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In Congress, Willis sought to secure subsidies for [[sugar]] planters. He successfully sponsored legislation to obtain federal funds for the protective levee in the Morganza Spillway in Pointe Coupee Parish. With his colleagues, he fought for federal royalty payments to the State of Louisiana from tidelands [[petroleum]] revenues.<ref name=dict/>

In Congress, Willis sought to secure subsidies for [[sugar]] planters. He successfully sponsored legislation to obtain federal funds for the protective levee in the Morganza Spillway in Pointe Coupee Parish. With his colleagues, he fought for federal royalty payments to the State of Louisiana from tidelands [[petroleum]] revenues.<ref name=dict/>

In 1966, though he had suffered a series of strokes, Willis still defeated Lafayette oilman [[Hall M. Lyons|Hall McCord Lyons]], one of the two sons of then Republican state chairman and former [[Governor|gubernatorial]] nominee [[Charlton Lyons|Charlton Havard Lyons, Sr.]], of [[Shreveport]]. Willis received 46,533 votes (59.7 percent) to Lyons' 31,444 (40.3 percent). Lyons, who ran on a staunchly [[conservative]] platform, carried Iberia Parish with 51.4 percent of the vote and received 46 percent in [[Lafayette|Lafayette Parish]]. Hall Lyons later left the Republican Party and was the American Independent Party nominee for the U.S. Senate in 1972. In retrospect, 1966 was a warning to Willis about his electoral future.

In 1966, though he had suffered a series of strokes, Willis still defeated Lafayette oilman [[Hall M. Lyons|Hall McCord Lyons]], one of the two sons of then Republican state chairman and former [[Governor|gubernatorial]] nominee [[Charlton Lyons|Charlton Havard Lyons, Sr.]], of [[Shreveport]]. Willis received 46,533 votes (59.7 percent) to Lyons' 31,444 (40.3 percent).<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=150043 LA District 3 Race - Nov 08, 1966]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 18, 2021.</ref> Lyons, who ran on a staunchly [[conservative]] platform, carried Iberia Parish with 51.4 percent of the vote and received 46 percent in [[Lafayette|Lafayette Parish]]. Hall Lyons later left the Republican Party and was the American Independent Party nominee for the U.S. Senate in 1972. In retrospect, 1966 was a warning to Willis about his electoral future.

Willis supported [[U.S. President]] [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] and [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Hubert Humphrey]] in the 1964 and 1968, but his state

Willis supported [[U.S. President]] [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] and [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Hubert Humphrey]] in the 1964 and 1968, but his states [[electoral vote]]s were cast for [[Barry Goldwater]] and [[George Wallace]], respectively. Willis compiled a generally [[liberal]] voting record in Congress according to Louisiana standards at the time, including his votes for the Food Stamp Act<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/88-1964/h149 H.R. 10222. PASSAGE.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved August 18, 2021.</ref> and Economic Opportunity Act in 1964,<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/88-1964/h201 S. 2642. PASSAGE OF THE ANTI-POVERTY BILL WHICH INCORPORATED THE TEXT OF H.R. 11377.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved August 18, 2021.</ref> both key components of the [[Great Society]]. In 1968, he was denied re-nomination by a more [[conservative Democrat]], Patrick Thomson "Pat" Caffery, Sr. (1932–2013).<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=385902 La District 3 - D Runoff Race - Sep 28, 1968]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 18, 2021.</ref> Willis' health problems may have contributed to his defeat. Caffery won the [[general election]] and held the seat until January 1973, when he was succeeded by Republican leader [[David C. Treen]] of [[suburb]]an Jefferson Parish. Caffery did not seek a third term in the House in 1972.

s [[electoral vote]]s were cast for [[Barry Goldwater]] and [[George Wallace]], respectively. Willis compiled a generally [[liberal]] voting record in Congress according to Louisiana standards at the time, including his votes for the Food Stamp Act<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/88-1964/h149 H.R. 10222. PASSAGE.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved August 18, 2021.</ref> and Economic Opportunity Act in 1964,<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/88-1964/h201 S. 2642. PASSAGE OF THE ANTI-POVERTY BILL WHICH INCORPORATED THE TEXT OF H.R. 11377.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved August 18, 2021.</ref> both key components of the [[Great Society]]. In 1968, he was denied re-nomination by a more conservative Democrat, Patrick Thomson "Pat" Caffery, Sr. (1932–2013). Willis' health problems may have contributed to his defeat. Caffery won the [[general election]] and held the seat until January 1973, when he was succeeded by Republican leader [[David C. Treen]] of [[suburb]]an Jefferson Parish. Caffery did not seek a third term in the House in 1972.

Edwin Willis died in St. Martinville and is interred there with his wife in St. Michael's Cemetery, which is owned by the St. Martin de Tours [[Catholic Church]].

Edwin Willis died in St. Martinville and is interred there with his wife in St. Michael's Cemetery, which is owned by the St. Martin de Tours [[Catholic Church]].<ref name=bioguide/>

<ref name=bioguide/>

(Coincidence of names: Edwin Edward Willis died the same year that a Louisiana legend became governor: [[Edwin Edwards]]. They were unrelated, but each had supported the other politically over the years.)

(Coincidence of names: Edwin Edward Willis died the same year that a Louisiana legend became governor: [[Edwin Edwards]]. They were unrelated, but each had supported the other politically over the years.)