Democratic congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee has died at the age of 74

A long-serving Democratic congresswoman from Texas has died.

Sheila Jackson Lee passed away at the age of 74, her family announced in a statement on Friday. 

'Today, with incredible grief for our loss yet deep gratitude for the life she shared with us, we announce the passing of United States Representative Sheila Jackson Lee of the 18th Congressional District of Texas,' the statement read.

The 15-term-congresswoman was an outspoken advocate for Black Americans for decades. 

Jackson Lee announced in June that she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. At the time, she warned her constituents that she would likely be 'occasionally absent' from congress while she underwent treatment.  

'My doctors have confirmed my diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. I am currently undergoing treatment to battle this disease that impacts tens of thousands of Americans every year,' Jackson Lee said in a statement in June.

'I am confident that my doctors have developed the best possible plan to target my specific disease. The road ahead will not be easy, but I stand in faith that God will strengthen me.' 

Jackson Lee was born in Queens, New York, and went on to attend Yale University and the University of Virginia School of Law. 

She was a member of the Democratic Party and served as an at-large member of the Houston City Council before being elected to the House.

The congresswoman was elected to represent Texas's 18th congressional district - which includes much of inner city Houston and the surrounding area. It has been the Downtown Houston district since 1972.

In March 2023, Jackson Lee announced her candidacy for the Houston mayoral election.

She placed second in the first round, behind state senator John Whitmire, but eventually lost the election in a landslide to her fellow Democrat. 

Jackson Lee was outspoken about racial issues - and suggested changing the naming practices for tropical cyclones and hurricanes to include 'all racial groups,' saying that meteorological organizations should 'try to be inclusive of African American names.'

She called for Juneteenth to become a national holiday to commemorate the end of slavery - and Biden signed the law into place in June 2021.