George Bush Intercontinental Airport’s Terminal E will be renamed “Sheila Jackson Lee Terminal E” in honor of the late congresswoman.
Lee represented the 18th Congressional District until her death in November 2024.
The Houston City Council voted unanimously to rename the terminal following a strong display of support from the community.
Lee’s daughter, Erica Lee Carter, who briefly represented the 18th Congressional District after her mother’s passing, expressed gratitude to Mayor John Whitmire and Councilmembers Edward Pollard and Tiffany Thomas for their efforts in the renaming initiative.
“She knew that our airport was not just a transit hub of commerce, but it connected us to our global friends, like our sister cities,” Lee Carter said.
“We are not just affixing a name to a building; we are telling the world that Sheila Jackson Lee mattered to Houston, and that her legacy lives on boldly, visibly, and permanently.”
The Houston City Council initiated the terminal renaming process in December 2024, following discussions among public speakers who highlighted Lee’s advocacy for her constituents and her crucial role in securing $125 million in federal funding for the Houston Airport System.
The council delayed the formal renaming due to administrative processes, which included gathering public comments.
More than 2,000 comments were received during the period, with approximately 80% expressing support for the terminal’s renaming.
Houston has a tradition of honoring influential political leaders.
Terminal C is named after former Mayor Lewis Wesley Cutrer, while Terminal D honors former U.S. Representative Mickey Leland.
Family members of the late congresswoman reflected on her impactful legacy.
Lee’s husband, Elwyn Lee, shared memories of her strong advocacy for the airport.
“She became a fierce advocate for the airport and other transformation needs of this city, which she did love,” he noted.
“She fiercely and effectively (brought) millions for the airport and other construction needs.”
Jason Lee, Lee’s son, expressed the challenge of articulating his mother’s multifaceted legacy.
“I’m really gonna have a tall task trying to explain who my mother was,” he admitted.
“It would be easier for me to explain who she was to me, but I have to really work to explain all she meant to everyone else.
With the honor of this terminal being named after her, it makes that a lot easier.
That honor will itself explain to some extent who she was and what she meant.”
During the council’s discussions, Mayor Pro Tem and City Councilmember Martha Castex-Tatum referred to Lee as a “hero” and looked forward to a formal ceremony as the next step in the renaming process.
“Houston will never be the same without Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, but we’ll continue to work every day to make it a place that she could be proud of and we can all be proud of,” Castex-Tatum said.
Councilmember Edward Pollard explained the resolution process under Proposition A, which facilitated the Terminal E renaming initiative, stating it received eight signatures—the maximum allowed.
“For this particular resolution, everyone said yes immediately,” Pollard said.
“That is a testament to who Congresswoman Sheila Jackson was.
Regardless if you agree with everything she ever did or said, you know that she was an impactful person who was extremely passionate about her community and her city, and was an iconic figure.”
Councilwoman Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, representing District D, which falls within the 18th Congressional District, recalled her close partnership with Lee and firmly deemed the decision to rename the terminal a “no-brainer.”
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