Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to welcome to the House a new addition from Texas, Erica Lee Carter. This is a somewhat bittersweet moment for all of us because it was only a few months ago that we gathered here to commemorate the life and legacy of her mother, Sheila Jackson Lee. There is more than physical resemblance between the two. When I was elected in 1994 in the same small class of 13 that Sheila was a Member of, Erica was a teenager. She has been here a number of times over the three decades that Sheila served. Sheila was a fierce advocate for justice who fought relentlessly for her community. Erica, I know, has her mother's tenacity and her compassion. She carries on a legacy of helping those with the least. She has led initiatives on economic equality and voting rights in Harris County. She spearheaded a funding drive for after-school programs. She has also worked to end discriminatory practices in the workplace and uplift minority- and women-owned businesses. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She earned a master's degree at Duke University's Terry Sanford School of Public Policy. She began her career as an elementary schoolteacher in Houston. Her expertise in the classroom and in making education more accessible for every child, regardless of ZIP Code, is a great example of why her strong voice will be valuable.…”