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Washington, DC - Congressman Gene Green (D-Houston) held a press conference to announce the introduction of a bi-partisan legislation calling for the naming of the Department of Education headquarters building in Washington, D.C. the “Lyndon Baines Johnson Federal Building” today, November 8th, on the 40th Anniversary of President Johnson signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
Congressman Gene Green and co-sponsor House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton (R-Ennis) were joined at the press conference by Ambassador James R. Jones, and other former members of the Johnson Administration.
“Today is the 40th anniversary of President Johnson’s signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965,” said Congressman Gene Green. “This bill began the federal student loan program and helped millions of smart, hardworking Americans who lacked the means for higher education to attend college.”
“President Johnson was the first President from Texas and was elected with the highest popular vote margin in history,” continued Congressman Gene Green.
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 Center and the Central Intelligence Agency buildings, reflecting their priorities and contributions.”
“Lyndon 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.” concluded Congressman Gene Green. The building, located at 400 Maryland Ave. SW does not currently have a name.
President Lyndon Baines Johnson’s career in education began when he went to Southwest Texas State Teachers College in San Marcos. He earned money as a janitor and taught 5th, 6th, and 7th grades at a Mexican-American school in the south Texas town of Cotulla. He later taught at Sam Houston High School in Houston in my district.”
“President Johnson went on to sign into law over sixty education bills, including the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964,” said Congressman Gene Green. “Which established the Head Start program, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, and the Higher Education Act of 1965?”
These education priorities are 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.
Congressman Gene Green’s bill has twenty Texas co-sponsors, nearly two-thirds of the delegation, including nine Republicans and eleven Democrats.
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