GEM - GEM Congressional Honoree: Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson

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GEM Congressional Honoree: Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson represents Texas' 30th Congressional District, which comprises of downtown Dallas, DeSoto, North East Dallas, Cedar Hill, Glen Heights, Lancaster, Wilmer, Hutchins and Balch Springs.

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson is widely recognized as one of the most effective legislators in Congress. She is credited with originally authoring and co-authoring more than 33 bills that were passed by the House and Senate and signed into law by the President.

In 2007, Congresswoman Johnson was appointed by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James L. Oberstar (D-MN) to serve as Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment for the 110th Congress. The Subcommittee has jurisdiction over water conservation, pollution control, infrastructure, and hazardous waste cleanup. Among other laws, this Subcommittee is also responsible for reauthorizing the Clean Water Act.

Congresswoman Johnson has been a member of the House Transportation Committee since being sworn into office in January 1993. In addition to her chairmanship on the Water Resources Subcommittee, Congresswoman Johnson is also a member of Aviation and Railroad Subcommittees of the Transportation.

Congresswoman Johnson is currently a Senior Democratic Deputy Whip, chairwoman for the Texas Democratic Delegation, chair for the House Metro Congestion Coalition, co-chair for the North America’s Supercorridor Caucus and co-chair for the TEX-21 Congressional Caucus, which is a forum to address Texas’ transportation needs through the reauthorization of TEA-21. In addition, Congresswoman Johnson served as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus during the 107th Congress.

Congresswoman Johnson, who ranks third in seniority on the Science Committee, serves as a leader in drafting and supporting legislation dealing with scientific research, development, and policy. From 2000-2002, Congresswoman Johnson was the Ranking Member of the Science Research Subcommittee. She remains a senior member of that Subcommittee in addition to serving on the Energy subcommittee.

Since coming to Congress, Congresswoman Johnson has earned the reputation of being a stateswoman on U.S. foreign policy and worked to improve human rights around the globe where her acclaimed initiative “Women for World Peace” has been nationally and internationally recognized.

Congresswoman Johnson studied nursing at St. Mary's College at the University of Notre Dame and earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from Texas Christian University in 1967. She received a master's degree in public administration from Southern Methodist University in 1976 and subsequently served as the chief psychiatric nurse at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Dallas. Congresswoman Johnson was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1972 and became the first woman in Texas history to lead a major Texas House committee, the Labor Committee.

As an advocate for workers, children, and families, she was recognized and appointed by President Jimmy Carter to serve as regional director of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in 1977. In 1986, she was elected a Texas state senator, becoming the first African American female from the Dallas area to hold this office since Reconstruction. She is now in her eight term representing the citizens of the Thirtieth Congressional District of Texas.

Congresswoman Johnson has a long-standing reputation for providing excellent constituent services. Her district offices in downtown Dallas specialize in working with all federal departments and agencies to assist citizens in solving a wide range of individual problems.

Born in Waco, TX, Congresswoman Johnson counts among her greatest accomplishments her son Kirk and three grandsons, Kirk Jr., David, and James.