The University of Houston provided the following statement from Elwyn C. Lee, Jackson Lee's husband.
"In response to your inquiry, the University of Houston has received the following Congressional earmarks, either sponsored or co‐sponsored by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee:
FY 2011 Bill: Defense Project: Carbon Composite Thin Films for Power Generation and Energy Storage Amount: $1 million Sponsor: Sheila Jackson Lee
FY 2010 Bill: Energy and Water Project: National Wind Energy Center Amount: $2 million Sponsor: Kay Bailey Hutchison, Al Green, Gene Green, Lee
Bill: Labor‐HHS Project: Teacher Training and Professional Development Amount: $400,000 Sponsor: Lee
FY 2009 Bill: Energy and Water Project: National Wind Energy Center Amount: $2,378,750 Sponsor: Al Green, Gene Green, Lee
Bill: Energy and Water Project: Center for Clean Fuels and Power Generation Amount: $475,750 Sponsor: Lee and Ted Poe
As best I can recall, I came to UH in January 1978 to teach law. In fall 1989 I took an interim assignment to revive the African American Studies Program. I did that continuously through fall 1990, which was for 3 semesters and a summer. In 1991 I was appointed interim Vice President for Student Affairs and, later that year, Vice President for Student Affairs. In l998 the Vice Chancellorâs title was added. In March 2011 I physically moved into my current office as Vice President for Community Relations & Institutional Access.
At no time in any of these positions have I been involved, directly or indirectly, in securing Congressional earmarks for the University of Houston, nor have my duties and responsibilities in any way involved securing Congressional earmarks.
None of the Congressional earmarks secured by UH was directed to the areas under my supervision. As a Tier One research institution we have robust conflict‐of‐interest policies (see links) below and implement management plans to handle any conflicts that arise. You can learn more about these policies by reviewing the links below.
To reiterate, it is not my responsibility, and it has never been my responsibility, to secure Congressional earmarks. Therefore, there has been no conflict to manage.
POLICY LINKS http://www.uh.edu/af/universityservices/policies/sam/2HumanResources/2A9.pdf http://www.research.uh.edu/Home/Division‐of‐Research/Research‐Services/Research‐ Policies.aspx http://www.uh.edu/uc/about_us/policies/1.1B%20Related%20Party%20Disclosure%20Form.pdf http://www.uh.edu/af/universityservices/policies/sam/3FicsalAffairs/3A17.pdf
Sincerely,
Dr. Elwyn C. Lee Vice President for Community Relations & Institutional Accessâ University of HoustonâRoom 223 E. Cullenâ Houston, Texas 77204‐2018â 832‐842‐5090 (office)â713‐743‐1996 (fax)â [email protected]
Richard Bonnin, executive director of Media Relations for the University of Houston also provided a statement:
"As a public university, the University of Houston is committed to transparency and has in place stringent conflict‐of‐interest and management policies to address any conflicts that may arise.
"Independent analysis by Inside Higher Education, which maintains a searchable database of 2010 grants to higher education institutions, as well as a list of disclosures on the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations website, confirm that the University of Houston is far down the list of colleges and universities who have received earmarks for special projects."