Congresswoman Johnson Receives SETWG George E. Brown Leadership Award

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson was awarded the SETWG George E. Brown, Jr., Leadership Award at a reception for Members of Congress, their staffs, and SETWG volunteers Tuesday evening in the Rayburn House Office Building. The award recognizes leadership in, advocacy for, and specific actions taken to advance science, engineering, and technology policy.

The reception included an exhibition featuring 15 companies and societies with technology demonstrations and information.

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson Stands with House Democrats to Demand a Vote on Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson joined dozens of her colleagues in the House of Representatives to sign a “Demand a Vote” petition. The petition would force a vote on H.R. 15, the bipartisan Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act. This legislation will help secure our border, protect our workers, unite our families, provide an earned pathway to citizenship, and create jobs.

“We must bring the issue of immigration reform before the House of Representatives for a vote,” said Congresswoman Johnson.  “It is time for Speaker Boehner to stop blocking this sensible bipartisan reform, and allow a vote to create jobs, empower our small businesses, fuel innovation, reduce the deficit and energize the economy.  Now is the time for us to fix our broken immigration system, and build a system that respects our history and our values as a nation.”

It has been nearly nine months since the Senate passed its own comprehensive immigration reform legislation by an overwhelming bipartisan margin of 68-32.  Comprehensive immigration reform has enjoyed widespread support from law enforcement, faith leaders, the business community and the American people. 

A report from the Congressional Budget Office released on Tuesday found that the House legislation, H.R. 15 would reduce the deficit by $900 billion over the next two decades – including $200 billion in the first decade alone.  The bill has 200 co-sponsors, including 3 Republicans.  Yet Republican leadership continues to prevent the House from holding a vote on this necessary and popular legislation.

Congresswoman Johnson To Host Committee On Science Space & Technology Panel Discussion On Climate Change

On Monday March 31, 2014, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, will host a panel discussion on climate change and Texas.

Ms. Johnson said of the upcoming event, “Climate change is an issue that will impact everyone on this planet.  I want Texas to be in the best position possible to deal with it.  It is critical our future and to the future of our children and grandchildren that we do not just wait to watch it happen and hope for the best. This event will bring together experts in our area to discuss how climate change affects Texas and how Texas can adapt and prosper.” 

Congresswoman Johnson Hosts 11th Annual Eddie Bernice Johnson Math & Science Lecture Series

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson held the 11^th annual “Eddie Bernice Johnson Math and Science Lecture Series” at the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center in Dallas, Texas.  This lecture series was started by the University of Texas at Dallas in an effort to expose Dallas-area high school students to career opportunities, and accomplished professionals in the disciplines of math and science.

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson gave an impassioned address to the more than 300 students in attendance, encouraging them to excel in the study of science and technology because the future of America would be determined by what they decided to do in their academic and professional lives.

“I am here to ask each of you for your commitment to science and math because it is these disciplines that will ensure that our nation will stay globally competitive with our international counterparts,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “The most important aspect in being globally competitive is the development of young scientists. You have the opportunity to be our next generation of global leaders.”

After completing her remarks, Congresswoman Johnson, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, introduced the keynote speaker, Dr. Roosevelt Johnson. Dr. Johnson is the acting associate director for education at NASA. He addressed the students, telling them that they should consider themselves the future explorers of the universe.

“Science is a field that many of you should consider pursuing,” said Dr. Johnson a graduate of Howard University who has spent a large part of his professional life recruiting minority students to study science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines. “It (science) was not something that had interested me, but it has made a real difference in my life. Many of you in this auditorium are the future scientists that our country needs.”

Ms. Tiffany Huitt, the principal of the science and engineering component at Town View, thanked Congresswoman Johnson for holding the lecture series at the school, and for bringing “illuminating speakers” for students each year. “The lecture series has made a real difference in the lives of our students,” Ms. Huitt said.

Congresswoman Johnson Urges President Obama To Sign ENDA Executive Order

Members of Congress including Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Dallas are calling on President Barack Obama to sign an employment nondiscrimination executive order as part of his “Year of Action.”
In his State of the Union address, Obama pledged to enact his policy goals without Congress by issuing executive orders.

Johnson’s office sent Dallas Voice a copy of a letter written by the LGBT caucus circulating on Capitol Hill asking the president to forbid discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. An executive order would ban contractors from receiving federal government contracts unless they have a nondiscrimination policy in place.

The current version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act working its way through Congress would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identify among any employer with 15 or more employees. ENDA passed the Senate on Nov. 7 with a bipartisan 64–32 vote. First introduced in 1994, a similar bill passed the House in 2007, but to become law, the 2013 Senate version must pass the House by the end of this session.

The letter asks the president to sign the executive order as ENDA works its way through Congress with strong bipartisan support.

“We urge you to take action now to protect millions of workers across the country from the threat of discrimination simply because of who they are or who they love,” they wrote in the letter.

The letter was signed by more than 150 members of the House and 47 members of the Senate.

“We are committed to doing all that we can in Congress to get ENDA to your desk this year; however, there is no reason you cannot immediately act by taking this important step,” they wrote.

In addition to Johnson, other Texas lawmakers who signed the letter are Joaquin Castro, Lloyd Doggett, Al Green, Ruben Hinojosa, Sheila Jackson Lee, Beto O’Rourke, Marc Veasey and Filemon Vela.

“We’re continuing to get signers,” Brad Jacklin said.

Jacklin is executive director of the House of Representatives’ LGBT Equality Caucus.

He said similar letters have been sent in past years, and the number of signers has increased each year. No Republicans signed, although the House version of ENDA does have Republican co-sponsors.

Obama has been criticized for his use of executive orders, but requiring contractors to protect their employees would be in line with orders that other presidents wrote regarding discrimination.

“In 1941, President Roosevelt prohibited discrimination in defense contracts on the bases of race, creed, color, or national origin,” the letter states. “In subsequent executive orders, Presidents Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson expanded these protections to ensure that taxpayer dollars are not used to discriminate.”

At a press conference on March 14, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said the administration’s position is that Congress should pass ENDA.

“I don’t have any updates for you on possible executive orders. What we’re focused on is a legislative remedy that would be more comprehensive and has already seen progress in Congress,” Carney said. “So, I don’t have a view to express on that particular issue.”
Johnson is a co-sponsor of ENDA.

“I strongly support equality for all people and especially in the workplace,” Johnson said. “President Obama has been one of the biggest presidential supporters of equal rights and of the LGBT community. In my own Congressional office, color, creed or sexual orientation are not considered when people are being hired.

The only consideration is job performance, and whether or not an individual is prepared.”

The letter mentions three government contractors —  Boeing, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin — that have nondiscrimination policies in place.

Local activist Louise Young is a retired senior software engineer at Raytheon and was partially responsible for getting her company to adopt those policies.

“It was a great feeling going to work everyday knowing I was treated equally by my company,” Young said.

She said an executive order would benefit the government because it made it easier to focus on her job. The pride she felt in her company translated into better work.

“I commend Congresswoman Johnson and all those who signed on,” Young said. “I’m very proud of her.”

Source: Dallas Voice

Congresswoman Johnson Discusses Benefits Of Affordable Care Act

Four years after the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, seniors and people with disabilities continue to enjoy lower costs and greater benefits because of the law’s historic reforms. In 2013 alone, 296,015 seniors and people with disabilities in Texas saved $271 million, an average of $916 per beneficiary, on their prescription drug purchases. Because of the Affordable Care Act’s expansion of free preventive services, last year an estimated 2,400,000 Texans with Medicare were able to take advantage of at least one preventive service with no cost-sharing.

“The Affordable Care Act is protecting the well-being and the wallets of seniors and the disabled in Texas,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “In 2013 alone, 4.3 million Medicare beneficiaries, including more than 290,000 beneficiaries in Texas, have seen dramatic savings on their prescription drugs. The annual checkups and other free preventive services available because of this historic law have enabled seniors to look after themselves, without having to look out for their pocketbooks as well.”

The Affordable Care Act makes Medicare prescription drug coverage more affordable by gradually closing the gap in coverage. In the past, beneficiaries had to pay the full cost of their prescriptions out of pocket, before catastrophic coverage for prescriptions took effect—the so-called “donut hole.” The law also made certain preventive services available free of charge, eliminating coinsurance and the Part B deductible for recommended preventive services, including many cancer screenings and other essential benefits.

“Four years after the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, millions of Americans can now feel a new sense of security, both health security and a new security in their budgets as well,” added Congresswoman Johnson. “Republicans should stop trying to tear down the Affordable Care Act, wasting valuable time in Congress by voting more than 50 times to repeal the law rather than tackling issues that can help all Americans, like jobs or immigration reform.”

Congresswoman Johnson Introduces America Competes Reauthorization Act 2014

On March 6, 2014, Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Ranking Member of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, introduced the America Competes Reauthorization Act of 2014 (H.R. 4159). 

The bill would establish, revise, and extend specified science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs, as well as education, research, and training programs. The bill would reauthorize the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) "to ensure the United States remains a leader in the development of new technologies and products based on breakthroughs in our understanding of materials at the atomic and molecular level." Under the bill, the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO) would develop and maintain a public database of projects funded under at least the environmental, health, and safety (EHS) program component area, or any successor program component area. The database would include a description of each project, its source of funding by agency, and its funding history. The bill states that the National Nanotechnology Program will include research on: (1) the development of instrumentation and tools required for the rapid characterization of nanoscale materials and for monitoring of nanoscale manufacturing processes; and (2) approaches and techniques for scaling the synthesis of new nanoscale materials to achieve industrial-level production rates. On March 6, 2014, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and to the Committee on Education and Workforce. On March 11, 2014, the bill was referred to the Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Technology.

Source: Nanotechnology Now

Congresswoman Johnson To Host 11th Annual Math And Science Lecture Series At Townview

On Monday March 24, 2014 Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson and the University of Texas at Dallas will host the 11^th annual “Eddie Bernice Johnson Math & Science Lecture Series.”

This year’s keynote presenter will be Dr. Roosevelt Johnson, Deputy Associate Administrator for Education at NASA.  Dr. Johnson will be speaking with the students about NASA’s cutting edge projects, their variety of educational programs, and showing students career possibilities that exist at NASA.   

In 2003 the University of Texas at Dallas, in recognition of Congresswoman Johnson’s leadership in the math and science fields,  commenced the Eddie Bernice Johnson Lecture Series in an effort to expose Dallas-area high school students to the best and brightest minds in the fields of mathematics and science. These experts come to the school to discuss their unique careers and expose students to different career possibilities in the STEM fields.

Congresswoman Johnson Introduces Ryan White Patient Equity & Choice Act

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, joined a number of other organizations including HIV/AIDS medical providers, social service organizations, municipalities and local representatives as well as community churches in praising the introduction of the “Ryan White Patient Equity and Choice Act” (HR 4260), a bill to make needed improvement to the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resource Emergency Act (RWCA)program to ensure that funding allocations are evidenced based, and that funding targets interventions that get people in to care and help them stay there. The new bill, introduced in Congress late Friday, is authored and sponsored by Renee Ellmers, (R, NC, 2^nd District) and co-sponsored by Eddie Bernice-Johnson (D, TX, 30^th District) and Bennie Thompson, (D, MS, 2^nd District).

The Act ensures services that directly address the HIV continuum of care are prioritized

• Linkage, retention, and treatment adherence services are clearly defined as “Core Medical Services”.
• Incentives grantees to prioritize the provision of continuum services in their community.
• Ensures that care is coordinated and led by experienced providers.

The Act helps ensure that areas where the epidemic is growing will have the necessary resources to eliminate gaps in the continuum of care

• HRSA is required to examine the level of funding equity between states and eligible areas receiving Ryan White funding, and submit a plan to Congress to ensure that funding does not vary more than 5 percent per person with HIV among each state and area.

The Act supports better treatment adherence and health outcomes by promoting patient-centered care and choice

• Establishes a Special Project of National Significance (SPNS) that will develop a model of patient-centered care. As part of this effort, grantees will assess the extent to which patient centered care is incorporated into in their area, and HRSA will examine how to incorporate patient-centered care throughout the Ryan White program.
• Requires states to implement an ADAP pharmacy network that includes specialty pharmacies that focus on the HIV population. In addition, it protects privacy and supports better adherence by enabling patients to choose whether or not they want to use mail-order pharmacy services.

Source: Fort Mills Times

Congresswoman Johnson Honored By Conference Of Minority Transportation Officials

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson was honored by the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) for her years of work to improve transportation nationwide.  During this third annual “Women Who Move the Nation Awards” ceremony, she was recognized as the “United States Legislator Honoree.”  The event brought hundreds of minority transportation officials together to discuss the future of  the transportation industry in this country and what COMTO can do to ensure maximum participation in the transportation industry for minority individuals.

“The movement of goods and services is the lifeblood of this country.  It is so vital that we have all the brightest minds and hardest workers at the table to help push the transportation industry forward,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “I am doing everything I can to make sure we America regains its innovation edge in transportation.”

COMTO was founded in 1971 on the campus of Howard University to provide a forum for senior-level minority professionals in the transportation industry. The organization encompasses individuals, organizations, transportation agencies, and non-profits that represent every facet of the transportation sector with chapters all over the country.   The “Women Who Move the Nation Awards” was moderated by MSNBC’s Karen Finney and featured a keynote address by Rev. Jesse Jackson.    

Congresswoman Johnson Calls For Vote On Emergency Uneployment Compensation Act

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson took action to force a up-or-down vote on key legislation that would extend unemployment insurance for more than 2 million Americans. Congresswoman Johnson joined her colleagues in signing a discharge petition to bring up the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act. The bill extends emergency unemployment insurance for nearly 5 million Americans looking for work through the end of the year.

"The time is now for action on unemployment insurance. To many Americans and more than 100,000 Texans have been suffering far to long. In this time of recovery, our state cannot afford to lose the $171 million in economic activity that has been lost in the first two months of this year due to the 105,000 Texans that were cut off from unemployment insurance."

"Despite repeated efforts from the Democrats in the House of Representatives, Republicans in Congress have callously refused to restore this vital economic lifeline that helps people support their families and pay their bills while they look for a new job." - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson

Congresswoman Johnson On Women's Issues

"All issues are women's issues, and some are just women's business." - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson

Congresswoman Johnson Comments On President Obama's 2015 Budget

“Overall, the President’s budget request is a realistic, yet bold plan for action.  I look forward to further examining the proposals in the President’s budget that fall under the jurisdiction of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.  The future of American innovation and leadership rest on the investments we make today.  In that regard, I am happy to see the Administration take a more deliberative and transparent approach to our nation’s STEM education efforts.  Preparing our next generation for the jobs of tomorrow should be our top priority.

“Budget increases for some agencies and programs will help maintain U.S. leadership in science and innovation.  However, I am disappointed to see flat or even decreased funding in a number of key areas of the federal government’s R&D budget.  For example, the budget request for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration fails to even meet the 2014 enacted funding level and, if enacted, will hinder the agency’s performance in the coming years. 

“To provide for additional investments, the President included a proposal to Congress titled, Opportunity, Growth and Security Initiative.  I support the goal of increasing our investments in R&D and STEM education and I hope to work with the President and my colleagues to further clean energy technologies and grid modernization, as well as advanced manufacturing initiatives and research on the impacts of climate change.” - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson

Congresswoman Johnson Celebrates Women's History Month

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice joined millions of Americans in marking the annual celebration of March as Women’s History Month – a commemoration that has occurred in America since 1987.  This year’s theme is Celebrating Women of Character, Courage, and Commitment.  

“During Women’s History Month, we celebrate the enormous progress that has been made for American women.  This year’s theme, Celebrating Women of Character, Courage, and Commitment, speaks to the persevering women trailblazers throughout our country’s history who struggled, suffered, and prevailed on behalf of the advancement of women,” Congresswoman Johnson said. “In the last several years, there have also been new gains for women.  For example, there are now a record number of women serving in Congress – with 20 women now serving in the Senate and 82 women in the House of Representatives.”

“Much progress has been made for the women of America, but much more remains to be done,” Congresswoman Johnson points out. “When the average woman still only makes 77 cents for every dollar a man makes and the poverty rate among women is the highest its been in two decades, there is definitely more work to be done.”

“American women have made great strides over the last 100 years – but the fight for equal opportunity is far from over,” Congresswoman Johnson said.  “There is more work to do in Texas and throughout the country to provide women with the economic security and opportunities they deserve and their families need.”  - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson