The Honorable Eddie Bernice Johnson

U.S. Representative from Texas (January 3, 1993-January 3, 2023)

Eddie Bernice Johnson represented a Dallas-based Texas district in the U.S. House of Representatives for three decades. Interested in medicine at a young age, Johnson chose a career in nursing when discouraged from earning a medical degree because of her gender. Her activism against racial discrimination in Texas sparked an interest in civic involvement which eventually led to a long career in elected office. After serving in the Texas state legislature—both the house and the senate—Johnson won a seat in the U.S. House in 1992 during the historic “Year of the Woman” election that effectively doubled the number of women in Congress.

As a Representative, Johnson served on two committees—Transportation and Infrastructure and Science, Space, and Technology. In her oral history, she recounts how her Transportation subcommittee chairmanship afforded her the opportunity to curb recurring flooding in her district. Much of Johnson’s legislative focus came as a member of the House Science Committee where she rose through the ranks to become the committee’s first woman and the first African-American chairperson. Johnson describes how her nursing background influenced her leadership style, approach to public policy, and her interactions with congressional colleagues. She also explains how the shared experiences of African-American Representatives created a bond among the members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) that strengthened their resolve to promote racial equality across the country. Johnson provides details on her work in the CBC, including her time as chair of the organization during the 107th Congress (2001–2003), and offers examples of how Black Members helped her achieve legislative goals in her district with a sophisticated support network.