Congresswoman Johnson Honors The Legacy Of President Lyndon Johnson

"President Obama, three former presidents and Congressman John Lewis, the only living speaker from the 1963 March on Washington, are in Austin this week to honor former President Lyndon Baines Johnson, whose policies regarding equal rights and health care radically changed the very fabric of our nation. Presidents Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush are among those leading a series of lectures and seminars acknowledging the social achievements that were made during Johnson’s tenure.

Lewis, who nearly lost his life in the early 1960s after being viciously attacked by Alabama state troopers while leading a civil rights march, recently was quoted as saying that Johnson’s programs made it possible for millions of African-Americans to register as voters in the 1960s. He said that if Johnson had not acted to eliminate poll taxes and other unjust practices in many Southern states, there “probably would not have been a Barack Obama as president.” I am in total agreement with my colleague.

Johnson, who grew up in Central Texas, is a true American hero who deserves our admiration for all that he did to make this country a better place for all of its citizens.

The tributes in Austin are part of a Civil Rights Summit at the LBJ Presidential Library. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, which became law when Johnson signed the legislation on July 2, 1964.

The achievements of the Johnson administration were not limited to civil rights. Medicare was one of his major accomplishments. Prior to its enactment, nearly 70 percent of America’s senior citizen population did not have health insurance. All of that changed when Johnson signed Medicare into law on July 30, 1965, bringing mental comfort and security to millions of Americans ages 65 and older.

Prior to that time, those seniors who could afford health care paid for their own coverage, usually with highly inflated age-related premiums.

While many in America in 1968 viewed Johnson only through the lens of the Vietnam War, hundreds of thousands of African-Americans in the Southern United States admired him greatly. After his election as vice president, Johnson contacted some of his allies in the Texas Legislature to assist Barbara Jordan, who had worked as a volunteer in the presidential campaign.

At his urging, Texas legislators created a senatorial district in which Jordan stood a chance of being elected. They followed his orders and she became a state senator, the first African-American elected to such a post since Reconstruction. Later, Jordan became the first southern African-American female elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

When Johnson decided not to run for a second term, he returned to Texas. I was a member of the Texas Legislature, and on the day he visited the Capitol building in Austin, my son, Kirk, and I were present. Johnson died of a heart attack a week later on Jan. 22, 1973.

His funeral was held on the same day that my son celebrated his birthday. During the services, it rained as if the sky itself was crying. My son and I went to the burial site and spent time with Lady Bird Johnson and her daughters after returning from the cemetery.

Dignitaries from throughout the country and the world were present to pay their final respects to Johnson and to console members of his family. In an obituary that appeared in The New York Times, he was described as the “architect of the Great Society program, who left a legacy of progress” for the American people.

It is more than appropriate that Johnson’s life and accomplishments are celebrated in Austin, as they will be during the course of this year in Washington, D.C., and in other parts of our country. I am deeply devoted to his vision of a “Great Society.” In his spirit, it should exist forever." - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson

Source: Waco Tribune

Congresswoman Johnson Receives "Defender Of Children" Award

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson was honored by the First Focus Campaign for Children with the “Defender of Children” award.  Congresswoman Johnson was presented the award in recognition for her support of policies that advance the well-being of children 

“I am very appreciative of this recognition by First Focus,” Congresswoman Johnson said. “I have spent my entire career making sure we keep children at the forefront. The future of the world is in the hands and minds of our children. I will continue to work to improve the lives and opportunities for all children.”

The First Focus Campaign for Children honors legislators who support by our nation's children. First Focus recognizes Members of Congress with the “Champions of Children” and “Defender of Children” awards for their efforts to ensure children and families a national priority in federal policy and budget decisions.

In selecting the list of Champions and Defenders, the First Focus Campaign for Children took note of leaders who introduced, co-sponsored, and voted for legislation that met the needs of children. Additionally, the organization considered Members who demonstrated extraordinary initiative by spearheading activities such as sponsoring hearings or garnering the support of their colleagues to improve the health and well-being of children.

Congresswoman Johnson Celebrates Women's History Month

"March was celebrated as Women’s History Month. While women have made great strides in this country, there is still much that needs to be done to bring them on par with men in America, particularly in the area of equal pay for equal work.

It is neither fair nor prudent that we live in a society in which women earn approximately 80 percent of what men who are doing the exact same work are paid. In 2010, the last year for which data was compiled, the median income for a woman in America was $36,931 compared to $47,715 for their male counterparts.

This is simply unacceptable and must be changed.

The practice sends an appalling message to young women who are seeking professional careers. Are we saying to them that they are not as good as their male colleagues? As a society, are we suggesting to them that we place greater value on the work of men than we do on their work? This type of thinking is a relic of the past, and it must remain there.

When I was elected to Congress in 1992, I was the only female in the Texas Congressional delegation. In Washington, I became one of 48 women who were members of the House of Representatives. In the Senate, there were seven women.

Today, our numbers have increased, and women chair many of the committees in the House and Senate where much of the work in the Congress is accomplished. There are presently 20 female Senators and 82 women in the House.

Having women in positions of leadership has made a significant difference in the way that the Congress functions. For the most part, women are less aggressive, and approach issues and policy questions with less acerbity than their male counterparts.

Women have made significant strides in business. Some of our largest corporations such as General Motors and Facebook have women in very senior positions. Yet, our corporate boardrooms remain bastions of male dominance.

In his statement proclaiming Women’s History Month, President Obama stated that our nation’s history has been enhanced by the achievements of women. He wrote that women have, “led movements for social and economic justice, enriched our culture and charted bold directions in our foreign policy.”

Iconic women such as Dorothy Height, who led the National Council of Negro Women, Adelfa Callejo, who fought for minority rights in Dallas, Lindy Boggs, who served our country as a distinguished member of the U.S. House of Representatives and as an ambassador, and so many others, have left a legacy of greatness that must be followed and honored.

Our remembrances of these women and others of monumental acclaim that are no longer with us must strengthen our resolve for even greater achievement. Future generations of women must be able to build upon the foundations that will be left for them.

The work for change must continue as long as women are victims of domestic abuse, physical assault in the military and depressed wages. Yes, we must celebrate women, but we must remain cognizant that the struggle for gender equality must not cease." - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson

Congresswoman Johnson Hosts Climate Change Panel In Dallas

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson,  Ranking Member of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a panel discussion on climate change at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.  The event, titled “A Panel Discussion on Climate Change: How Climate Change Affects Texas and How Texas Can Adapt and Prosper”, included experts from industry, academia, and government.

The panel included Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, Associate Professor at Texas Tech University and Director of the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech; Dr. Michael Webber, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, U.T. Austin and Co-Director of the Clean Energy Incubator; Mr. Gabriel Alonso, CEO EDP Renewables and Chairman of the Board of the American Wind Energy Association; Dr. Robert Haley, Professor of Internal Medicine and Director of Epidemiology Division at UT Southwestern Medical Center; and Ms. Jill A. Jordan, City of Dallas Assistant City Manager.

In her opening remarks Ranking Member Johnson said, “While climate change is an issue that must be addressed by the Federal government, first and foremost, I am a Texan, and climate change’s impacts and effects will be felt locally.  From increased drought in the Panhandle to concerns over extreme flooding along our coasts and rivers, to the increased risk of wild fires across the state, climate change is an issue that we cannot ignore. Not only will climate change affect the Texas economy, it will impact Texans on a personal level. I’ve seen first-hand, Texan families faced with the task of putting their lives back together after a disaster, and that’s something we can ill afford to have happen more often than it already does.”

The event took place on the same day the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report detailing the need for immediate action to address the global impacts of climate change.  The report, titled “Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability”, says the adverse effects of climate change can be seen today and require governments to address current vulnerabilities and adapt to these climate related risks. 

Ms. Johnson concluded her remarks by saying, “I hope that today’s discussion will lead to affirmative steps and concrete actions that we can take to mitigate the damage already done and to adapt to the changes that will occur.  Ultimately, we’re all in this together, and by working together we can achieve our shared goals of a robust economy, a healthier public, and a cleaner environment.” 

Congresswoman Johnson Marks Cesar Chavez Day

“Cesar Chavez was one of America’s greatest champions for civil rights and social justice. His leadership gave rise to a movement that improved the working conditions of all agricultural workers. Chavez used non-violent protest to forge a path to progress. His movement created a lasting legacy not just for Hispanic Americans, but for all Americans.”

“There are many lessons from that we can learn from Cesar Chavez today. His movement continues to inspire us to push for an increase of the minimum wage, push for a renewal of unemployment insurance, and ensure that all Americans have access to affordable healthcare.“ - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson