Eddie Bernice Johnson: Trailblazing former Congresswoman and STEM advocate passes away at 88

WASHINGTON—Retired U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson has died accroding to her family via social media. She passed away at age 88.

From 2001-2003, Congresswoman Johnson served as the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), a powerful voting bloc in the U.S. House. Less than a decade later, in 2010, Congresswoman Johnson became the first African American and ranking female to chair the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.

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Congresswoman Johnson was a powerful advocate of STEM education and impact investments. In 2012, she introduced the Broadening Participation in STEM Education Act, which authorized the National Science Foundation (NSF) to award more grants to increase the number of students from underrepresented minority groups receiving STEM degrees. That bill also expanded the number of faculty members from underrepresented minority groups at colleges and universities. Congresswoman Johnson retired in 2022.

^{— Source/Photos: Family of the late Eddie Bernice Johnson and U.S. House of Representatives}

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