Hank Johnson: “I thank Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, as well as Congressman Jonathan Jackson, for convening us together…”

“I thank Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, as well as Congressman Jonathan Jackson, for convening us together tonight to host this special tribute to our dearly loved and dearly departed colleague, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. Today, I rise with a heavy heart to honor and remember my colleague, but more importantly, my friend, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. The Congresswoman led an extraordinary life, and she leaves an extraordinary legacy of legislative and humanitarian service to mankind. Though short in stature, Sheila Jackson Lee stood tall, and she spoke with command and authority. Never scared, Sheila was bold and imposing. She never played herself cheap, and she certainly was not going to let anybody else do so. She was a taskmaster to all who worked for her, and that included whether or not you were paid or just volunteering. The good thing about it is that when you left her office to go to work for someone else, Madam Speaker, they knew, and it was easy for you to get a job because they knew that you had been trained by fire, you had been forged by fire, and you had been trained by the best. Like her constituents I often found myself calling her ``Congresswoman.'' I had great respect for her. She was a dear friend who inspired me and countless others with her unwavering dedication, spirit, and work ethic.…”