Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee is a proven and passionate leader in Washington. She is a champion for women and children, education, public safety, labor, job training, and health care. Congressional Quarterly named her one of the “50 Most Effective Members of Congress.” U.S. News and World Report calls her one of the “10 Most Influential Legislators in the U.S. House of Representatives.” She is a founder, member, and Chair of the Congressional Pakistan Caucus and the Congressional Children's Caucus. She is also chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Energy Braintrust, and Co-Chair of the Justice Reform Task Force.

Congresswoman Jackson Lee is a Senior Member and Chief Deputy Whip of the United States House of Representatives. She represents the 18th Congressional District of Texas, centered in Houston, the energy capital of the world.

During her time in Congress, she has served on a number of committees and subcommittees as a strong advocate for the 18th Congressional District; among them:

• Senior Member of the Committee on the Judiciary

• Senior Member of the  Committee on Budget

• Senior Member of the Committee on Homeland Security 

• Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security

• Senior Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship

• Senior Member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure, Protection & Innovation

• House Democratic Caucus Task Forces on Hunger

• Founder and Chairperson of the Congressional Children’s Caucus

• Congressional Human Rights Caucus

• Congressional Caucus on Women’s Issues

Congresswoman Jackson Lee’s major legislative initiatives include:

• The Sentencing Reform Act,

• The George Floyd Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act,

• The RAISE Act,

• The Fair Chance for Youth Act,

• the Kimberly Vaughan Firearm Safe Storage Act,

• Kaleif's Law,

• The American RISING Act.

Before being elected to Congress, Rep. Jackson Lee served on the Houston City Council, one of the first African American women to hold an at-large position. Prior to City Council, she served as an Associate Municipal Court Judge.

Congresswoman Jackson Lee received her undergraduate degree from Yale University, graduating from the Honors Program in Political Science. She went on to receive her Juris Doctorate from the University of Virginia School of Law. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and The Link’s Inc.

Congresswoman Jackson Lee is the wife of Elwyn Lee of the University of Houston Law School, the mother of two children, and grandmother of twins.