Congresswoman Johnson Vows To Continue Working For Civil Rights Protection

While addressing a reception hosted by DFW Muslim Chamber of Commerce at Park Plaza in Dallas, she said that she spent her entire life fighting for civil rights of people and has travelled throughout the world for this purpose.

Congresswoman Johnson said personal liberties and freedom is the secret behind American prosperity and progress and this is the reason the immigrants come to US find opportunities and contribute to American society.

She said that this is the reason that immigrants have played a major role in American economic progress which cannot be ignored. She said that people come to US with big dreams and it is my duty as a Congresswoman to protect those dreams and this is why she voted against Patriot Act and subsequent bad laws aimed to curb personal liberties.

The congresswoman said that DFW offers great opportunities to businesses and she is very happy to see a much needed Muslim Chamber of Commerce here like other communities.

Source: International News

Congresswoman Johnson Hosts 21st Annual Interfaith Prayer Breakfast

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson hosted her 21^st annual interfaith prayer breakfast at the Music Hall at Fair Park. The theme of this year’s breakfast was “prayer, the foundation of equality and justice,” and featured a keynote address by civil rights icon, Congressman John Lewis (GA-05).

“The very foundation of my life is prayer,” Congressman Johnson said to a breakfast audience of more than 140 people.  The attendees included members of the clergy, elected officials, business owners and a group of Dallas students that last November retraced routes taken by the “Freedom Riders” who fought to integrate segregated workplaces and public facilities during the 1960s.

Congresswoman Johnson applauded the high school and middle school students for taking the “Freedom Riders” trip. “These young people visited places where Congressman Lewis and others challenged the American government to enact laws that gave full citizenship to every American. I was among those that supported their trip, and we are proud of them.”

While introducing her congressional colleague, Congresswoman Johnson said that his actions as a civil rights leader were directly related to her decision to run for elected office. “He was beaten, but not discouraged,” she said of the Georgia legislator who is also the only living speaker among those who spoke at the 1963 March on Washington.

“There is a sweet spirit of prayer in this place,” Congressman Lewis said as he began his remarks. “I cannot imagine where we would be in this country if our work had not been based on a foundation of prayer.”

“If someone had not prayed for me during the beatings I took that left me unconscious I would not be standing here today,” said Congressman Lewis. “Prayer allows us to never give in and never give up.  Prayer will change things… Even in the Congress we need prayer.”

Reverend Claude Maples, who has been the master of ceremonies of the prayer breakfast since it began two decades ago, introduced members of the clergy representing the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith. Each of them gave brief remarks after Congressman Lewis gave his address.

Congresswoman Johnson Attends STEM-Genetics Demonstation At West Intermediate School

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson joined students and teachers at Cedar Hill’s West Intermediate School to witness their STEMGenetics demonstrations.  STEMGenetics is an innovative life sciences teaching tool and curriculum that helps students learn the skills they will need to compete for in-demand science and technology jobs. 

Congresswoman Johnson took time to talk to the attending STEM educators and express her thanks for the work they do.  “The work that you all are doing with these young students is crucial to America becoming a global leader in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “We must prepare our students with a sense of analytical thinking that will allow them to solve the problems of the future. It is important that we start teaching these skills at this young age to allow for these students to aspire to be the scientists, engineers, and inventors of the future. ”

As the Ranking Member of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Congresswoman Johnson was the featured speaker at a demonstration along with the creators of this cutting edge curriculum, Dr. Michelle Williams of Michigan State University and  Dr. Angela DeBarger, a senior research scientist at SRI International

“STEMGenetics has proven successful in teaching elementary students fundamental life science ideas that will prepare them for advanced learning in high school biology as well as careers in science and technology,” said Dr. Williams. “We help develop teacher capacity, so they can effectively introduce important science concepts in earlier grades, which means our children are better-prepared.”

Research evaluations of the STEMGenetics approach in Texas and Michigan classrooms show that students demonstrate significantly improved understanding of life sciences, biology and genetics concepts, after using STEMGenetics, which features technology that makes it possible for teachers to track student progress and offer feedback throughout the learning process.

Dr. Williams stated that the program was funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation, which Congresswoman Johnson’s work helped to secure. Congressman Marc Veasey, Texas State Senator Royce West, the mayor of Cedar Hill and officials from the city’s public school system were also present.

Congresswoman Johnson Applauds Passage Of National Integrated Information Systems Reauthorization Act

The House of Representatives recently passed H.R. 2431, the National Integrated Drought Information Systems Reauthorization Act.

The NIDIS Act, signed into law in 2006, is a collaborative effort between numerous federal agencies and several state governments to provide a dynamic and accessible drought-risk information system.  NIDIS was created in response to extended drought conditions and is led and implemented by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  NIDIS has provided a better understanding of how and why droughts affect society, the economy, and the environment, and is improving accessibility, dissemination, and use of early warning information for drought risk management by a variety of stakeholders ranging from farmers to city planners.  NIDIS incorporates the efforts of numerous federal agencies, tribal nations, emergency managers and planners, six Regional Climate Centers, state climatologists, local NOAA Weather Forecast Offices, and Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA).

“I rise in support of H.R. 2431, the National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2013. This vital program was originated by my friend and former Committee Chairman Ralph Hall in 2006.  The program provides critical drought information to communities all across our Nation.

“Over the past three decades it is estimated that droughts have cost our country hundreds of billions of dollars in economic impacts.  Loss estimates from the 2012 drought alone run upwards of 70 billion dollars.  Moreover, the effects of climate change are anticipated to exacerbate this problem in many parts of our country, including in my home state of Texas.  Right now, California is experiencing its driest period in recorded history with 67 percent of the state experiencing extreme or exceptional drought conditions. 

“We all know that farmers and ranchers bear the brunt of these dry conditions.  That hits the pocketbook of every American as food prices go up.  But the damage is not limited to agriculture.  For instance, in the West, conditions are again ripe for extreme wildfires that scarred more than 9 million acres last year putting homes and property in jeopardy. Tourism is suffering as water levels in lakes and rivers plummet and snow packs languish, leaving boats on dry land and skis in the attic; communities are imposing water restrictions; and power plant and grid operators are taking a serious look at emergency plans should water for cooling towers and hydroelectric dams fall short. 

“If you look at the top five most expensive disasters in the United States since 1980, three of those are due to drought. The NIDIS program is intended to help alleviate some of the economic impacts of drought. 

“Notably, one of the program’s goals is to improve drought early warning.  Advanced warning of impending droughts would allow states, localities, and farmers to better plan their activities so that the economic costs associated with droughts could be reduced or mitigated.

“In light of the scope of the economic impacts of drought, and the potential of the NIDIS program to lessen these impacts, I remain concerned about the authorization levels in H.R. 2431.  My Democratic colleagues and I tried to modestly increase the authorization levels, during Committee consideration of the bill, but we were unsuccessful.

“Every witness who has ever testified or spoken to our Committee about this program has highlighted the need to improve the program’s early warning capability. This isn’t a goal that can be accomplished for free.  It will take a sustained investment of additional funds to achieve the results we so desperately need.

“While I wish the authorization numbers in the bill before us today were higher, they are much better than the numbers in the Senate bill which locks the program into a funding cap that is below current spending for the next five years.

“When the Federal government is spending tens of billions of dollars per year to mitigate the effects of drought, I think it makes sense to spend a couple million extra dollars to try and reduce those massive costs to our taxpayers and our communities.  It’s pretty clear that in this instance an ounce of prevention will get us a pound of cure.

“In spite of these concerns, I support H.R. 2431 and the reauthorization of NIDIS, a program which provides crucial information to help our farmers and our communities prepare for and mitigate the impacts of drought.”

Source: Committee On Science Space & Technology - Democrats

Congresswoman Johnson And Health & Human Services Secretary Sebelius Discuss Affordable Care Act At Paul Quinn College

Congresswoman Johnson was joined at Paul Quinn college by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. They were there to discuss ways we can inform Texans about the many benefits of the new coverage they can get under the Affordable Care Act. Congresswoman Johnson was also joined by Michael Sorrell, the President of Paul Quinn College & top administration officials from Children's hospital .