CONGRESSWOMAN EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON ISSUES STATEMENT ON THE MORATORIUM OF U.S. POSTAL SERVICE CLOSINGS, UNTIL MAY 15

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson announced that there will be a moratorium on the closing or consolidation of post offices or mail processing facilities in North Texas. On Tuesday, fifteen U.S. Senators and the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) issued a moratorium on the closure of thousands of post offices throughout the country until May 15, 2012. The Postal Service would like to cut costs by consolidating about 3,700 post offices, end Saturday service, and eliminate first class overnight mail.

“While I applaud members of the Senate and USPS leadership for reaching this agreement, I do have some longstanding concerns that I have been seeking resolution on since 2009 when the first Area Mail Processing (AMP) feasibility studies were being conducted. In a series of letters to USPS and meetings with the agency’s leadership, I have been very vocal in my opposition to closing or relocating these mailing centers in my congressional district. In an economy where unemployment runs high and social mobility runs low, there could not be a worse time to close thousands of retail branches and put even more hard working Americans out of work,” stated Congresswoman Johnson.



Since 2009, Congresswoman Johnson has been actively fighting to ensure that Dallas residents, as well as the city’s large business community have access to adequate postal services. She understands that the USPS needs to cut costs to stay competitive, but wants to ensure cuts don’t hinder residents or their businesses. Congresswoman Johnson met with thousands of constituents to gather public input on the best approach to keep post offices open. She has also kept in consistent contact with the Postmaster General on a host of issues related to access to services for the 30th Congressional District and North Texas.





Congresswoman Johnson is a co-sponsor of H.R. 1351, the USPS Pension Obligation Recalculation and Restoration Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation to help the USPS recoup nearly $7 billion in overpayments to its pension fund.



Congresswoman Johnson’s statement can be seen below:







Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson

Statement on

USPS Moratorium on Facility Closures

------

December 16, 2011



On Tuesday, December 13, fifteen U.S. Senators in conjunction with Postal Service leadership announced a verbal agreement to halt any post office closures until May 15, 2012. This moratorium is intended to give Congress the time it needs to enact comprehensive postal reform without needlessly restructuring the agency at the cost of tens of thousands of jobs. This announcement comes at a time when USPS faces a projected $14.1 billion loss in fiscal 2012 and is evaluating the possibility of closing up to 3,700 local branches and 252 mail-processing facilities. One such facility and a number of retail branches throughout the 30th District of Texas stand to be affected by these proposed changes.



While I applaud members of the Senate and USPS leadership for reaching this agreement, I do have some longstanding concerns that I have been seeking resolution on since 2009 when the first Area Mail Processing (AMP) feasibility studies were being conducted. In a series of letters to USPS and meetings with the agency’s leadership, I have been very vocal in my opposition to closing or relocating these mailing centers. In an economy where unemployment runs high and social mobility runs low, there could not be a worse time to close thousands of retail branches and put even more hard working Americans out of work.



This agreement to delay the closures is a positive sign that Congress and the USPS are able and willing to come to a viable solution in solving the agency’s financial woes. However, at my behest, we have seen such delays before in the 30th District and yet USPS has still not developed a comprehensive plan to streamline its operations and update the agency’s role in the 21st century. I have requested more transparency and availability for public input from the agency when conducting its feasibility studies, yet that has not happened in my opinion. I have met with USPS leadership to discuss the effects these closures would have on jobs for thousands of Americans, and yet their decisions have not reflected a serious consideration of those concerns.



With this announcement, it remains apparent that the bulk of our work remains. I am eager to work with my colleagues in the Senate and USPS leadership in the coming months to find practical and cost-effective solutions to this very serious problem. Nobody is ignoring the fact that USPS mail volume has declined tremendously, however like any business the USPS must evolve with the ever-changing times and redefine itself in a dynamic and unpredictable economy. I have always and will continue to be willing to work with my colleagues to facilitate this change; however it is largely up to the USPS leadership to guide the agency into a prosperous future.

Congresswoman Johnson Discusses Her New Bill And The Role Of Women In The Military

Recently, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) introduced a bill to recognize General Brigadier Hazel Winifred Johnson-Brown, the first African-American woman to hold rank of General in the U.S. Military Services and the first African American to hold the position of Chief of the Army Nurse Corps. "She played a significant role in the military and I knew her as a nurse," says Johnson.
The resolution, which is sponsored by the American Nurses Association and the National Nursing Network Organization, would recognize Johnson-Brown for her accolades, including the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.

Congresswoman Johnson also shared her thoughts about today's military.

Loop 21: Do you feel like contributions from black women in the military are overlooked?

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson: I'm not so sure that I can say that they are overlooked. I think that there are times when I feel like they aren't celebrated enough. Usually, when they are accomplished, someone knows about them. And it usually takes someone to make an extra effort to make sure others aware.

Loop 21: What are you overall thoughts about the Afghanistan and Iraq war?

Congresswoman Johnson: I think we got into the [Afghanistan] war a little late after we were attacked on 9/11 in 2001. Instead of addressing that first, we went to Iraq, which I think was totally a false and misguided decision have been made...I do think it's time for us to come home.

Loop 21: Can you talk about the state of the military?

Congresswoman Johnson: Our military readiness is changing. We're looking more now at cyber security. Instead of having a number of round weapons, we are also expanding to make sure that we have cyber weapons. I think the whole picture of military is in a state of change.

Loop 21 Article

CONGRESSWOMAN EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON’S STATEMENT ON THE END OF THE IRAQ WAR

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson released the following statement on the end of the Iraq War:

“The Iraq War is over! After nine years of more than one million Americans sacrificing for our safety and bringing democracy to the Middle East, U.S. troops are now able to come home. President Obama kept his commitment to end the Iraq War and bring our troops home by the end of the year, which marks a critical period in our Country.

I want to offer sincere gratitude to our brave Veterans for their loyalty to America and preserving our Nation. Let us not forget the nearly 4,500 soldiers who have not returned home. With the end of the war, we can focus on strengthening our economy and building a stronger America that is worthy of our Veterans’ sacrifice.”

Comgresswoman Johnson introduces a bill along with Congresswoman Edwards that will help create a national safety broadband network

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Ranking Member of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee introduced a bill Tuesday that would provide $300 million to research the creation of a national public safety broadband network.

The Public Safety Broadband Network Enabling Act from ranking member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) and Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) would fund the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for research, development and standards activities to enable the creation of the public safety network.

The payroll-tax bill approved by the House on Tuesday included spectrum legislation from Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) that would set aside the D Block of spectrum for public safety and use $6.5 billion of spectrum auction revenue to fund the network.

But Edwards and Johnson argued that the Republican measure fails to include any guarantee that important research and development work will take place.

“The proposal considered by the House today falls short of what is needed,” Johnson said. “Any legislation to create a public safety broadband network should include responsible research and development provisions. The failure to include such provisions puts the success of the entire public safety broadband network at risk.”

NIST would be authorized to research and help develop technologies that would improve the safety of the public safety network, document the operational requirements and help develop national, voluntary standards addressing those requirements.

“The creation of a nationwide, interoperable public safety broadband network, as recommended by the 9/11 Commission, is long overdue,” Edwards said. “It is important that we move forward in earnest, but we must ensure that broadband technologies are developed to work seamlessly with and meet the needs of our first responders.”

Walden, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Communications and Technology, said Tuesday on the chamber floor: “This legislation didn’t just drop out of the sky. It was thoughtfully and creatively crafted and it finds the right balances.” Walden cited five separate public hearings and 11 months of negotiations between both parties, the Federal Communications Commission and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

“But at some point the American people say, ‘Stop talking, get it done.’”

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee has also approved a bill authorizing spectrum auctions and re-allocating the D Block, but it has yet to come up for a vote on the floor.

CONGRESSWOMAN EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON MEETS WITH EUROPEAN UNION AND UNITED STATES SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY MAKERS

Recently, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Ranking Member of the House, Science, Space and Technology Committee, attended a joint European Union (EU) – United States (US) conference hosted by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) on, “Building a Transatlantic Scientific Bridge.” She was invited to participate by Mr. Dominique Ristori, the Director General of the JRC. The purpose of the conference was to foster dialogue and coordination between EU and US policy makers, the scientific community, and standardization bodies. The topics discussed included general science policy, smart grid, science education, health information technology, and the harmonization of international standards.



In addition to participating in the day-long conference, Congresswoman Johnson met with the Ambassador of the US to the EU, Hon.William Kennard. She also met with Ms. Edit Herczog, a Member of the European Parliament who serves on the Industry, Research, and Energy Committee (ITRE).



“I believe that information exchanges such as this one are incredibly important and beneficial to us all, because the vast majority of the challenges we face as policymakers are global in nature. In addition to the important role science and technology can play in helping us to solve big global challenges, science does and must continue to underpin regulatory policies that will ensure our citizens will continue to have clean air to breathe and clean water to drink now and far into the future,” said Congresswoman Johnson in her remarks on the panel “Science for better policies: scientific support to policy making.”



Also participating from the U.S. were representatives from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the National Science Foundation, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Ford Motor Company.

Congresswoman Johnson & Labor Secretary Hilda Solis Discuss Programs And Initatives With Local Dallas Labor leaders.

Congresswoman Johnson hosted Labor Secretary Hilda Solis in video teleconference w/ local Dallas Labor leaders. Secretary Solis discussed the Obama Administration’s efforts, programs, and initiatives that are aiming to keep labor unions strong and continue to allow workers a seat at the table.

Joining Congresswoman Johnson and Secretary Solis were: Carlos Marroquin, Dallas Area Director, SEIU; Romero Munoz, President, UAW; Rod Cuevas, Organizer/Assistant Business Representative, Teamsters Local 745; Herb Keener, Chief Steward, CWA Local 6215; Felipe Mendez, Secretary-Treasurer, UFCW Local 540; Yared Wonde, President, APWU Local 732

Throughout her career in public service Congresswoman Johnson has been an outspoken advocate for American workers and American jobs. As a leader in Congress she continues to champion workers rights to organize and to collective bargaining.

CONGRESSWOMAN EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON REINTRODUCES THE HATE CRIMES AGAINST HOMELESS STATISTIC ACT OF 2011

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson has reintroduced the Hate Crimes Against the Homeless Statistics Act in the House of Representatives. This act would include homeless people in hate crime statistics collected by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

“A hate crime is one of the most despicable and prejudicial acts done onto another human being by a human being and surprisingly these acts affect homeless people in great proportions. It is imperative that we give this issue the serious attention that it deserves by including homeless people in hate crime statistics,” said Congresswoman Johnson.

“The true purpose of this act is to create the most reliable and accurate data on hate crimes,” said Congresswoman Johnson.

Congresswoman introduced a similar bill in 2009 and there were thirteen Members of Congress that sponsored the bill.