Washington, DC – Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a senior member of the House of Representatives and Founder and Chair of the Congressional Children’s Caucus, released the following statement in solidarity and support of the millions of participants in Women’s Marches taking place in Houston, Austin, Dallas, and other cities in Texas, across the nation, and around the world:

"I salute the millions of Americans who joined in today’s marches and rallies and responded to yesterday’s divisive and dark inaugural address by our new President with a message of hope, determination, unity, tolerance, inclusiveness, and diversity. ‘Women’s rights are human rights’ is the message of today marches, which resonates not just within the United States, but around the world. We appreciate the women in cities globally who participated in Marches in solidary with American women.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to serve the interest of Americans by protecting hard won gains like the Affordable Care Act; civil rights and liberties, voting, women’s reproductive health and autonomy, and environmental protection.

”I commend the organizers of today’s marches and look forward to working with the Houston area March organizers as well as the national organizers of the many marches around the nation to ensure that women’s rights are treated as human rights in federal government policy and the laws that the 115th Congress considers."

Sheila Jackson Lee, a Democrat representing Houston in the U.S. House of Representatives, is a senior member of the House Committees on Homeland Security and the Judiciary. She is the Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations.