Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, the head of the Pakistan Caucus in the U.S. Congress, has passed away.
According to media reports, Sheila Jackson Lee was 74 years old and had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Representing Houston, Texas, Sheila Jackson Lee was one of the longest-serving Democratic Congress members from Texas.
She began her political career as a Democrat in 1994 and defeated four-term Democratic Congressman Craig Washington in her primary election.
In September 2022, the Government of Pakistan awarded Sheila Jackson Lee the Hilal-e-Pakistan in recognition of her services.
Sheila Jackson Lee was also known for her participation in public meetings and her efforts to secure federal funds for her Houston district.
Notably, she secured a substantial one billion dollars for the improvement of the city’s light system in 2009.