Vice President Harris experienced a verbal misstep during a memorial service for the late Democrat Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, when she inadvertently confused her title while speaking at Jackson Lee’s eulogy.
While commemorating Jackson’s efforts to establish Juneteenth as a federal holiday, Harris mistakenly assigned herself a new role.
“It was Sheila Jackson Lee whose bill made Juneteenth a federal holiday. As a United States senator, I was honored to co-sponsor it. And then as president – as vice president …” Harris corrected herself swiftly.
“It was my privilege – it was my privilege, alongside our president, Joe Biden, to stand next to Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee as our president enacted her legislation,” she added.
KAMALA HARRIS TO ATTEND REP SHEILA JACKSON LEE’S FUNERAL IN TEXAS
During Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee’s eulogy on Thursday, Vice President Harris mistakenly referred to herself as “president.” (ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images)
Jackson Lee passed away on July 19 at the age of 74 after a struggle with pancreatic cancer. Her legacy endures through her husband, Elwyn Lee, and her two children, Jason and Erica.
Earlier, she had fought breast cancer, having been diagnosed in 2011, but announced she was cancer-free the following year.
Harris remarked after Jackson Lee’s death that the congresswoman was a “dedicated advocate for justice and a relentless defender of the people of Houston and America.” She also cherished her as a “close friend for many years and fellow member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.”
“As a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, I worked closely with her on numerous issues and witnessed her leadership firsthand. She was indefatigable – one of our nation’s most astute, strategic leaders who understood how to drive progress,” Harris communicated in a statement on July 20. “There was never a trivial conversation with the congresswoman. She constantly fought for the people of Houston and the journey ahead for all Americans.”
REP SHEILA JACKSON LEE HAS PASSED AWAY FOLLOWING HER BATTLE WITH PANCREATIC CANCER
President Biden captures a selfie with Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee following his State of the Union address on February 7, 2023. (Jacquelyn Martin-Pool/Getty Images)
Harris shared that she had spoken with Jackson Lee shortly before her passing, expressing gratitude for the influence she had on her career.
“A few days before she passed, I reached out to her and conveyed my genuine and profound appreciation for everything she had accomplished. I told her she had an immense effect on my life and my journey. To know Sheila is to recognize her strength … she was incredibly loving and supportive, and always uplifted me,” Harris reflected during the service.
She recounted more anecdotes highlighting Jackson Lee’s tough love, admitting there were moments she felt like evading her presence.
REP SHEILA JACKSON LEE ANNOUNCES HER PANCREATIC CANCER DIAGNOSIS
Sheila Jackson Lee (John Lamparski/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival/File)
“There were occasions, I admit, when I spotted her in the hall, I would almost want to vanish. Because I knew that whatever else was on my mind, Sheila Jackson Lee would insist on a very serious and specific discussion regarding her priorities, and then she would articulate precisely what she needed from me to help accomplish her goals,” Harris recounted.
Harris continued to honor Jackson Lee, emphasizing her “steadfast belief in the potential each of us holds to transform our nation for the better.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“Sheila Jackson Lee was a catalyst for change. She dedicated herself wholeheartedly to uplift her community, her state, and our nation. To honor her legacy, let us persevere in our quest to fulfill the promise of America—a promise of freedom, opportunity, and justice, not just for the few but for everyone,” Harris concluded.
Fox News Digital’s Landon Mion contributed to this report.
