Sheila Jackson Lee, U.S. Representative, Diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee Diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, has revealed that she is battling pancreatic cancer.

Treatment and Commitment to Legislative Work

Jackson Lee, 74, is currently undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer while expressing her commitment to working on critical legislation with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Confidence in Treatment Plan

The congresswoman is confident in her doctors’ plan to combat the disease, stating that although the road ahead will be challenging, she believes in God’s strength to support her.

Statistics on Pancreatic Cancer

According to the National Cancer Institute, non-Hispanic Black individuals are at higher risk of being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which affects 1.7% of people in their lifetime, with the average age of diagnosis being 70.

Career and Advocacy Work

Rep. Jackson Lee represents Texas’ 18th District and has served in Congress for around 30 years. She recently reintroduced the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and serves on the House’s Judiciary and Homeland Security committees.

She is known for advocating for public education and has called for investigations into the takeover of Houston’s Independent School District.

Jackson Lee emphasizes the importance of parental and teacher involvement in decisions affecting children’s well-being.

Advocacy for Education and Civil Rights

She highlights the need for equitable governance and the protection of students’ rights, particularly for Black and Hispanic students, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.