photo by steed media service

As the representative of the 18th Congressional District since 1995, Sheila Jackson Lee has been a strong proponent of empowerment for low- and middle-income people. In her role as chair of the Homeland Security Committee’s Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee, Jackson Lee has worked on bills to strengthen the security of the nation’s rail and mass transit systems, as well as aviation assets.

“African Americans are the toilers who built this nation and who slaved for this nation, so no vote in any community of African Americans can be ignored. I must say that African Americans are believers in America and that they are patriots. If you are going to win the American vote, you must have the African American vote,” she says.

As Democratic leaders and members of the Congressional Black Caucus continue to strategize around winning the White House in 2008, Jackson Lee is pleased with the work that’s been done to maintain both a voice and presence in all communities.

“We are still in [the] fight as Democrats, and a Democratic president will just be the icing on the cake. Changing America, bringing the soldiers home from Iraq, investing domestically, building our cities and putting people back to work … that is [the] commitment of the members of the Congressional Black Caucus, all of whom happen to be Democrats, and members of the House of Representatives,” says Jackson Lee. - jason thompson

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