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The current Texas U.S. Representative for the 18th Congressional District has noted the legacy of her predecessor as the 32nd anniversary of his death was observed.
U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), who according to her biography is serving her 11th term as congresswoman, praised the late U.S. Rep. Mickey Leland (D-Texas), who died in a plane crash on Aug. 7, 1989.
“Today we honor the legacy of the late Congressman Mickey Leland,” Lee posted on Twitter. “Congressman Leland was a true visionary that used his voice to bring lasting change not only to our 18th Congressional District, but to humanity around the world! We are forever grateful.”
Meredith Walker, co-founder and executive director of Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls, responded to Lee’s tweet by expressing her appreciation of Leland.
“He is very missed. What a great person,” Walker said.
Leland, who according to govtrack served Texas’ 18th Congressional District from 1979 to 1989, died on a relief mission in Africa.
In Leland’s honor, the Mickey Leland Environmental Internship Program was established, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has been celebrating in 2021 the 30th year of the program, a press release said. The program honors Leland’s advocacy of environmental and public health issues, the TCEQ website said.
“The paid summer internship places undergraduate and graduate college students pursuing environmental, science, engineering, public administration, public health, computer technology, accounting, business, law and communications degrees at TCEQ or other participating state agencies, county and city governments, and participating private sector companies from across the state,” the press release said.
Since its establishment, the program has placed 2,390 interns into internships, some of whom “are still employed at TCEQ and participating sponsor companies,” the press release said. In 2020, about 60 students were placed in internships because of the COVID-19 pandemic (150 students were expected).