President Biden released the following statement endorsing Kamala Harris for president after dropping out of the presidential race.
My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best… pic.twitter.com/x8DnvuImJV
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024
Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison released the following statement after President Joe Biden announced his decision to not seek reelection:
“I just want to say this on a personal level,” Harrison said. “I am emotional about the president’s decision. Because this president, Joe Biden, has been a transformational president, he’s been a great leader, he’s a good man, a decent man, who has done so much for this nation, done so much to see us as people, to value us, to fight for us,” Harrison said. “I’m emotional, because I’m still, still, riding with Biden. I still support my president. And we will get through this my friends, as we always do,” Harrison said.
The following is a statement from Thurgood Marshall College Fund(TMCF) President & CEO Dr. Harry L. Williams:
Today we mourn the loss of a longtime supporter of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), TMCF and Black Americans in general, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
Her more than 30 years in Congress is a case study in fighting for a historically marginalized community: sponsoring legislation to establish Juneteenth as a national holiday; speaking out against police brutality; pushing for the Sentencing Reform Act of 2015; advocating for the George Floyd Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act; and reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act. She was a staple at our annual HBCU Fly-In in Washington, D.C., granting key leaders an opportunity to build relationships and have their voices heard. Her fierce commitment to the students attending Texas Southern University and Prairie View A&M University was at the forefront of her advocacy.
We share in our grief with many, especially the family of Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee and the people of the 18th Congressional District of Texas, as her life and work impacted immeasurable people. Her legacy as a fierce advocate for social, economic and racial justice lives on.
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee was a tenacious advocate for justice and a tireless fighter for the people of Houston and the people of America.
Her career in public service spanned well over three decades. As a judge in Houston, a member of the Houston City Council, and a member of the United States Congress, Sheila Jackson Lee’s work improved the lives of millions of Americans.
In the United States House of Representatives, Sheila Jackson Lee distinguished herself as a dedicated advocate for her community, an effective legislator, and a fiercely loyal colleague and friend. To work alongside the Congresswoman was to marvel at her mastery of the legislative process.
Sheila Jackson Lee was, first and foremost, a leader dedicated to serving the people of her beloved city. She secured critical funding for much-needed infrastructure upgrades, coordinated disaster relief in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, and helped to stand up testing and vaccination sites during the COVID-19 pandemic. No task was too small so long as it was the right thing to do.
Congresswoman Jackson Lee was also a national leader. As a champion for women’s rights, she played a vital role in reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act, landmark legislation that improved the lives of millions of women and girls across the country. She also authored the law that made Juneteenth a national holiday, a law I was proud to co-sponsor as a United States Senator. She saw what could be—a nation that is more equal, more fair, and more free—and she dedicated her life to realizing that vision.
Sheila Jackson Lee was a dear friend for many years, and a fellow member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. As a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, I had the opportunity to work closely with her on many issues and to observe her leadership firsthand. She was relentless—one of our nation’s fiercest, smartest, and most strategic leaders in the way she thought about how to make progress happen. There was never a trite or trivial conversation with the Congresswoman. She was always fighting for the people of Houston and the people of America.
When I called Congresswoman Jackson Lee earlier this week, I conveyed my deep gratitude on behalf of our nation for her lifetime of leadership.
Doug and I send our prayers to her husband, Dr. Elwyn Lee, her children, Jason Lee and Erica Lee Carter, and her beloved grandchildren, Ellison Bennett Carter and Roy Lee Carter, III.
Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Steven Horsford (NV-04) and members of the Congressional Black Caucus issued the following statement on the passing of Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18):
“It is with the deepest sadness that the Congressional Black Caucus has learned of the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Representative Sheila Jackson Lee. We are holding her husband, Dr. Elwyn Lee, her two children Jason and Erica, and the entire Lee family in our hearts and prayers during this extremely difficult time.
“Representative Jackson Lee was a titan and stalwart member of Congress who served the Houston area and our country honorably for nearly 30 years in the U.S. Congress. From the Houston City Council to the U.S. Congress, Congresswoman Jackson Lee was a fierce advocate for social and economic justice, national and homeland security, energy independence, and children and working families.
“A former CBC Whip and chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Congresswoman Jackson Lee was a devoted and active member of our Caucus who championed many causes including racial equity and improving policing and community safety in America – most recently reintroducing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in May 2024.
“Representative Jackson Lee leaves her mark on the Congress as a former chair and first female ranking member of the Judiciary Subcommittee for Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, and as a senior member of the House Committees on the Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Budget. During her tenure, she led many important legislative initiatives – authoring the Violence Against Women's Act and the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act and introducing the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Reauthorization, the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act, and the Federal Prison Bureau Nonviolent Offender Relief Act.
“Congresswoman Jackson Lee was a patriot and a fighter to the very end. Words cannot express the sense of loss our Caucus feels for our beloved friend. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.”
