This week, the Houston City Council decided to honor the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee by renaming Terminal E of the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in her honor.
“This is a woman who gave her life to this city in the service of this city, and I thought it would be fitting to find a way to keep her legacy alive in a meaningful and impactful and significant way,” said Edward Pollard, a council member.
A statement from Erica Lee Carter, Jackson Lee’s daughter who is serving out her mother’s last term, was released via the office of Council Member Tiffany Thomas.
“Naming Terminal E after her is not just a tribute to her work on the federal level, but the service she gave to our city and its people,” Carter stated. “This is as a lasting reminder of her dedication, her legacy, and her unwavering commitment to Houston and the United States.”
Before the terminal’s name is formally changed, some time will pass. Arturo Michel, the municipal attorney, cited an executive order from 2003 that mandates a more drawn-out procedure for renaming city facilities.
“This would be considered the formal request to begin the process,” Michel stated, adding that a longer time of public discussion would follow the Airport System’s evaluation of the proposal.
Whitmire, who won the mayoral race in 2023 over Jackson Lee, remained silent on Wednesday regarding the congresswoman’s legacy. The city council, he said, ought to “follow the process that the City Attorney prescribed.”
Council Members Pollard, Thomas, Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, Martha Castex-Tatum, Tarsha Jackson, Abbie Kamin, Sallie Alcorn, and Letitia Plummer introduced the resolution. The vote was unanimous.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
