Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee for Department of Homeland Security Secretary? No, it’s not a joke. The Congressional Black Caucus is recommending that President Obama nominate Jackson-Lee to replace outgoing secretary Janet Napolitano.

A letter  dated July 25 and signed by CBC Chairwoman Rep. Marcia Fudge, an Ohio Democrat, urges President Barack Obama to consider Jackson Lee for the position formerly held by Janet Napolitano, the first woman to hold the position. Napolitano resigned earlier this month to become president of the University of California.

“Representative Jackson Lee would serve as an effective DHS Secretary because she understands the importance of increasing border security and maintaining homeland security,” the nomination letter reads.

Since entering Congress in 1995, Jackson Lee has served on several committees, including Foreign Affairs, Judiciary and Homeland Security, in which she was the Chairwoman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection.

“As Chairwoman, Representative Jackson Lee supported increased airplane cargo inspections and increased security for railroads, issues of great importance to the security of this nation and its citizens,” the letter continues.

Jackson Lee currently holds the post of Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security, a position that the CBC says she “stands as a strong and honest ‘voice of reason.’” Source: Houston Chronicle

Voice of reason? This is the same woman who said we need more black sounding names for hurricanes and who sought to have the House of Representatives pass a resolution to honor Michael Jackson as a humanitarian after his death.

This was cross-posted from The Hinterland Gazette.