BIOGRAPHY: CONGRESSWOMAN EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, DISTRICT 30 - TEXAS (revised 1/93) Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas, has had a distinguished career as a successful business entrepreneur, professional nurse, health care administrator and Texas lawmaker. Congresswoman Johnson received her formal education at St. Mary's College of the University of Notre Dame and she has also received a Bachelor's degree in Nursing from Texas Christian University. In addition, she graduated from Southern Methodist University with a Masters in Public Administration. A native of Waco, Texas, Congresswoman Johnson began her career in elective office in 1972, when as an underdog candidate, she won a landslide victory to the Texas House of Representatives. With her election to the Texas Legislature, she became the first Black woman ever elected to public office in Dallas in the Texas House since 1935. In her second legislative term, she became the first woman in the history of the state to chair a major House committee. In her third term as State Representative, Congresswoman Johnson resigned her seat when President Jimmy Carter appointed her as Regional Director of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, presently the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Education. Following the Carter Administration, Congresswoman Johnson again took an active role in community and civic activities. She holds three honorary doctoral degrees from three Texas colleges for her service and contributions to the field of education and the community: an L.L.D., Bishop College, Dallas, Texas, 1979; L.L.D., Jarvis Christian College, Hawkins, 1979; and L.L.D., Texas College, Tyler, Texas, 1989. ln 1975, she served on the Board of Directors and as chairperson of the Rule Making and Policies Committee of Sunbelt National Bank. She has also served on the Public Relations Committee and the Organizing Committee. From 1979 to August 1981, Congresswoman Johnson served as a consultant to Sammons Corporation, a large, diversified, multi-business conglomerate managing approximately 49 companies ranging from printing and telecommunications to hotels and heavy highway construction equipment. As the sole proprietor of Eddie Bernice Johnson and Associates, which she established in 1981, her efforts focused upon the review and analysis of business and financial plans to enable businesses to expand or relocate in the Dallas-Fort Worth geographical area. In 1988, Congresswoman Johnson incorporated and expanded her operations to include career opportunities in airport concession management. Diligence, stamina and hard work has enabled Eddie Bernice Johnson and Associates, Inc. to be selected as one of eleven minority and women owned businesses located in the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Congresswoman Johnson rekindled her political career in 1986, after nine years away from elective office and won a decisive victory for the Senate seat in District 23. She ran unopposed in 1990 and was the first woman and first Black to represent the Dallas area since the period of Reconstruction in the Texas Senate. In 1992, Ms. Johnson was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives by receiving (seventy-four) 74% of the vote in the general election. The Dallas Morning News wrote "Senator Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas, was instrumental in winning monumental victory for Dallas blacks when she got the Legislature to finally agree to a fifty percent black district in Dallas County". "She is tough, shrewd and unswervingly devoted to her principles". Congresswoman Johnson is the only woman among Texas' thirty U.S. House Members and two Senators . She is the first African American woman to represent the State of Texas in Congress since Barbara Jordan in the 1970's. Ms. Johnson was recently elected Whip of the Congressional Black Caucus, where her legislative priorities will be the economy, accessible health care, education, jobs, the environment, and expanding opportunities for minorities in the workplace. Ms. Johnson will also serve on two committees: Public Works and Transportation and Science, Space and Technology. FORMAL EDUCATION M.P.A., Public Administration, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, 1976 B.S.. Nursing, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, 1967 Professional Nursing, Holy Cross Central School of Nursing, St. Mary's College of the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana, 1955 CONTINUING EDUCATION The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, 1978 Conflict Resolution Training Program American Management Association, Dallas, San Francisco, 1978, Basic four-week intensive course Harvard University Institute of Politics, 1975, Invitation to accept Harvard Fellowship extended (declined due to presidential appointment) Texas Women's University, 1970-1971 North Texas State university, 1958-1966 HONORARY DEGREES L.L.D., Bishop College, Dallas, Texas, 1979 L.L.D., Jarvis Christian College, Hawkins, Texas, 1979 L.L.D., Texas College, Tyler, Texas, 1989 PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND 1993 to Present U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Member of Congress --- District 30-Texas 1986 to 1992 TEXAS STATE SENATE Senator --- District 23 August 1981 to THE VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS, January 1987 Dallas, Texas Vice President, Governmental and Community Affairs March 1981 to SAMMONS ENTERPRISES, INC., Dallas, Texas August 1981 Assistant to the President August 1977 to DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND July 1979 WELFARE, Rockville, Maryland Executive Assistant to the Administrator for Primary Health Care 1972 to 1977 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE, Dallas, Texas Principal Regional Official (Region VI) 1972 to 1977 TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES State Representative--District 33-0 1976 to 1977 ZALE CORPORATION, DIVISION OF URBAN AFFAIRS, Dallas, Texas Consultant 1972 to 1975 NEIMEN-MARCUS, PERSONNEL DIVISION Executive Assistant 1956 to 1972 VETERAN'S ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL, Dallas, Texas Chief Psychiatric Nurse-Psychotherapist 1957 to 1958 ST. PAUL CATHOLIC HOSPITAL, Dallas, Texas Registered Nurse ACHIEVEMENTS "Woman of the Year" Award, 1992 - KRLD Radio "Legislator of the Year" Award, Dallas Alliance for the Mentally Ill, 1991 Outstanding Service Award, The Child Care Group, 1991 Certificate of Commendation, City of Dallas, 1991 Outstanding Service Award, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (Alpha Epsilon Boule'), 1991 National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women and Clubs Achievement in Government, 1991 Outstanding Service Award, KKDA Radio, 1991 Eartha M.M. White Award, outstanding achievement as a businesswoman, National Business League, 1990 Distinguished Public Service Award, Prairie View A&M University, 1990 "She Knows Where She's Going", Girls Inc., 1990 Legislative Action Award, Texas Association of Community Action Agencies, 1989 N.A.A.C.P. Juanita Craft Award in Politics, N.A.A.C.P. Dallas Chapter, 1989 Outstanding Citizenship Award, National Conference of Christians and Jews, 1985 Women Helping Women Award, Soroptimist International of Dallas and Southwest Region, 1979 Libertarian of the Year, A.C.L.U., 1978 First woman to chair a major House committee in the Texas Legislature Emma V. Kelly Achievement Award, Grant Temple Daughters of IBPOE of W, 1973 MEMBERSHIPS John Baptist Church Dallas, Texas American Nurses Association Links, Inc., Dallas Chapter Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce N.A.A.C.P., Life Member Charter 100 of Dallas Girlfriends, Inc. Delta Kappa Gamma Society International Women Educators Organization, Epsilon Chapter, Honorary Member Y.W.C.A., Life Member United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, Executive Committee Women's Council of Dallas National Council of Negro Women, Past President Democratic Women of Dallas County Dallas Urban League Dallas County Democratic Progressive Voters League League of Women Voters National Order of Women Legislators, Past national Vice President and Past National Secretary National Black Nurses Association Goals for Dallas