The Moon is not a Planet Made of Gases
Segment # 131
Sheila Jackson Lee is one of the most respected members of Congress. I am, therefore, as a former member of the House Science Committee’s space subcommitte stunned at the astronomy lesson she gave recently at a Houston High School. It is beyond me how her staff put her in this position. It might play well in DEI circles in the U.S.; however, it certainly is not helpful internationally.
Full Biography Sheila Jackson Lee
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee is the democratic Chief Deputy Whip for the U.S. House of Representatives.
She is the author and lead sponsor of the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, which established the first new federal holiday in 38 years.
And Congresswoman Jackson Lee is the author and fighter for the passage of the Violence Against Women's Act—signed by the President for the first time in almost a decade.
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee is an influential and forceful voice in Washington. She is serving her fourteenth term as a United States House of Representatives member. She represents the 18th Congressional District of Texas, centered in Houston, the world's energy capital. Considered by many as the "Voice of Reason", she is dedicated to upholding the Constitutional rights of all people. She sits on three Congressional Committees — as a senior member of the House Committees on the Judiciary, Homeland Security, and the crucial Budget Committee. She was appointed the first female Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee for Crime and Federal Government Surveillance, of which she served as Chair during the 117th Congress.
Congresswoman Jackson Lee's major legislative initiatives include the Sentencing Reform Act, the George Floyd Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act, The RAISE Act, The Fair Chance for Youth Act, the Kimberly Vaughan Firearm Safe Storage Act, Kaleif's Law, the American RISING Act.
She has also introduced the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Reauthorization and Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act, the Federal Prison Bureau Nonviolent Offender Relief Act. She is a champion for women and children, supporting the Paycheck Fairness Act and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and introducing an amendment to funding bills that provides for outreach to minority- and women-owned businesses concerning business opportunities in the commercial space industry, and authored the Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Research and Education Act.
She was named by 'Congressional Quarterly' as one of the 50 most effective Members of Congress. The 'U.S. News and World Report named her as one of the ten most influential legislators in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is a founder, member, and Chair of the Congressional Pakistan Caucus and the Congressional Children's Caucus. She is also chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Energy Braintrust, Co-Chair of the Justice Reform Task Force. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee earned a B.A. in Political Science from Yale University with honors in the first graduating class, including females, followed by a J.D. from the University of Virginia Law School. She is married to Dr. Elwyn Lee, a Yale Graduate and an Administrator at the University of Houston. She has two children Jason Lee a graduate of Harvard University, and Erica Lee a graduate of Duke University, who is also a Member of the Harris County School Board in Houston, Texas. She is also the proud grandmother of two grandkids (twins), granddaughter Ellison Bennett Carter and grandson Roy Lee Carter, III.
The Committee on the Judiciary
Ranking Member: Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance
Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement
The Committee on Homeland Security
2314 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3816
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Houston, TX 77091
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Space cadet: Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee tells schoolkids that moon is a ‘planet’ and ‘made up mostly of gases’
By
Social Links for Steven Nelson
Published April 9, 2024, 2:33 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON — Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) stunned attendees at a high school solar eclipse event Monday by claiming the rock-solid moon is a “planet” that is “made up mostly of gases” — before adding she still wants to be “first in line” to learn how to live there.
The former top Democrat on the House Science Committee’s space subcommittee badly botched elementary lunar facts while speaking during the gathering at Booker T. Washington High School in Houston.
“You’ve heard the word ‘full moon.’ Sometimes you need to take the opportunity just to come out and see a full moon is that complete rounded circle, which is made up mostly of gases,” Jackson Lee, 74, told teenage pupils who gathered on a sports field ahead of the rare celestial event.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee told attendees at Booker T. Washington High School in Houston that the moon is “made up mostly of gases.” X/@JacksonLee, TX18 “And that’s why the question is why or how could we as humans live on the moon? Are the gases such that we could do that?” the congresswoman said. “The sun is a mighty powerful heat, but it’s almost impossible to go near the sun. The moon is more manageable.” Jackson Lee made a series of other questionable statements, including saying the moon, which reflects the sun’s light, gives off “unique light and energy” and misstating the scientific reason for the eclipse.
Astronauts’ eerie view of the solar eclipse shown in insane video
“You have the energy of the moon at night,” she told the kids.
The solar eclipse was happening because the Earth was unusually close to the moon, she said — though, in fact, the eclipse was the result of the alignment of the sun and moon.
“I don’t think we’ve been on the moon the last 50 years. So we will be landing on the moon. What you’ll see today will be the closest distance that the moon has ever been in the last 20 years. Which means that’s why they will shut the light down because they will be close to the Earth,” she said of the eclipse alignment.
“I don’t know about you, I want to be first in line to know how to live and to be able to survive on the moon,” Jackson Lee added. “That’s another planet which we’re going to see shortly.”
Jackson Lee said she would be “first in line” to live on the moon — which she referred to as a planet. Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via AP
Jackson Lee is notorious in DC for high staff turnover because of her allegedly unusual and abusive demands of staffers.
In a statement to The Post on Tuesday, she admitted she was wrong to describe the moon, which has virtually no atmosphere, as being composed mostly of gas to the schoolkids.
“Obviously I misspoke and meant to say the sun, but as usual, Republicans are focused on stupid things instead of stuff that really matters. What can I say, though, foolish thinkers lust for stupidity!” she said of GOPers who swiftly criticized her glaring gaffes.
“They should be focusing on issues like prenatal care, building more affordable housing, and more reduction of student loan debt as President Joe Biden is,” Jackson Lee said. “Also, I care more about these children who would not have experienced the eclipse in this enthusiastic manner. And, I care more about protecting the rights of women and children than engaging in this kind of senseless dialogue!”
Rep. Jackson Lee admitted to The Post that she was wrong about the moon. Jennie Taer/NY Post
Jackson Lee has not deleted from her X page the footage of herself providing the miseducation to local students.
The video went viral after it was clipped and reposted by Houston-area radio host Kenny Webster.
What do you think? Post a comment.
“As a local Houston talk radio personality, she supplies us with a never-ending vault of content. She’s better than satire,” Webster told The Post.
