[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 120 (Wednesday, July 25, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1616-E1617]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      MOURNING THE PASSING OF FORMER FIRST LADY, LADY BIRD JOHNSON

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 23, 2007

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, the Nation lost a beloved friend and one of 
its most dedicated environmentalists on Wednesday when Lady Bird 
Johnson passed away at the age of 94.

[[Page E1617]]

  Much has been written about how the classy woman from Austin was a 
calming influence on our 37th President, Lyndon B. Johnson. When 
President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, Lady Bird stepped in and 
provided comfort to the Kennedy family and a grieving Nation. When 
civil rights legislation looked to be stalled in the Congress in 1964, 
the devoted mother of two took to the road on her own whistle-stop tour 
across the country, defending the administration's policies and goals.
  However, her most lasting legacy can be seen anytime you see the 
flowers bloom in the Capital or the colorful landscapes as you travel 
the Nation's roads. In addition to leading clean-up efforts of parks 
and natural habitats in and around the DC area, her advocacy helped 
push through the $320 million Highway Beautification Act in 1965. The 
Federal legislation provided money and other incentives to reduce the 
number of billboards and other eyesores along Federal highways and 
expanded local programs to plant wildflowers and other native plants.
  Active well into her 90s, Lady Bird Johnson was a role model for 
future generations. She broke the mold of what a First Lady could do, 
both during and after the White House. Her achievements and efforts 
with the National Wildlife Research Center that she helped establish in 
1982 expanded the Nation's interest in the environment, providing a 
foundation for today's current green movement.
  Her activism and graceful presence will be missed. Yet, her smile and 
charm will always be remembered any time anyone looks at the beautiful 
landscapes and wildflowers that she championed all across this great 
land.

                          ____________________