Her colleagues called her the hardest working member in Congress. The Houston Chronicle called her a “relentless flag bearer in House Democrats’ social justice push.” President Joe Biden called her “part of a long line of patriots who delivered the promise of America to all Americans.”
Here at home, we called her, simply, “Sheila” – our friend and champion who was always on the front lines fighting for us.
Sheila was everywhere.
She was advising Presidents and meeting with global leaders; hand-delivering air conditioners to families in some of Houston’s poorest and under-resourced communities; in Congress, channeling billions of federal dollars back to her district; at a constituent’s bedside, giving words of comfort to families who lost loved ones; at places of worship and events showcasing the global diversity of our City – the list goes on and on.
Sheila was relentless.
President Biden, in remarks celebrating just one of Sheila’s crowning achievements – the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, said, “I learned a long time ago: When Sheila wants something, just say yes.”
I can certainly vouch for that. The Congresswoman was notorious for going around the Mayor’s Office and calling the city directors directly for things she needed for her constituents. Several times I told her if she needed something, just to call me. That lasted but a minute; she was not to be denied.
Shelia delivered.
From Harvey to Winter Storm URI, the Congresswoman came to the Houston Emergency Center (HEC) to get a status report on the impact of the storms and reached out to our federal partner for additional resources. Once the storms passed, she organized food and water distribution sites throughout her district. Not only did she organize them, but she was also out there working alongside the volunteers.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Congresswoman was front and center, setting up more than 50 testing sites throughout her district. I don’t believe any Congress person in the United States did more. She was in constant communication with the City’s health department and often attended the City’s press briefings as well as having her own. When the vaccines were ready for distribution, she did everything in her power to make sure people throughout her district were able to get them. No detail was too small to merit her attention.
Sheila did not take No for an answer.
When Congress provided funding for community grants that individual members could request for projects in their districts (earmarks), the Congresswoman saw the opportunity to bring resources to long underserved communities in Houston. She crafted a plan to maximize the resources and executed her plan with military precision. Failure was not an option.
She reached out to the City for a list of projects she could advance – but that wasn’t enough. She added a list of projects she solicited from various community organizations. After submitting the combined list to the House Committee for funding, she let me know it was my responsibility to make these projects work – even if they were not fully funded and even if the City were not the project sponsor. For Sheila, no obstacle was too big to get in the way of a solution. Helping the community was the only thing that mattered.
Sheila made big things happen.
On any issue with the Department of Transportation, HUD, EPA, Department of Education, Immigration, Passports, and more, the Congresswoman could get you an audience or get the Secretary to come to Houston. Whether Cabinet secretaries or lower level officials, everyone knew what President Biden knew: “When Sheila wants something, just say yes.”
With every fiber in my being, I miss my friend, Sheila Jackson Lee. But our champion has been called home by God and we are called to carry on her work and her legacy.
We must be everywhere, comforting the sick, confronting the powerful, and, in the words of her dear friend Congressman John Lewis, causing good trouble.
We must be relentless in the pursuit of justice, equity, and equality.
We must take our place in the long line of patriots who deliver the promise of America to all Americans.
We must move forward without the Congresswoman, and in so doing, honor and perpetuate her legacy.
Sylvester Turner is the former Mayor of Houston and a 26-year member of the Texas House of Representatives. He was a friend and colleague to Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee for more than 40 years.
