Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson and other Members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) met with President Barack Obama about implementation of the Affordable Care Act, voting rights, economic issues, and immigration reform at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Congresswoman Johnson released the following statement after the meeting:
"Today's meeting allowed us the opportunity to voice our opinions and really have a productive dialogue with the President. During the meeting, I emphasized the importance of making higher education more accessible by making student loans more affordable. The jobs of the present and future are in the fields of science, engineering, and math. We must encourage our students to pursue these fields, but these are degrees that take 4 to 5 years to complete. In order for our country to remain competitive, we must ensure the burden of student loans does not deter these students from pursuing bachelors and advanced degrees in these important fields that will help secure our Nation's economic future.
In light of the recent Supreme Court's decision on the Voting Rights Act, I also stressed the need for all American citizens to have their right to vote protected. In my home state of Texas, Attorney General Gregg Abbott has already moved forward with voter id laws that the federal government previously blocked under section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. I was pleased to hear that the President is committed to working with the CBC to ensure we end discriminatory voting laws around the country, and protect everyone's right to vote."
