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Washington, DC-Congressman Gene Green (D-Houston) introduced bipartisan legislation to name the Department of Education headquarters building in Washington, D.C. the “Lyndon Baines Johnson Federal Building”.
Congressman Gene Green was joined by lead co-sponsors House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Joe Barton (R-Ennis), Senior Texas Democratic Congressman Solomon Ortiz (D-Corpus Christi) and Congressman Mike McCaul (R- Austin).
“President Johnson was the first President from Texas and was elected with the highest popular vote margin in history in 1964,” said Congressman Gene Green. “President Johnson’s Administration placed a high national priority on education. There is no more fitting honor for President Johnson, than naming the Department of Education Headquarters building after him.
"President Johnson enacted the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 as part of his War on Poverty. This was the first comprehensive education law that provided funds focused on elementary and secondary schools. Soon after, Johnson enacted the Higher Education Act of 1965. This began the federal student aid program and helped millions of hardworking Americans who lacked the means for higher education to attend college"
"Head Start may be the single most important education program created under Johnson's administration. Head Start recognizes the need to invest in educating pre-school aged children that came from disadvantaged families. Since 1965, Head Start has been instrumental in giving generations of pre-school children in our country the foundation they need to succeed in school."
“LBJ passed away over thirty years ago, but to this day has no federal buildings bearing his name in the Capitol area. Both, Presidents Reagan and Bush have been honored with the International Trade Centers and the Central Intelligence Agency buildings, reflecting their priorities and contributions,” continued Congressman Green.
“Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson’s first priority in life was education, and he was the first ‘Education President,’ so the Department of Education building is a perfect fit.”
The building, located at 400 Maryland Ave. SW does not have a name.
“President Johnson went on to sign into law over sixty education bills, including the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, which established the Head Start program, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, and the Higher Education Act of 1965,” said Congressman Gene Green
Many of these education priorities are today accepted by both political parties, as they were then. The Higher Education Act passed 368 to 22 in the House and 79 to 3 in the Senate—a strong bipartisan vote.
President Johnson and his wife Lady Bird deserve to be honored for his life long commitment to public service.
Cosponsors of the LBJ Department of Education naming bill:
1. Barton, Joe, Texas, 6th
2. Brady, Kevin, Texas, 8th
3. Conaway, K. Michael, Texas, 11th
4. Cuellar, Henry, Texas, 28th
5. Doggett, Lloyd, Texas, 25th
6. Edwards, Chet, Texas, 17th
7. Gonzalez, Charlie A., Texas, 20th
8. Green, Al, Texas, 9th
9. Green, Gene, Texas, 29th
10. Hinojosa, Rubén, Texas, 15th
11. Jackson Lee, Sheila, Texas, 18th
12. Johnson, Eddie Bernice, Texas 30th
13. Marchant, Kenny, Texas, 24th
14. McCaul, Michael T., Texas, 10th
15. Ortiz, Solomon P., Texas, 27th
16. Poe, Ted, Texas, 2nd
17. Reyes, Silvestre, Texas, 16th
18. Oberstar, James, Minnesota, 8th
*Original Cosponsor list as of introduction
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