KERA RECEIVES 50th ANNIVERSARY TRIBUTE IN U.S. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
50th Anniversary, General, KERA TV, News Releases July 14, 2011 95FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 14, 2011
Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson Congratulates KERA on Historic Milestone
DALLAS/FORT WORTH – On Monday, July 11, 2011, KERA, the public broadcasting station in North Texas, received a U.S. Congressional Record tribute by Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, U.S. Representative of the 30th Congressional District of Texas. Congresswoman Johnson’s tribute recognized KERA’s 50th anniversary year and honored the organization’s contribution to North Texas.
U.S. Representative Johnson stated, “Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor KERA–TV and Radio, a broadcasting station in Dallas, Texas, for 50 years of quality programming on the air. In the late 1950’s, in my home of North Texas, community leaders, educators and owners of commercial television stations had a vision to build a television station centered around educational issues.” Johnson continued, “Since then, KERA–TV has grown and has evolved to carry a full slate of public television programs and independent productions, including an extensive lineup of weekday programs committed to the intellectual and social development of children.” The Congresswoman concluded her statement, saying, “Mr. Speaker, my community has benefitted immensely from the quality programming of KERA–TV and radio. I congratulate them on 50 years of excellence in public broadcasting.”
The Congressional Record, printed by the Government Printing Office, is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published daily when Congress is in session.
Congresswoman Johnson’s statement is included below, in its entirety. It can also be viewed directly on the U.S. Government’s Printing Office website here.
ABOUT EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON
U. S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is serving her 10th term representing the 30th Congressional District of Texas. In December of 2010, Rep. Johnson was elected as the first African-American and the first female Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. From 2000 to 2002, she was the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Research and Science Education where she emphasized education in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) disciplines. Rep. Johnson is a current member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and has been since being elected in 1992. Congresswoman Johnson is also the highest ranking Texan on this committee. In 2007, Congresswoman Johnson was appointed by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James L. Oberstar (D-MN) to serve as Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment during the 110th and 111th Congresses. The Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment has jurisdiction over water conservation, pollution control, infrastructure, and hazardous waste cleanup. The subcommittee is also responsible for reauthorizing the Clean Water Act. She was the first African-American and first female in Congress to hold the position of Subcommittee Chair. Rep. Johnson also serves on the Aviation Subcommittee, Highways and Transit Subcommittee and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee.
ABOUT KERA
KERA is a not-for-profit public media organization that serves the people of North Texas. The station broadcasts to the fourth-largest population area in the United States. KERA produces original multimedia content, carries the best in national and international public television and radio programs, and provides online resources at www.kera.org. The station’s extensive coverage of the arts can be found at www.artandseek.org. KERA-TV broadcasts on Channel 13.1. KERA WORLD broadcasts on 13.2. KERA-FM broadcasts on 90.1 in Dallas/Fort Worth/Denton, 88.3 in Wichita Falls, 100.1 in Tyler and 99.3 in Sherman. The music station KXT 91.7 FM is also streamed online at www.kxt.org.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor KERA–TV and Radio, a broadcasting station in Dallas, Texas, for 50 years of quality programming on the air. In the late 1950’s, in my home of North Texas, community leaders, educators and owners of commercial television stations had a vision to build a television station centered around educational issues. KERA Channel 13 went on the air in late 1960 with only a few programs intended for teachers and students. Since then, KERA–TV has grown and has evolved to carry a full slate of public television programs and independent productions, including an extensive lineup of weekday programs committed to the intellectual and social development of children. KERA expanded its outreach and founded its public radio station 90.1 (KERA FM) which went on the air in 1974, serving Dallas, Fort Worth and Denton. KERA FM has a news and information format. The station’s own productions include reports and specials from the KERA news staff, Think with Krys Boyd and Anything You Ever Wanted to Know with Jeff Whittington. A second radio station, KKXT 91.7 FM, with a music format, began broadcasting in late 2009 to the greater Dallas, Fort Worth and Denton metropolitan area. This station’s programming is also streamed online at kxt.org. To celebrate its 50th anniversary, KERA–TV will be airing vintage episodes of shows, documentaries and concerts from its archives on select Friday and Sunday nights through the end of 2011. Mr. Speaker, my community has benefitted immensely from the quality programming of KERA–TV and radio. I congratulate them on 50 years of excellence in public broadcasting.
###
CONTACT:
Christopher Wagley
Director, Marketing & Communications
KERA, KXT and Art&Seek
214-740-9377
