lee was re-elected to Congress without difficulty. She ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Houston last year.