Sheila Jackson Lee: “I thank my colleague, the Honorable Al Green of Texas. Mr. Speaker, we are like family in this House, Republicans and…”

“I thank my colleague, the Honorable Al Green of Texas. Mr. Speaker, we are like family in this House, Republicans and Democrats, as we work together and work with our staff. I am very clear in the fact that Ms. Ellis was the only chief of staff that Congressman Al Green of Texas had, and that he made an A-plus choice, and she, likewise, in accepting his offer to be his chief of staff. She was a 30-year veteran, and she brought to his office and brought to this House a sense of affection and love for the institution, for democracy, and for America. Not only did she have the privilege of working for Congressman Al Green of Texas and he the privilege of having her as his chief of staff, she worked previously for Congressman Major Owens of New York, and the late former Alabama Senator Howard Heflin. {time} 1915 It means that she understood the institutions that helped to lay down the pillars of democracy. She was a spiritual mother to the tens upon thousands of young people who came to this place with starry eyes to make a difference--spiritual mother, sister, mentor, and friend to many people, including elected and people of high ranking status. She was a graduate of a historically Black college, and, as well, she had a background in government affairs. But, more importantly, she had a big heart. And she was eager, as I am told by the staff, to be able to help all the new and young staff. They knew they could go to Jacqui Ellis.…”