Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, a Democrat from Texas, has revealed that she has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
“I have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer by my doctors,” said Rep. Jackson Lee, who is 74 years old, in a statement on Sunday night. “I am currently receiving treatment to fight this disease that affects tens of thousands of Americans each year.”
Jackson Lee mentioned that she may occasionally miss legislative votes because of her upcoming treatments. However, she is determined to collaborate with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on important legislation that is crucial for the well-being and safety of the American people.
“I believe that my doctors have created the best plan to treat my specific disease,” Jackson Lee said in her statement. “The path ahead may be challenging, but I believe that God will give me the strength to overcome.”
According to the National Cancer Institute, people who are not of Hispanic Black ethnicity are more likely to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It is the 10th most common type of the disease, affecting only 1.7% of people during their lifetime. The average age at which a diagnosis is made is 70 years old.
Jackson Lee, who represents the 18th District of Texas, which includes parts of Houston, recently won a primary election to be reelected. This statement means that Jackson Lee did not win the election to become the mayor of the city last year.
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She is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and has been serving in Congress for about 30 years. In May, Jackson Lee reintroduced the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Jackson Lee is a member of the House of Representatives and serves on the Judiciary and Homeland Security committees.
She is a supporter of public education and she requested the education department’s Office for Civil Rights to investigate the takeover of Houston’s Independent School District last year under Title VI.
The congresswoman proposed that making significant changes to the nation’s eighth-largest district could be influenced by race and have a widespread impact throughout the country.
“Our families are not being helped by this,” Jackson Lee told ABC News in March after learning that Houston public school teachers were resigning. “It is not benefiting our children.” Our top priority is to bring back an elected board and governance that includes input from parents and teachers. I will work with them until the end to ensure success and do what is best for our children’s well-being,” she said.
According to data from the school district, over 80% of students in HISD are Black and Hispanic. Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 makes it illegal to discriminate against someone based on their race, color, or national origin.
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