The late Sheila Jackson Lee was officially honored on May 18, 2026, as Terminal E at George Bush Intercontinental Airport was formally renamed the Sheila Jackson Lee Terminal E during a public ceremony attended by family members, elected officials, and community leaders.
The dedication marked the final step in a renaming effort approved unanimously by Houston City Council in 2025 to recognize Jackson Lee’s decades of public service and advocacy for Houston.
Family, City Leaders Attend Dedication Ceremony
Among those present were Jackson Lee’s widower, Dr. Elwyn Lee, son Jason Lee, daughter and former congresswoman Erica Lee Carter, and several grandchildren.
“History is being made in Houston today,” Lee Carter said during the ceremony. She described the terminal as a permanent symbol of her mother’s perseverance, compassion, and lifelong fight for social justice.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire said the moment should inspire renewed commitment to public service, calling Jackson Lee’s work an example for future generations.
‘May Travelers Around the World Know Her Name’
Houston City Council Member Tiffany Thomas, one of the sponsors of the renaming effort alongside Council Member Edward Pollard, said the terminal would introduce millions of travelers to Jackson Lee’s legacy.
“May travelers from around the world come to know her name, her work, and the impact of our great city,” Thomas said.
Council Member Martha Castex-Tatum noted that more than 2,000 Houstonians submitted public comments during the naming process, with roughly 80% supporting the change.
Pollard described the renaming as a “bold statement,” reflecting Jackson Lee’s fearless leadership and outspoken advocacy.
Lasting Legacy in Houston
Jackson Lee represented Texas’ 18th Congressional District from 1995 until her death from pancreatic cancer in 2024. During her career, she secured more than $125 million for the Houston Airport System and championed transportation security, civil rights, voting rights, and the effort to establish Juneteenth as a federal holiday.
Closing the ceremony, Lee Carter said her mother’s greatest legacy was the lives she impacted through service and advocacy for vulnerable communities.
“Through the Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Terminal E, may it symbolize energy, excellence, and forever moving forward,” she said.
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