“She had unwavering dedication to the people of North Texas.”
President Joe Biden
.…on the life and legacy of former longtime Dallas Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, via CBS Texas.
Eddie Bernice Johnson
Former longtime Dallas Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson died on New Year’s Eve at the age of 89, and President Biden was one of those who paid their respects at a prayer service honoring her Monday night.
“She and I worked together throughout her 30 years in Congress, and I’ve always been grateful for her friendship and partnership,” Biden added in a statement, according to CBS Texas—which noted that Biden sent Johnson a plaque in 2022 featuring the Chips and Sciences Act, which she had helped pass with a goal of boosting U.S. semiconductor chip production.
Johnson’s other key Congressional efforts included helping to pass the 2022 infrastructure bill, chairing the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, supporting STEM education, and helping to end flight restrictions at Dallas Love Field and supporting a $700 million federal grant for DART to expand light rail to DFW International Airport, CBS Texas added.
You can read the CBS Texas story here.
Johnson’s funeral was held in Dallas Tuesday, attracting hundreds of mourners and a message from Vice President Kamala Harris, who said, “She was always fighting for the people of Dallas, for the people of Texas, and for the people of America,” according to KERA. “Her life will inspire generations to come.”
U.S. House Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson’s office entrance sign in Washington, D.C. in 2019. [Photo: DCStockPhotography/Shutterstock]
KERA’s story offers a deep look at Johnson’s life and Congressional service, from her birth in Waco to her early career as a nurse to her election in 1992 to Texas’ 30th congressional seat.
“Talk about an individual who comes along once in a lifetime who has just this wide view of the benefits of serving our people, serving the residents of North Texas, serving their needs, putting their needs above her own,” Gordon Shattles, DART’s assistant VP of external relations, told KERA. “She is one in a million.”
You can read the KERA story here.
The Dallas skyline, led by the illuminated Reunion Tower, cast a golden light over the city on January 8. The lighting was a reminder of Congresswoman Johnson’s enduring legacy, with the iconic skyline paying respect to her contributions. [Photo: Reunion Tower]
For more of who said what about all things North Texas, check out Every Last Word.
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