DALLAS — President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris issued statements Sunday on the passing of Eddie Bernice Johnson, the trailblazing Dallas legislator who represented North Texas in Congress for the last 30 years.
Johnson died at 89 years old, her family confirmed in a social media post Sunday morning.
Biden in a statement Sunday praised Johnson's "unwavering dedication to the people of North Texas."
"She and I worked together throughout her 30 years in Congress, and I’ve always been grateful for her friendship and partnership," Biden said.
Harris in a statement called Johnson, the first Black woman from to ever be elected to public office, "a visionary, a pioneer, and a fighter."
"Throughout her long career in public service, she was always clear-eyed about what she was fighting for: the right of every person in Dallas and across the country to live free from discrimination and to have the opportunity to live up to their full potential," Harris said.
Johnson was elected to represent Texas' 30th District in the House of Representatives in 1992. She would hold that seat for 30 years -- winning election 15 times -- before retiring from her post, as promised, in January 2023.
Prior to serving in Congress, Johnson also served three terms in the Texas Senate, where she represented Dallas County and the 23rd District from 1987 until she took national office in 1993.
Before moving to the Texas Senate, Johnson served as a member of the Texas House of Representatives and represented House District 33 from 1973 to 1977.
When she won that seat in 1972, she became the first Black woman ever elected to public office in the City of Dallas' history.
Later, as the leader of that chamber's Labor Committee, she would also become the first woman ever to lead a major Texas House committee.
Here are the full statements from Biden and Harris:
President Joe Biden
Eddie Bernice Johnson was a dedicated nurse, state legislator, and longtime U.S. congresswoman with immense courage and a commitment to the promise of America. She had unwavering dedication to the people of North Texas.
She and I worked together throughout her 30 years in Congress, and I’ve always been grateful for her friendship and partnership.
Eddie Bernice turned a childhood dream to work in medicine into a lifetime of service, fighting to get millions of Americans access to healthcare, education, and opportunity.
Early on, as the chief psychiatric nurse at the Veterans Administration in Dallas, she helped our nation to fulfill its most sacred obligation, to care for the troops we sent into harm’s way when they’re home. And in the Texas statehouse and then over 30 years as the first Black American elected to Congress from Dallas, she fought to expand civil rights, to create jobs, to combat the climate crisis, and much more. Recently, her leadership was crucial in passing our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and CHIPS and Science Act in 2022, creating tens of thousands of good-paying jobs and making sure America leads the industries of the future.
Throughout her life, and as the former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, she was an icon and mentor to generations of public servants, through whom her legacy of resilience and purpose will endure.
Jill and I send our love to her family, including her son Kirk and her grandchildren Kirk Jr, David, and James; to her many friends; and to the people of Texas’ 30th Congressional District, who were so fortunate to have her as their champion for so long.
Vice President Kamala Harris
Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson was a visionary, a pioneer, and a fighter.
At a young age, she witnessed and experienced the profound effects of segregation and decided she would not stay on the sidelines in the fight for justice. She would go on to have a trailblazing career — from becoming the first Black chief psychiatric nurse at the Dallas Veterans Affairs Hospital and the first Black woman elected to public office in Dallas, to serving in the state legislature, becoming the first Black person to represent Dallas in Congress, and making history as the first registered nurse elected to the House of Representatives.
Throughout her long career in public service, she was always clear-eyed about what she was fighting for: the right of every person in Dallas and across the country to live free from discrimination and to have the opportunity to live up to their full potential.
As the first person of color and woman to chair the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, she played an instrumental role in the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act, which is making historic investments in our economy, innovation, and HBCUs.
I had the privilege to serve alongside her in the Congressional Black Caucus and know that so many have benefited from her tireless work, myself included. Her legacy and leadership will be felt for generations to come.
Today, Doug and I are thinking of Congresswoman Johnson, her family, her community, members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and all of those whose lives she impacted.