Congresswoman Johnson Expresses Concerns About Potential Military Strike Against Syria

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson says she understands a need for action but opposes the United States going in alone.

“We cannot go into every country that has an uprising without going through NATO or the UN or a partnership with other countries.  We don’t have the money to take on everybody’s war,” Johnson said Friday in an interview with KERA's Shelley Kofler. “I really feel for what’s going on there but we have to do it with caution and with understanding about what we are going for; how long will be stay;  when will we determine the results for us to leave."

Source: KERA.

Congresswoman Johnson and Congressman Jeff Miller Conduct Congressional Oversight Visit At Dallas Veterans Administration Medical Center

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson and Congressman Jeff Miller, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, conducted a congressional oversight visit to the Dallas VA Medical Center. The visit is a result of a series of allegations from VA workers, patients and family members regarding poor patient care, and compliance complaints against the VA in the last three years.

During Chairman Miller and Congresswoman Johnson’s visit, they attended an executive briefing to discuss consecutive Inspector General reports of non-compliance, operational procedures, and results of a facility investigation and inspection by the VA central office.

“While improvements have been made we are not satisfied with the conditions in this hospital,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “We want this facility to care for people as much as they care for the professional staff that work here. The people that you serve are veterans, and they deserve the very best treatment as possible. We want that to become a reality.”

Congresswoman Johnson continued, “There has been a substantial number of patients that have come to our office regarding treatment they have received at the VA. What is happening at the VA is unacceptable and it is must stop. There must be a strong effort to improve conditions at the VA.”

On Sept. 9 , the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs will examine the Dallas VAMC and a number of other VA facilities during a hearing entitled “A Matter of Life and Death: Examining Preventable Deaths, Patient-Safety Issues and Bonuses for VA Execs Who Oversaw Them.”

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Congresswoman Johnson Hosts Event To Commemorate The 50th Anniversary Of The March On Washington

Leaders and Dallas community members sang “We Shall Overcome” in booming voices that echoed as one Wednesday inside a small downtown chapel.

More than 100 people attended the Thanks-Giving Square ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the civil rights movement’s March on Washington, which culminated in Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson hosted the event that included a reading of the famous speech by leaders of various faiths. The bells on the square rang out after the ceremony and at similar events around the world.

Johnson invited religious leaders, race associations and unions, which reflected the themes of the original march, which demanded jobs and equality.

“It’s now a false sense that it’s a fight between blacks and whites,” Johnson said. “It’s not. It’s a fight between justice and injustice.”

Congresswoman Johnson said that the civil rights struggle continues and the intent of Wednesday’s ceremony was not to just relive the moment, but to re-energize people to fight for racial and class equality.

“Our battle is as strong today as it was 50 years ago,” she said. “It has as much to do with ideology as it does with the color of our skin. Until we all work together, we won’t achieve the dream.”

Source: Dallas Morning News Blog

Congresswoman Johnson Discusses Voting Rights, Voter ID Laws, and Civil Rights on KNON's LAMBDA Weekly

Congresswoman Johnson sat down with KNON's LAMBDA Weekly hosts David Taffet, Patti Fink and Lerone Landis to discuss voting rights, voter ID laws, and todays political landscape.

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Congresswoman Johnson Reflects On The 50th Anniversary Of The March On Washington

"Fifty years have passed since the world witnessed 300,000 citizens assemble in Washington, D.C. on August 28th, 1963 to demand “jobs and freedom” for people who lived on the margins of American life. During the march, the leadership of the nation was challenged to enact the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Some changes were made and both pieces of legislation were passed with the assistance of President Lyndon B. Johnson and U.S. Senator Ralph Yarborough, two elected officials from Texas who empathized with those who gathered on a hot and humid August day.

On August 24th, there will be another March on Washington. It will take place because the struggle for racial equality is not yet complete. There are forces in this country that are forcefully pushing back the advances that have been made and they must be confronted.

One has only to witness the recent decision by the conservative U.S. Supreme Court that removed the teeth from the Voting Rights Act to realize that not everyone in this country believes in inclusiveness.

The fact is that minorities are under attack in America. There are powerful interests who want the nation to return to the post Civil War period known as Reconstruction. They have enacted laws designed to prevent people from voting, they oppose Obama care and they support so-called “stand your ground laws” which have resulted in the killing of innocent people.

Even our president in the White House is not immune from the rancid abuse. I was present in the House Chamber while President Obama delivered a State of the Union address and a House Member disrupted the proceeding, calling the nation’s chief executive a “liar. It was shocking, it was disrespectful and it stemmed from prejudice.

It is easy for superficial observers to suggest that the struggle for racial equality is no longer necessary. While lawfully sanctioned segregation is over and “separate but equal” is invalid, discrimination and inequality persist in our work places, our corporate boardrooms, our schools, and our governments.

There is an inscription of Dr. King’s remarks made during the 1963 march at the Rosa Parks Plaza in the West End of Dallas that says we will not be satisfied “until justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

We should not be satisfied! That is why I will be in Washington on August 24th with hundreds of thousands of people who realize that America is still not the country that the framers of its Constitution promised.

Together we can make America live up to its promises that all people are created equal. That is why we shall march again." - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson

Congresswoman Johnson Attends the 50th Anniversary March on Washington “Realize the Dream” March & Rally

Congresswoman Johnson, the Congressional Black Caucus, and numerous civil rights organizations, attended the 50^th Anniversary March on Washington “Realize the Dream” March & Rally. The march was held to commemorate the 1963 “Jobs and Freedom” March on Washington, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Congresswoman Johnson spoke at the Pre-Rally at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.

“Fifty years ago hundreds of thousands of people descended upon the nation’s capital to raise their voices in demand for jobs and freedom. High rates of crime and poverty in African American communities throughout the U.S. were the driving force behind the largest march that our country had ever seen during that time. But with the passing of the 1963 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act, sentiments of hope and change began to resonate throughout the nation." 

“The United States has made tremendous strides in our fight for equality, yet today we find ourselves once again pleading for the reimplementation and reauthorization of legislation that protected so many minorities. The Supreme Court’s decision to strike down one of the most prominent achievements from the Civil Rights era, further indicates how our struggle for equality is not over. We are seeing a rise of discriminatory voting laws throughout the country in states like Texas that suppress the votes of minorities. We also have members of Congress who are adamantly against protecting the rights of all Americans under the law. All Americans should have the opportunity to achieve their version of the American Dream, but we must remove barriers that impede them from doing so. If Dr. King were alive today, he would acknowledge how far we have come in our struggle for racial and economic equality, but he would implore us all to do our part to advance the dream for future generations.” - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson

Congresswoman Johnson Joined By Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez At DFW Connector Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Ribbon cuttings often make strange bedfellows, as Democrats and Republicans set aside partisan differences to come together and celebrate the latest triumph in their neck of the woods.

And as officials cheered on Wednesday a major achievement — the early opening of the $1.1 billion DFW Connector project in Grapevine — U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson seized upon that captive audience to remind everyone of some political history.

The DFW Connector benefited from a massive $260 million in federal stimulus money. It was the largest single stimulus award to a transportation project in the U.S. And officials of all stripes acknowledge that the DFW Connector wouldn’t exist in its current form without the boost.

The stimulus, also known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, passed in 2009 along largely partisan lines with backing from Democratic President Barack Obama. That means it didn’t have a whole lot of support — then or now — in deeply Republican Texas.

“Though I stood alone in this area in voting for it — and I was called a spendthrift — I’ll take it,” she said, as both Democrats and Republicans looked on. “Because when you can put a project together that moves people and goods like this project, I’ll be for it every time.”

And Johnson, a Dallas Democrat, hasn’t forgotten that fact.

Former U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, also voted for it, although his district only edged into North Texas. But Johnson is otherwise correct. Texas’ two U.S. senators voted against. None of North Texas’ other U.S. representatives in 2009 supported the stimulus.

That list of “no” votes includes U.S. Rep. Kenny Marchant, a Republican whose district features the DFW Connector.

On Wednesday, Johnson was the sole congressional official at the DFW Connector event; the crowd featured mostly state and local officials. So those stimulus opponents also missed Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez touting the project as a “symbol of America’s … recovery.”

But even with Johnson’s chiding, she offered perhaps an olive branch for a deeply polarized Congress: “I have never seen transportation as a partisan issue.”

“I’ve never heard of a sign or highway or airport or a port being labeled as a Democrat or a Republican,” she said. “So I have been very committed to making sure that our economy does not stop, knowing full well that the economy in this area means movement.

Source: Dallas Morning News - blog

Congresswoman Johnson Celebrates DFW Connector And The American Recovery And Reinvestment Act

Congresswoman Johnson spoke at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the DFW Connector. This $1.1 billion dollar project will improve travel for an 8.4 mile span in Grapevine, Southlake and Irving, and double the size of the existing highway system around the north Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport entrance.

“In 2009, I was the lone congressional member of the North Texas delegation to vote for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which resulted in $261 million in funds for this project, the single largest stimulus award to a transportation project in the U.S.

As a vocal proponent of advancing our infrastructure and as the most senior Texan on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I am proud to be here today to participate in the tremendous accomplishment that is the DFW Connector – a crucial component in alleviating traffic in the Metroplex,” said Congresswoman Johnson.

Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez was also a keynote speaker, and other state and local officials provided remarks at the ceremony. The DFW Connector will be the Texas Department of Transportation’s first North Texas highway built as a public-private partnership.

Congresswoman Johnson Hosts Forum On Implementation Of The Affordable Care Act

Congresswoman Johnson hosted a forum for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Health Braintrust “Making Good Health My Reality” tour. The event was held at St. Paul United Methodist Church from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and provided participants with critical information needed to prepare for enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace opening on October 1, 2013.

“When Obamacare is mentioned in the future, it will be in the same category as Social Security,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “We are about to embark upon one of the most dramatic and profound programs since Social Security.”

During the sessions, attendees were able to gain a complete understanding of the Affordable Care Act. Health experts from the local, state and national level shared key information about Medicaid, health insurance exchanges, and the impact of the new law on small business owners and employee coverage. The townhall also featured free, on-site health screenings and fun activities for families to enjoy.

Congresswoman Johnson - "Let's Move Texas To The Sane Column."

Congresswoman Johnson joined KNON's LAMBDA Weekly and hosts David Taffet, Patti Fink, and Lerone Landis, recently to discuss National and Texas politics 2014.

LAMBDA Weekly is the worlds longest running gay and lesbian radio show, now in its 30th year.

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Congresswoman Johnson Hosts 7th Annual Youth Summit & Diversity Dialogue

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson hosted her day-long 7th Annual Youth Summit and Diversity Dialogue (YSDD) on the campus of Southern Methodist University. The Youth Summit Diversity Dialogue is for Dallas-area youth who are between the ages of 13 and 17. The program is designed to inspire youth to increase their cultural self-awareness and to adopt solutions in order to promote mutual understanding within their communities.

Congresswoman Johnson Challenges Texas Attorney General On Voting Rights

"Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s assertion that voting practices and redistricting in Texas are more about national politics rather than constitutionally based rights is patently false, disingenuous and in direct contradiction to the history of racial politics in the Lone Star State. I find it necessary to set the record straight.

Texas has a long and painful history of voter discrimination and intimidation. Its governor during Reconstruction, James Throckmorton, refused to recognize the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which granted citizenship and equal protection to African-Americans. When Throckmorton was ordered to provide more protection for minorities who were being physically threatened he refused, resulting in his removal from office by the federal government.

The practice of restricting minority voting participation in Texas is not new. Jim Crow laws, literacy tests and poll taxes have been used throughout the state's history. I had to pay a poll tax to vote in the first election that I participated in as a voter.

I clearly recall an incident in Dallas when white picketers, politicians among them, appeared outside a predominately black voting site on election day, holding signs stating "Stop! Vote and you will be prosecuted!”

I personally recognized one of the politicians. Years later when he appeared before a legislative panel I chaired in the state legislature I reminded him of the incident. Uncomfortable and ashamed, he said that he knew he was wrong and apologized for the incident. In the decade between 2000 and 2010, the population of Texas increased by 4.3 million people.

Two-thirds of the growth occurred in the Hispanic community while the Black population increased by fourteen percent. Even so, the Republican controlled state legislature gerrymandered Congressional districts such that the number of Congressional seats in which a minority stood a chance of being elected declined from eleven to ten.

The African American and Hispanic populations increased in the Dallas-Fort Worth area by more than 600,000 between 2000 and 2010 while the non-Hispanic white population decreased by 156,732. This population increase justified two new minority opportunity districts, but the Congressional map signed into law by Texas Governor Rick Perry "packs” my Congressional district with the largest percentage of African American and Hispanic constituents I have witnessed in my 21 years as a member of the House of Representatives.

Congressional districts that surround my own were drawn to "crack” minority voters in North Texas. This blatant "packing” and "cracking” by the legislature prevented the North Texas area from having two additional minority opportunity seats in Congress that the population growth justifies and the people deserve. 



The Supreme Court and two federal courts have disagreed with the actions of Texas legislators. The federal courts found the redistricting plan and the voting ID law that the legislature enacted unconstitutional. The courts found purposeful discrimination. The Justice Department found that the legislature’s actions violated the Voting Rights Act.

Abbott advocates the use of Voter ID laws, allegedly to stop voter fraud. Studies have shown that voter fraud is non-existent in Texas. Nearly 700,000 registered voters in Texas lack an approved voter ID. The requirement is another way of repressing votes of young people, seniors and racial minorities who vote overwhelmingly for Texas Democrats.

During the Civil Rights struggle, hundreds of people across this country lost their lives so that they and their children and grandchildren could freely participate in our political system. Many faced vicious dogs and water hoses for a right that came without difficulty or turmoil to others.

Perhaps Abbott should revisit that history and speak to those who endured the burdens and pains of simply acquiring rights that others possessed. In this country, we pride ourselves on our unique approach to democracy. Every citizen should have the ability to participate in elections fairly and transparently, without unnecessary burdens. " - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson

Source: Focus Daily News Op-Ed

Congresswoman Johnson Signs Letter Opposing Anti-LGBT Russian Law

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson is among 83 members of Congress who’ve signed a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry urging him to ensure the safety of LGBT athletes, coaches, staff, fans and reporters attending the 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Sochi, Russia.

The letter refers to a law by signed by President Vladimir Putin on June 30 under which public acknowledgement of one’s sexual orientation or support for LGBT rights, including displays of symbols such as a rainbow flag or HRC logo, can result in arrest and 15 days in jail.

The concern is over an announcement the law would be enforced during the Olympics.

Two other Texas congressmen also signed the letter — Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, and Rep. Al Green, D-Houston.

Noticeably absent from the list were Houston’s Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who always scores high on HRC Congressional rankings and newcomers Rep. Beto O’Rourke, who worked for partner benefits while serving on the El Paso City Council, and Rep. Joaquin Castro, who won his seat with strong LGBT support in San Antonio.

The members of Congress are concerned with the rising wave of anti-gay activity in Russia including violent hate crimes and laws banning Pride parades for 100 years and limiting adoption of Russian children by people from countries that allow same-sex marriage.

Kerry has a long record of supporting the LGBT community. He was one of just 14 Senators who voted against the Defense of Marriage Act. Last week, in a speech at the embassy in London, he announced the U.S. would treat visa applications from married same-sex couples the same as opposite-sex couples.

Other signs of international protest of the new anti-gay law include a boycott of Russian alcohol. The New York City United Restaurant and Tavern Owners Association called on all bars, cafes, taverns and restaurants to ban all Russian-made food and alcohol. Locally, some bars have joined in a boycott of Stoli vodka.

The Canadian government issued a travel advisory on travel to Russia. Over the weekend, two Canadian Olympic athletes marched in Vancouver’s Pride parade to show support for the LGBT community in opposition to the law.

The Sochi games are seven months away.

Below is the full text of the letter:

Dear Secretary Kerry:

We are writing to you regarding the troubling implications of a recently-enacted Russian law criminalizing actions or statements deemed to be in support of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. In light of the fact that the 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games are scheduled to be held in Sochi, Russia, we would like to know what diplomatic measures the State Department is planning to take to ensure that American LGBT athletes, staff and spectators, and their supporters, are not arrested, detained or otherwise penalized during the Sochi Games.

The law, signed by President Vladimir Putin on June 30th, will penalize any individuals or groups found to be publicly supportive of LGBT equality. Press reports have indicated that punishable offenses would include public acknowledgment of one’s orientation, displays of affection between same-sex partners, statements in support of LGBT rights, and the use of symbols such as rainbows that are attributed to the LGBT community. Foreign nationals found to be in violation of the law could be arrested and detained for up to 15 days.

According to the Organizing Committee of XXII Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Sochi, Sochi will be host to over 40,000 athletes, volunteers, and members of the press for the duration of the Games. An additional 75,000 spectators are expected to visit Sochi daily during that time. With the Olympics only seven months away, we are deeply concerned about the impact of the new anti-LGBT law on LGBT Russians, the Olympic community and supporters of LGBT equality.

We are particularly troubled because while the newly signed law is the most recent and most extreme codification of Russia’s maltreatment of its LGBT citizens, it is also part of larger trend of anti-LGBT actions in Russia. In the last month, the Russian government also enacted a law banning foreign same-sex couples and single people from nations that have marriage equality from adopting Russian children. Hate crimes and violent attacks against the LGBT community have been reported, including the murders of two gay men earlier this year. In 2012, Moscow instituted a hundred-year ban on LGBT pride parades, a ban that was deemed illegal by the European Court of Human Rights, but which nevertheless resulted in the arrest and detention of seventeen LGBT activists for displaying rainbow flags. Russia’s record of anti-LGBT legislation and persecution pose serious concerns for the safety of LGBT Sochi Olympic participants and spectators.

On July 17th, the International Olympic Committee issued a statement, obtained by the Windy City Times, acknowledging that the newly-enacted law is contradictory to its policy of non-discrimination and pledging to “work to ensure that the Games can take place without discrimination against athletes, officials, spectators and the media.” However, the IOC recognized that it is not equipped to address the issue fully, stating “[w]ider political issues in the country are best dealt with by other international organizations more suited to this endeavor.”

We applaud the State Department’s commitment to ensuring that U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of LGBT persons abroad, and the actions your agency has already taken to communicate concerns about the overall direction on LGBT rights in Russia directly to the Russian government. In light of the importance of U.S. leadership on LGBT issues, and the quickly-approaching Sochi Games, we urge the State Department to determine the appropriate course of action to assure the safety and well being of LGBT and LGBT— supporting individuals involved in or attending the 2014 Sochi Olympics and Paralympics. We look forward to hearing from you regarding what efforts have been undertaken, especially efforts undertaken in coordination with other foreign governments, and are committed to working together with you on this issue.

Sincerely,
Jerrold Nadler
Steny Hoyer
Jared Polis
David Cicilline
Sean Patrick Maloney
Mark Pocan
Kyrsten Sinema
Mark Takano
Robert E. Andrews
Xavier Becerra
Michael E. Capuano
Judy Chu
Yvette Clark
Wm. Lacy Clay
Steven Cohen
Gerald E. Conolly
Joseph Crowley
Susan A. Davis
Danny K. Davis
Peter A. DeFazio
Diana DeGette
Rosa L. DeLauro
Suzan K. DelBene
Lloyd Doggett
Keith Ellison
Eliot L. Engel
Elizabeth H. Esty
Sam Farr
John Garamendi
Joe Garcia
Alan Grayson
Al Green
Raúl M. Grijalva
Michelle Lujan Grisham
Luis V. Gutierrez
Richard L. Hanna
Alcee L. Hastings
Brian Higgins
Rush Holt
Mike Honda
Jared Huffman
Steve Israel
Eddie Bernice Johnson
Joseph P. Kennedy III
Daniel T. Kildee
Ann M. Kuster
James R. Langevin
Barbara Lee
Sander M. Levin
John Lewis
Nita M. Lowey
Daniel B. Maffei
Carolyn Maloney
Grace Meng
Betty McCollum
Jim McDermott
James P. McGovern
Michael H. Michaud
Gwen Moore
James P. Moran
Grace F. Napolitano
Richard E. Neal
Eleanor Holmes Norton
Ed Perlmutter
Chellie Pingree
Mike Quigley
Charles B. Rangel
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Bobby L. Rush
Linda T. Sánchez
Janice D. Schakowsky
Adam Schiff
Kurt Schrader
Robert C. “Bobby” Scott
Carol Shea-Porter
Albio Sires
Louise McIntosh Slaughter
Jackie Speier
John F. Tierney
Dina Titus
Paul Tonko
Marc A. Veasey
Henry A. Waxman

Source Dallas Voice

Congresswoman Johnson Marks The 48th Anniversary Of The Voting Rights Act

“For 48 years, the Voting Rights Act has protected minorities’ right to vote. However, many people, including the U.S. Supreme Court Justices that turned down Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act, assert that our country has changed, and that the Voting Rights Act is no longer needed. Although voter intimidation today may not be as blatant as poll taxes or literacy tests, it still exists in more devious forms, such as burdensome voter ID laws that aim to oppress minorities. A prime example for the need of the Voting Rights Act is Texas Attorney General Gregg Abbott’s swift decision to enforce voter ID laws immediately following the Supreme Court’s ruling. Texas has a long and detailed history of voter suppression, and Attorney General Abbott is continuing down the same path. He is an elected official that should be looking out for all Texans, but his recent decisions indicate that minorities are not included.  The minority population does not only include African Americans and Hispanics, but also the elderly and those that live in the most rural parts of the country. The Voting Rights Act will remain relevant and necessary, as it was in 1965, until all Americans are able to cast their ballots without fear of suppression.” - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson

Congresswoman Johnson Meets With Newly Appointed Secretary Of Transportation

As the Senior Ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Congresswoman Johnson had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Anthony Foxx. Mr. Foxx was recently appointed as the new Department of Transportation Secretary. 

Congresswoman Johnson and Secretary Foxx discussed the numerous challenges that face the nation and Texas in the area of mass transit and rebuilding our infrastructure. Additionally, they spoke about how investment in these areas can lead to new jobs.

Congresswoman Johnson Joins A Congressional Hearing: A Conversation On Race And Justice In America

Congresswoman Johnson recently joined the Congressional Black Caucus and the Democratic Steering Committee on Race & Justice in a hearing in Washington to discuss issues of race, justice, and discrimination in America today

"As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom this year, many of the principles Dr. King and the multicultural coalition of people who joined him, are being challenged today. The Congressional Black Caucus  and the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee led a vital discussion in Washington titled "A Conversation On Race & Justice in America". We sought not just to speak about the problems, but also to raise practical solutions to ending injustices around the country." - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson

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Congresswoman Johnson Joins MSNBC's Martin Bashir To Discuss 50th Anniversary Of March On Washington & Challenges Ahead

MB although it's still about a month till the actual anniversary itself. yes, it's always encouraging to see a bipartisan celebration of the great men and women who fought to extend civil rights to millions across the nation but it's worth remembering that the march on washington in 1963 was for jobs and freedom. and at a time when unemployment remains at 7.6% and 13.7% for african-americans, there's a great deal of work to be done. while speaker john boehner got a nice photo op with john lewis , perhaps a more meaningful move would be to pass legislation on behalf of minorities in this corrupt. and a good place to start is in texas where in the wake of the supreme court striking down section 4 of the voting rights ac, legislators acted quickly to put into effect a new voter i.d. law. for more on this, i'm delighted to be joined by eddie berniece johnson, a democrat from the texas . good afternoon, ma'am. it's not quite the industry as you know of that historic event. but speaker boehner wanted to make sure he was part of the celebration before congress goes on recess. am i being a bit too cynical here, or is there something a bit odd about this speaker attending this event when many of his own party's policies work against the vet people that thecivil rights movement was trying to help?

EBJ well, first, let me thank you for having me on the program today and simply say that it's almost like it's a new beginning because we, of course, needed the speaker to be there to probably feel some of the feelings that all of us felt, especially those of us who were quite aware of that march at that time. i was a young married woman with an infant son. and remember watching it on black and white television. but my heart and spirit was there as it was today listening to john lewis and thinking about my native stateof texas and how there is a new push to push us away from the polls instead of working on us about the vote.

MB that's what i was going to come to because the supreme court 's decision on the voting rights act immediately following that, texas attorney general greg abbott said that a 2011 voter i.d. law won that had been struck down by a washington court for placing severe burdens on poor and racial minorities , would immediately go into effect.

EBJ yes, within an hour or two after the ruling was announced. it was almost like gotcha. you know, we're going to keep you from voting. and actually, when this bill was passed into law last year around june, i started to work with people then to get the information out. knowing full well that if the leadership we had at that time continued to be leadership at this time which it is, we could look forward to them trying to enforce as much of it as they possibly could. we've never objected to having identification to register to vote and to vote. we've never. but the kind of burdensome problems that they're making makes it a lot more difficult.

MB yeah.

EBJ so it's obviously an intent to it.

MB yes, absolutely. congresswoman, spoke yesterday at the house hearing on race and justice in america. i'd like our viewers to hear a little of what you said.

EBJ when we talk about the civil rights movement , i think it's just beginning. it seems to me that we've made strides, but we've made strides to the point where somebody else noticed we were making them and now we've got to stop them.

MB what did you mean by that, ma'am? is.

EBJ well, like voting. you know, the one thing that we've learned that they forgotten we know and that's how to read. years ago, they could pull a lot of games on us but now we can read the rules and we know how to follow them. we also know when they're unfair because we also know how to think. we have more people educated, more people interested in voting and we also know who we want to vote for. you know, they have cracked and packed different districts to keep our votes from counting but we do a study every year who votes which way. and we want the people that will listen to us and that represent us to be available so they can win some of the seats.

MB representative eddie berniece johnson, thank you so much, ma'am.

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