[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 118 (Monday, July 23, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H8237-H8241]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      MOURNING THE PASSING OF FORMER FIRST LADY, LADY BIRD JOHNSON

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 553) mourning the passing of 
former First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson, and celebrating her life and 
contributions to the people of the United States.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 553

       Whereas Lady Bird Johnson was born Claudia Alta Taylor in 
     Karnack, Texas on December 22, 1912, the daughter of Minnie 
     Pattillo Taylor and Thomas Jefferson Taylor;
       Whereas Lady Bird Johnson received her nickname ``Lady 
     Bird'' from a nurse who thought she was as ``purty as a lady 
     bird'';
       Whereas Lady Bird Johnson was known for her academic 
     accomplishments, graduating from high school at 15 years of 
     age and graduating from the University of Texas in Austin in 
     1933 as one of the top 10 students in her class;
       Whereas Lady Bird Johnson married President Lyndon Baines 
     Johnson on November 17, 1934;
       Whereas Lady Bird Johnson was a dedicated wife to President 
     Johnson and a devoted mother to their two daughters, Lynda 
     Bird Johnson and Luci Baines Johnson;
       Whereas Lady Bird Johnson served with honor and dedication 
     as the wife of President Johnson throughout his service as a 
     congressional secretary, United States Representative, United 
     States Senator, Vice President of the United States, and 
     President of the United States;
       Whereas Lady Bird Johnson was known for expanding the 
     position of First Lady by taking a visible role in President 
     Johnson's administration;
       Whereas Lady Bird Johnson served as President Johnson's 
     personal adviser throughout his career, and was a champion of 
     civil rights and programs for children and the poor, 
     including the educational Head Start programs;
       Whereas Lady Bird Johnson was known for her passion for 
     environmental causes and the preservation of native plants 
     and wildflowers;
       Whereas Lady Bird Johnson paved the way for the 
     environmental movement of the 1970s through her efforts to 
     replace urban blight with flowers and trees;
       Whereas Lady Bird Johnson established the capital 
     beautification project and played a major role in the passage 
     of the 1965 Highway Beautification Act, which was the first 
     major legislative campaign initiated by a First Lady;
       Whereas Lady Bird Johnson and President Johnson retired to 
     their ranch located near Austin, Texas following the 
     completion of President Johnson's term as President;
       Whereas Lady Bird Johnson continued her dedication to 
     education through her service on the Board of Regents for the 
     University of Texas and through her work planning the Lyndon 
     B. Johnson Library and Museum at the University of Texas in 
     Austin;
       Whereas Lady Bird Johnson was awarded the Medal of Freedom 
     in 1977 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 1988;
       Whereas Lady Bird Johnson co-founded the Lady Bird Johnson 
     Wildflower Center in 1982 in order to protect and preserve 
     North America's native plants and natural landscapes;
       Whereas Lady Bird Johnson leaves behind an honorable legacy 
     that represents her gentle nature and strong spirit though 
     her dedication to her family and her passion for the 
     environment; and
       Whereas Lady Bird Johnson died on July 11, 2007, at 94 
     years of age at her home in Austin, Texas, and was survived 
     by her 2 daughters, 7 grandchildren, and 10 great-
     grandchildren: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives mourns the 
     passing of former First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson, and 
     celebrates her life and contributions to the people of the 
     United States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) each 
will control 20 minutes.

[[Page H8238]]

  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, I'm pleased to join my colleague in the consideration of H. 
Res. 553, a bill that mourns the passing of former First Lady, Lady 
Bird Johnson, and celebrates her life contributions and achievements.
  H. Res. 553, which has 58 cosponsors, was introduced by 
Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson on July 17, 2007. H. Res. 553 was 
reported from the Oversight Committee on June 19, 2007, by a voice 
vote.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague and Representative Eddie Bernice 
Johnson for seeking to honor the former First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson, 
and celebrating her life contributions to the people of the United 
States.
  I urge swift passage of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, it is certainly a pleasure to honor a remarkable First 
Lady and great conservationist, Lady Bird Johnson. And it is with much 
sadness that the House continues to note her recent passing.
  Born in 1912 in Karnack, Texas, in an era when women were not 
expected to accomplish great things, Mrs. Johnson came to represent 
strength of character that was the hallmark of her life.
  After graduating from the University of Texas in 1933, she married 
Lyndon Baines Johnson. Mrs. Johnson became the mother of two daughters, 
certainly her most important work, Lynda Bird and Luci Baines Johnson. 
She spent the next few decades raising her children and supporting her 
husband in his political career, which, of course, led him to the 
Presidency. She was a trusting sounding board for her husband through 
all his years in the House and Senate and in the White House.
  Mrs. Johnson led a nationwide effort to call attention to the beauty 
and the goal of highlighting historical sites and highways by planting 
flowering plants and wildflowers. While First Lady, she visited 
numerous public sites and scenic areas, thus bringing local and 
national attention to her beautification and conservation initiatives.
  As we all have seen each spring in Washington, Mrs. Johnson has left 
a lasting legacy for all American and foreign visitors to this great 
city, who can now see incredible numbers of flowers throughout the 
area. She not only helped beautify Washington, but was also responsible 
for the 1965 Highway Beautification Act, calling for control of outdoor 
advertising, as well as the clean-up of junkyards along the national 
highways.
  It is partly because of her efforts that we now have the Surface 
Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act of 1987, requiring 
at least one-quarter of 1 percent of funds expended for landscaping 
projects in the highway system to be used to plant native flowers, 
plants and trees.
  After leaving Washington, Mrs. Johnson enthusiastically continued her 
conservation efforts throughout her beloved home State of Texas right 
up until the date of her death on July 11, 2007.
  I urge my colleagues to please join me in honoring this great woman 
of Texas and First Lady of the United States, Lady Bird Johnson, for 
her untiring efforts in educating a Nation on the benefits of 
conservation and beautification throughout her lifetime.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes 
to the author and sponsor of this resolution, the gentlewoman from 
Texas, Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, let me thank these 
two distinguished gentlemen on the floor, Mr. Davis of Illinois and Mr. 
Duncan of Tennessee, for helping us with this today.
  I rise today to honor the life and accomplishments of Lady Bird 
Johnson. I would like to thank my colleagues Mr. Hall, Mr. Barton and 
Mr. Ortiz for their sponsorship, and the entire Texas delegation for 
joining me in sponsoring and honoring Mrs. Johnson.
  Mrs. Johnson was known as a woman of class and integrity. She was 
strong in spirit and always represented herself with dignity and grace.
  For decades Lady Bird Johnson served with honor and dedication as the 
wife of President Lyndon Baines Johnson, throughout his service as a 
staffer to Representative Kleberg, as he served in the U.S. House of 
Representatives, as a U.S. Senator, as Vice President, and as President 
of the United States. She served as President Johnson's personal 
adviser throughout his career and was known for expanding the position 
of the First Lady by taking a visible role in President Johnson's 
administration.
  Lady Bird Johnson dedicated much of her life to the preservation of 
our environment. Perhaps she could be considered the first 
environmentalist in this era. This passion led her to create the 
Capital Beautification Project to improve physical conditions in 
Washington, DC, both for residents and tourists. Her efforts inspired 
similar programs throughout the country. She also played a major role 
in the passage of the 1965 Highway Beautification Act. This was the 
first legislative campaign begun by a First Lady. The trees and flowers 
we see along our American highways today are a testament to her work 
and her dedication.
  After leaving Washington, President and Mrs. Johnson moved back to 
Austin, Texas, where Mrs. Johnson continued to work for environmental 
causes. And that is, perhaps, the most environmentally sensitive city 
in Texas right now. Today we can all admire her legacy through the Lady 
Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas.
  Mrs. Johnson died on July 11, 2007, at the age of 94 at her home in 
Austin, and was survived by her two daughters, seven grandchildren, and 
10 great-grandchildren.
  I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the Johnson family. 
I urge my colleagues to support this resolution to honor Lady Bird 
Johnson's incredible life and legacy.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I know that Representative Gene 
Green had intended to be here. Unfortunately, he hasn't been able to 
make it yet.
  It is my pleasure to yield 1 minute to Representative Chet Edwards 
from the 17th District of Texas.
  Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, Lady Bird Johnson was a true Texas 
treasure. She graced the Lone Star State, our Nation, and the world 
with her beauty and grace.
  While she is no longer with us, the masterpiece of her vision can be 
seen along the highways and byways of America. Lady Bird's wildflowers 
symbolize her life, a quiet, enduring beauty that will enrich our lives 
for generations to come. With our highways as her canvas, she painted 
with a brush of God's hand a landscape that brings peace to us in our 
day-to-day lives.
  The beauty of Lady Bird Johnson's vision did not stop with the 
highways and parks of our Nation, for she also envisioned a world not 
blighted by the ugliness of poverty and discrimination. As a partner to 
the President who fought for a great society, she helped make ours a 
better society. For that we are all her beneficiaries. I thank God for 
the life and spirit of Lady Bird Johnson.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 2 
minutes to Lady Bird Johnson's Representative, the gentleman from 
Texas, Representative Lloyd Doggett.
  Mr. DOGGETT. With heavy hearts, the thousands of Texans who 
participated in memorials to Lady Bird Johnson, especially those who 
filled the streets of Austin, Dripping Springs and Johnson City, attest 
to our affection and respect for her compassion, warmth and leadership. 
And with unusually heavy rainfall this year, Texas is literally alive 
with her legacy, the beautiful wildflowers along our roadways, and 
filling the photo albums and scrapbooks with children smiling in a bed 
of bluebonnets or Indian paintbrush for one family after another.

[[Page H8239]]

  She knew a better America was one that gives all of its citizens an 
opportunity to succeed. And with the reauthorization this year of Head 
Start, more young Americans can access quality early education, 
ensuring that no child starts behind.
  When my predecessor, Representative Jake Pickle, spoke on this floor 
after the death of President Johnson, he said that Mrs. Johnson was her 
husband's ``wisest adviser'', and that her daughters, Lynda Bird and 
Luci, had brought ``so much credit to their family and to our 
country.''
  Of her many gifts, perhaps her most meaningful legacy is her spirit 
of giving that lives on in her children and grandchildren. In Austin, 
her daughter Lucy and her grandchildren, Catherine Robb and Nicole 
Covert, among others, give their time, support and leadership to causes 
such as SafePlace, Seton, the University of Texas, and the Children's 
Medical Center Foundation.
  Mrs. Johnson promoted native species. They have strong roots and 
improve and beautify our land. The same, and more, can be said of the 
human legacy that she leaves.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, let me just close by saying it has been a 
privilege for me to handle this resolution on our side.
  I know that most of us heard and read and saw some of the beautiful 
and moving tributes that were made to Mrs. Johnson in her funeral 
ceremony just a few days ago, especially the tributes from her 
daughters. And so I think this is a very fitting and appropriate 
resolution. I commend my good friend, the gentlewoman from Texas, Ms. 
Johnson, for bringing this resolution to the floor, and also my friend 
Mr. Davis.
  I urge passage of this resolution.
  And Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1630

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 2 
minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez).
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I want to personally thank both the 
gentleman from Tennessee and the gentleman from Illinois, Chairman 
Davis, for allowing me this opportunity. I also want to take this 
opportunity to thank the Honorable Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson 
for bringing forth this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Claudia Taylor ``Lady Bird'' 
Johnson. Mrs. Lady Bird Johnson was a woman of incredible caliber, a 
woman whose contributions of admirable causes have bettered not only 
Texas, but the entire Nation as a whole.
  She redefined what it meant to be a First Lady. Along with 
championing the environment, Lady Bird Johnson was a confidante to her 
husband, Lyndon Baines Johnson, and was invaluable to his efforts, 
improving not only health care but education. She, like no one else, 
understood the importance of early intervention when it came to 
education. Her efforts in Head Start to this day are there to show that 
Head Start has been a program that reaches out to these poor 
youngsters. Head Start has also proven that those youngsters that 
participate in Head Start are less likely to drop out than those that 
don't. She understood that from the very beginning.
  Lady Bird Johnson knew and had that Texas charm and wit. Her passion 
for the environment has left a lasting mark on America. Thanks to her 
tenacious effort in initiating beautification projects, the Nation's 
highways are more pleasant to drive on and the Nation's Capital is a 
lovelier sight. The city of San Antonio, where Lady Bird married 
President Johnson, has also benefited from the First Lady's efforts.
  Her highway beautification projects had a lasting impact not only in 
San Antonio, but throughout Texas. The Texas Department of 
Transportation says Lady Bird Johnson's Highway Beautification Act that 
became law in 1965 annually dispenses over 5.6 billion wildflower seeds 
of some 30 varieties, including our State flower, the bluebonnet. Lady 
Bird devoted much of her later life to beautifying her home and the 
State of Texas with admirable work.
  With eternal gratitude from all of us, I ask you to join me today in 
remembering the magnificent work Lady Bird Johnson has done for all of 
us. I want to thank her for what she has done for all of us.
  Let me just say that every spring as we go along the highways and as 
the flowers bloom, we will remember her for what she has done for all 
of us. She now rests near the Pedernales River in Texas. Her legacy 
will forever be with us.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 2 
minutes to another son of Texas, the chairman of the Intelligence 
Committee, the Honorable Silvestre Reyes.
  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to add my condolences to Lady Bird's family and 
tell everyone that while she will be missed, her legacy lives on in 
Texas.
  I think her contribution to Texas gives us a unique insight into who 
the former First Lady was; a person who used her gifts, her position, 
her talents and her status to expand the world for everyday people, to 
make the world better for the inner city residents of D.C., and for the 
public that was traveling along the interstates of our great country, 
and, of course, for Texas.
  She had vision and gave people a reason to be proud of their 
surroundings, to take ownership of their neighborhoods and communities, 
and to make them better places to live. This is meaningful and 
important on so many different levels for all of us that are Texans. In 
doing this, she was ahead of her time. She helped bring the cause of 
conservation to the forefront and drew our Nation's attention to the 
importance of creating and nurturing beauty.
  I am honored and privileged that I met Mrs. Johnson many years ago 
when I was a college student at the University of Texas at Austin. I am 
proud of the legacy that she created and that she leaves with all of 
us. May she rest in peace among the hills, the streams, and especially 
the flowers that she so loved in Texas.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I simply want to thank the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) for his participation in 
processing this legislation. I want to thank all of the Members from 
Texas who spoke.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this resolution.
  Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today, we honor the memory and 
celebrate the life of former First Lady, Claudia Taylor (Lady Bird) 
Johnson, and the contributions she has given to the people of a country 
she so dearly loved. I had the privilege of knowing Lady Bird through 
the White House Fellows program and as anyone who knew her as an 
individual would agree, she was a person of grace, charm, and an 
absolute delight to know. As a native Texan, a wife, a mother, a 
businesswoman, and First Lady, she emitted beauty through her presence 
and through her actions leaving a legacy that will not soon be 
forgotten.
  Lady Bird met Lyndon Baines Johnson in 1934 and in seven short 
months, had captured his heart as he asked for her hand in marriage. 
Mrs. Johnson stood by her husband and supported his endeavors with a 
perseverance and tenacity that one rarely finds. When LBJ volunteered 
for naval service during World War II, Lady Bird stepped in and kept 
his congressional office running and except for voting, served the need 
of every constituent. She again came to the rescue in 1955 helping 
staff keep things under control when her husband suffered a severe 
heart attack while serving as Senate Majority Leader. The former 
President once remarked that voters ``would happily have elected her 
over me.''
  In 1960 Mrs. Johnson traveled over thirty-five thousand miles of 
campaign trail as she pushed LBJ towards a successful bid for the Vice-
Presidency. During this tenure, she visited thirty-three foreign 
countries as an ambassador of goodwill. Lady Bird again stood by and 
supported her husband as he became the thirty-sixth President of the 
United States and helped console the hearts and minds of an entire 
country as they mourned the loss of President John F. Kennedy.
  As First Lady, Mrs. Johnson was highly involved in the President's 
initiatives supporting education and working to alleviate poverty. 
Under her own ambition, she created a First Lady's Committee for a More 
Beautiful Capital which later expanded to include an entire nation. 
Lady Bird was also the inspiration behind the Beautification Act of 
1965 which transformed the landscape of our national highways. Never 
tiring in her life's work, at the age of 70, Mrs. Johnson founded the 
National Wildflower Research Center which is dedicated to the 
preservation and re-establishment of native plants in natural and 
planned landscapes.

[[Page H8240]]

  Lady Bird Johnson should be remembered by all as a person with 
elegance, grace and a tireless work ethic. She dedicated her life in 
service to others and gave so much of herself in support of her 
husband, family, and country. Today, as we celebrate the life of Lady 
Bird Johnson, we honor her contributions to the people of the United 
States and recognize that we have lost a great American that will be 
dearly missed.
  Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, when Texans think of their home state, and 
frankly non-Texans do as well, a few key symbols come to mind. There is 
the instantly recognizable outline of Texas, along with the Lone Star, 
the Alamo, cowboy hats, barbecue, and so many other great traditions 
and institutions. Among them is the Texas state flower, the bluebonnet. 
The bright blue bloom of that flower throughout the roads and lands of 
southeast Texas is instantly recognizable. The reason why, of course, 
is that Lady Bird Johnson led the beautification movement to protect 
and grow our state flower, setting a fine example of state pride for 
all Texans. We Texans feel the loss of the former First Lady when we 
think of this symbol, but as future flowers bloom, so too will her 
memory live on for our great nation.
  Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 553, to 
pay special tribute to Lady Bird Johnson. I am proud to recognize the 
accomplishments of a fellow Texan and a true Renaissance woman.
  For much of her life, Lady Bird Johnson acted as the graceful wife of 
a congressional secretary, U.S. Representative, Senator, Vice President 
and President. She devoted herself to her husband's political campaigns 
and lived in the public eye throughout the turbulent 1960s and Vietnam 
War Era.
  But, Lady Bird Johnson was also a scholar, a writer, a politician, 
and an advocate for education issues. At the University of Texas in 
Austin she studied journalism and qualified as a public school teacher. 
Later in life, she wrote A White House Diary and served as a University 
of Texas regent.
  Lady Bird demonstrated her remarkable talents for public speaking 
while on the campaign trail through Southern states, where, as a 
product of an East Texas town steeped in traditional southern values, 
she was an invaluable spokesperson for the 1960 Kennedy-Johnson 
Presidential ticket.
  While her husband served as President, Lady Bird Johnson acted as 
honorary chairwoman of the national Head Start program. As my 
colleagues may note, I am a strong proponent of the Head Start program, 
which can make immense differences in the lives of underprivileged pre-
school children by preparing them to enter elementary school on a par 
with their peers. Thus, I celebrate Lady Bird's contributions to this 
invaluable program.
  During this time, Lady Bird Johnson has also been credited with 
holding luncheons spotlighting women of assorted careers. As a strong 
supporter of women's rights and pay equality, I believe that her 
efforts to applaud young women's advancements into traditionally-male-
dominated careers have had a profound effect on women's equality in 
general.
  Lady Bird was also an adept businesswoman who purchased a small radio 
station in 1942 in Austin and built a multimillion-dollar radio 
corporation. In today's society, young women interested in business and 
the telecommunications industries may look to Lady Bird Johnson as a 
trailblazer and a success story.
  While Lady Bird's conservation work in our Nation's Capital is 
widely-known, Lady Bird's efforts to beautify our great State of Texas 
should also be applauded. In 1969, she founded the Texas Highway 
Beautification Awards, and hosted 20 annual awards ceremonies, where 
she presented personal checks to the winners. And, on her 70th 
birthday, she founded the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, to which 
she donated acres of her own land.
  Lady Bird has indeed left her mark upon Texas, as the namesake of a 
golf course, a municipal park, a walking trail, and a street.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join my colleagues in support of H. Res. 
553, celebrating the life of Lady Bird Johnson. She was a remarkable 
First Lady, businesswoman, environmental advocate, and trailblazer of 
women's rights. She has left a grand legacy of strength of character 
and service upon Texas and upon the entire nation.
  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, the death of Lady Bird Johnson was a sad day 
for the country. It was also a sad day for my district, and for me 
personally.
  Mrs. Johnson also played a key role in drawing my father, California 
State Senator Fred Farr, to Washington. She successfully lobbied for 
his appointment as the Federal Highway Administration's first Highway 
Beautification Coordinator, wisely drawing his energy and insights to 
Washington.
  Lady Bird was a fervent supporter of so many of the values my 
constituents and I hold dear. She was a lifelong supporter of the 
environment, an advocate for preserving the special places in 
communities around the country. Lady Bird visited California's Central 
Coast in 1966, where she dedicated Highway 1--now known to all as the 
Big Sur Coast Highway--as the first scenic route in the state. She even 
helped plant a redwood tree near Monterey's historic Colton Hall.
  Mrs. Johnson was a passionate environmentalist. She argued against 
the blight of roadside billboards, instead calling for more trees and 
her beloved wildflowers. And many of the beautification projects that 
make Washington a gorgeous capital city were the product of Mrs. 
Johnson and my father. She was responsible for raising hundreds of 
thousands of dollars for the city's streets.
  Mrs. Johnson's beautification projects and scenic designation 
programs were so important to drawing attention to areas that deserve 
protection. I encourage all of our communities to continue her work. We 
need more people like Mrs. Johnson in the world, more people who 
appreciate the beauty that is around us and who strive to preserve it.
  Mr. BOSWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 
553 recognizing the passing of Lady Bird Johnson and her contributions 
to the United States.
  Lady Bird Johnson, the wife of the late President Lyndon B. Johnson, 
passed away last week at the age of 94. We will remember this former 
First Lady as a woman deeply committed to her husband and his 
presidency, as well as a calm and elegant figure during a tumultuous 
time in American history.
  Lady Bird took an active role during her husband's time in the White 
House. Before environmentalism was a part of American political life, 
she lobbied Congress to clean up the landscape of the United States. 
Through her efforts, the National Highway Beautification Act and the 
Clean Air Act became law and the Nation's Capital received a much-
needed makeover to its landscape. After she left the White House, she 
founded the National Wildflower Research Center in Austin, Texas, which 
was later named in her honor. The center continues Lady Bird's efforts 
to preserve this country's natural landscape and beauty.
  Lady Bird also influenced many other policies and initiatives during 
the Johnson administration, including the War on Poverty, Head Start, 
and the landmark 1964 Civil Rights Act. She was awarded the 
Presidential Medal of Freedom by Gerald Ford in 1977 for her efforts 
both in and out of the White House. Through her numerous 
accomplishments, we will continue to remember her as a wife, mother, 
and passionate and dedicated American. While it is with sadness that I 
mark the passing of this wonderful individual, I am proud to be able to 
commemorate her incredible contributions to our nation.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H. Res. 553, which puts the House of Representatives on record in 
mourning the passing of Lady Bird Johnson, the former First Lady of the 
United States. Claudia Alta ``Lady Bird'' Taylor Johnson was the wife 
of U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson. Throughout her life, she was an 
advocate for beautification of the nation's cities and highways and 
conservation of natural resources. The former First Lady was a 
recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional 
Gold Medal.
  Lady Bird Johnson studied journalism and art at St. Mary's Episcopal 
School for Girls, a junior college in Dallas. She graduated with honors 
from the University of Texas with a Bachelor's degree in Arts in 1933 
and a degree in Journalism in 1934--a time when women were hard pressed 
to have a career of their own, let alone a college education. Her goal 
was to become a reporter but her media career was deferred when a 
friend in Austin introduced her to Lyndon Baines Johnson, a young up-
and-coming political hopeful.
  On their first date, which was breakfast the next morning at the 
Driskill Hotel and a long drive in the country, Lyndon Johnson 
proposed. Lady Bird did not want to rush into marriage, but Lyndon 
Johnson was persistent and did not want to wait. The couple married on 
November 17, 1934, at Saint Mark's Episcopal Church in San Antonio, 
Texas.
  Three years later, when Lyndon decided to run for Congress from 
Texas' 10th district in the Hill Country, Lady Bird provided the money 
to launch his campaign. She took $10,000 of her inheritance from her 
mother's estate to help start his political career. They had two 
daughters, Lynda (born in 1944), whose husband Charles S. Robb went on 
to become governor of Virginia and a U.S. Senator, and Luci (born in 
1947), who married, firstly, Pat Nugent and, secondly, Ian Turpin.
  As First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson started a capital beautification 
project (Society for a More Beautiful National Capital) to improve 
physical conditions in Washington, D.C., both for residents and 
tourists. Her efforts inspired similar programs throughout the country. 
She was also instrumental in promoting the Highway Beautification Act, 
which sought to beautify the nation's highway system by limiting 
billboards and by planting roadside areas. She

[[Page H8241]]

was also an advocate of the Head Start program.
  Johnson's press secretary from 1963-1969 was Liz Carpenter, a fellow 
University of Texas alumna. Carpenter was the first professional 
newswoman to be press secretary to a First Lady, and she also served as 
Lady Bird's staff director.
  In 1970, A White House Diary, Lady Bird Johnson's intimate, behind-
the-scenes account of Lyndon Johnson's presidency from November 22, 
1963 to January 20, 1969, was published. Beginning with the tragic 
assassination of John F. Kennedy, Mrs. Johnson recorded the momentous 
events of ber times, including the Great Society's War on Poverty, the 
national civil rights and social protest movements, her own activism on 
behalf of the environment, and the Vietnam War. Indeed, Lady Bird 
Johnson and her husband were champions of civil rights and were 
instrumental in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the 
Voting Rights Act of 1965. I know that her comforting words and her 
encouragement were part of the decision making of President Johnson as 
he made some critical decisions during some difficult times regarding 
the civil rights of individuals who had been discriminated against for 
most of the history of this country. Long out of print, the paperback 
edition of A White House Diary will be available again through the 
University of Texas Press in Fall 2007.

  She was acquainted with a long span of fellow First Ladies, from 
Eleanor Roosevelt to Laura Bush, and was protected by the United States 
Secret Service for forty-four years, longer than anyone else in 
history.
  Lady Bird Johnson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by 
Gerald Ford on January 10, 1977. The citation for her medal read:
  ``One of America's great First Ladies, she claimed her own place in 
the hearts and history of the American people. In councils of power or 
in homes of the poor, she made government human with her unique 
compassion and her grace, warmth and wisdom. Her leadership transformed 
the American landscape and preserved its natural beauty as a national 
treasure.''
  Johnson then received the Congressional Gold Medal on May 8, 1984. In 
addition to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, her name has been 
lent to the Lady Bird Johnson Park on Columbia Island in Washington, 
D.C., which was founded as a result of her efforts as First Lady to 
beautify the capital.
  After former President Johnson died in 1973, Lady Bird Johnson 
remained in the public eye, honoring her husband and other Presidents. 
In the 1970s, she focused her attention on the Austin riverfront area 
through her involvement in the Town Lake Beautification Project. From 
1971 to 1978, Johnson served on the board of regents for the University 
of Texas System.
  On December 22, 1982 (her 70th birthday), she and actress Helen Hayes 
founded the National Wildflower Research Center, a nonprofit 
organization devoted to preserving and reintroducing native plants in 
planned landscapes, located east of Austin, Texas. The Center opened a 
new facility southwest of Austin on La Crosse Avenue in 1994. It was 
officially renamed The Lady Bird Johnson Wildtlower Center in 1998. On 
June 20, 2006, The University of Texas at Austin announced plans to 
incorporate the 279 acre Wildflower Center into the University.
  For twenty years Lady Bird Johnson spent her summers on the island of 
Martha's Vineyard renting the home of Charles Guggeinheim for many of 
those years. She said she had greatly appreciated the island's natural 
beauty and flowers.
  On October 13, 2006, Lady Bird Johnson made a rare public appearance 
at the renovation announcement of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and 
Museum. Sitting in a wheelchair and showing signs of recent health 
problems, Lady Bird seemed engaged and alert, and clapped along with 
those present at the ceremony.
  Mr. Speaker, in the last year the state of Texas has lost several of 
its greatest sons and daughters: Governor Ann Richards; Senator and 
Treasury Secretary Lloyd Bentsen; columnist and progressive icon Molly 
Ivins; and now Lady Bird Johnson.
  The Lone Star State mourns the loss of our favorite daughter and it 
will be grieving for some time. But the memory of Lady Bird Johnson 
will never be forgotten so long as the flowers bloom in the capital 
city of our nation and along the highways and byways of the several 
states, especially her beloved Texas.
  I strongly support H. Res. 553 and urge my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of our 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 553.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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