Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson
Bio
- About this Writer
Eddie Bernice Johnson represents her native state of Texas by serving as Congresswoman for District 30, which includes Downtown Dallas; Northeast Dallas, East Oak Cliff , Pleasant Grove , Balch Springs, DeSoto, Lancaster , Hutchins, and parts of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Glen Heights, Wilmer and Ovilla.
Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson is Chairwoman of the House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee and the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation. She is a Senior Democratic Whip in the House Leadership Structure.
Congresswoman 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 during the 110th Congress. Congresswoman Johnson has been a member of the House Transportation Committee since being sworn into office in January 1993. The subcommittee has jurisdiction over water conservation, pollution control, infrastructure, and hazardous waste cleanup. The Subcommittee is also responsible for reauthorizing the Clean Water Act.
Congresswoman Johnson serves as Senior Democratic Deputy Whip, chair of the Texas Democratic Delegation, chair of the House Metro Congestion Coalition, co-chair of the North America’s Supercorridor Caucus and co-chair of the TEX-21 Congressional Caucus, which is a forum to address Texas’ transportation needs through the reauthorization of TEA-21. She is a founding member of the House Diversity and Innovation Caucus. In addition, Congresswoman Johnson served as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus during the 107th Congress.
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 Oversight Subcommittee. Johnson, who ranks third in seniority on the Science Committee, serves as a leader in forming and supporting policies regarding scientific research and development.
Since coming to Congress, Congresswoman Johnson has earned the reputation of being a stateswoman on U.S. foreign policy issues and has worked to improve human rights around the globe. 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. She subsequently served as the chief psychiatric nurse at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Dallas and has provided 15 years of hands-on patient care.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.
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 resolving a wide range of individual issues.
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.
History
- Member for
- 16 years 26 weeks