Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson is serving her 13th term representing the 30th Congressional District of Texas. Johnson is widely recognized as one of the most effective legislators in Congress and is credited with originally authoring or co-authoring, sponsoring or co-sponsoring more than 821 bills that were passed by the House and Senate and signed into law by the President.
Monday, June 26, 2017
Congresswoman Johnson Announces AmeriCorps Funding For Dallas Organizations
“Congratulations to CitySquare, Reading Partners, Teach for America, and City Year, Inc.-Dallas who have been selected to receive the grant funding for 2017-2018 from the OneStar Foundation,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “I am certain that those who choose to volunteer with AmeriCorps will have a rewarding experience as they serve those in our community at one of these organizations.”
The new funding will support over 2,500 AmeriCorps members to meet local needs in Texas. In return, the members will collectively earn up to $11.7 million in education awards for each completing up to 1,700 hours of service. The volunteers will receive training and orientation so they can serve at nonprofits, state agencies, school districts and institutions of higher education throughout the State of Texas and District 30.
Congresswoman Johnson Presents Congressional Award Gold Medal To Dallas Student
“I was pleased to award Shan the Congressional Award Gold Medal in Washington, D.C. today, ” said Congresswoman Johnson. “Shan should be proud of the work that she has done in Dallas and in surrounding communities. She has dedicated endless time and service to her community, but also saw the need to serve abroad in China. In China, Shan taught English classes and shadowed health care professionals. Shan’s commitment to service is what this award is all about.”
“Among the many project that she has taken on, Shan notes that she is ‘most proud of Artists for Sandy, a project [she] initiated in which [she] compiled and sold CDs, raising $390 for Hurricane Sandy Victims by donating to the American Red Cross.’ It is the initiative and willingness to serve others that sets her apart from many. I look forward to seeing the results of Shan’s service in our community and know that she positively influenced those among her to become more involved.”
The Congressional Award is the United States Congress’ award for the youngest Americans. The program is open to 14-23 year olds across the Nation. Participants may earn the Bronze, Silver or Gold Medals by achieving personal goals. Since the awards’ inception in 1979, more than 49,000 people have earned Congressional Award Medals and have completed more than 3.5 million volunteer hours.
To earn the Gold Medal Award, students must spend two or more years completing 400 hours of public service, 200 hours of personal development, 200 hours of physical fitness and 5 days and 4 nights of exploration.
Congresswoman Johnson Holds Alternative Hearing On Climate Change
Researchers, diplomats and policy experts warned about the dangers of ignoring clear research showing that humans are warming the planet at an alarming rate in an unofficial hearing hosted by Democratic lawmakers.
The discussion was an alternative to the recent hearings in the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, run by Chairman Lamar Smith, the conservative Texas Republican who has accused federal climate scientists of engaging in a global conspiracy. He has subpoenaed researchers whose work negates the idea that climbing temperatures have paused, a key talking point for climate skeptics.
Whereas the Republican-led hearings emphasize, and sometimes exaggerate, uncertainties in climate science, the roundtable yesterday hosted by committee Democrats focused on its alarming findings.
The discussion was meant to show that lawmakers are not yielding the climate discussion to those who reject mainstream science, said Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), the committee's ranking member.
“We feel very strongly that the persons who believe in the scientific research should have an opportunity to be heard, and not to just sit by and let the skeptics do all the talking just because they're in charge right now,” she said.
That such a hearing would be held is a picture of America at this political moment, where scientific research that captures the attention of leaders elsewhere in the world is often viewed with suspicion.
Conservative lawmakers in other countries often recognize the overwhelming science that shows humanity's role in climate change and have signed on to address the challenge of scaling back carbon emissions.
And while climate policy will long be debated by conservatives and liberals, the rejection of its scientific underpinnings seems like a phenomenon that's unique to America, said David O'Sullivan, ambassador of the E.U. delegation to the United States.
Conservatives in other countries have accepted that the science is real and are looking for solutions because “in Europe, the debate is over,” he said.
“There is a much, much greater consensus in Europe about the fact that climate change is a problem, that human intervention is heavily responsible for it and that we need to act to intervene in it to slow that down or correct it,” O'Sullivan said. “I am sometimes surprised by the liveliness of the debate about whether or not climate change is real or whether human intervention is responsible here in the United States.”
Republicans have moved quickly to scale back federal funding for science in recent weeks. The Trump administration proposed hundreds of millions of dollars in cuts, and the House Science Committee has advanced legislation that critics say would weaken science used to craft regulations.
Yesterday, U.S. EPA revealed that it was not renewing the terms of dozens of members of its board of scientific advisers, who review legislation. Trump did not cite scientific research when he withdrew the United States from the international Paris climate agreement a few weeks ago, though the agreement was based on science.
NUCLEAR WAR AND GLOBAL WARMING
Researchers at the hearing said that Trump's past description on global warming as a “hoax” has damaging consequences. Scientists are now duty-bound to speak out in public to defend their work, said Ben Santer, an atmospheric scientist at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
“I don't believe in trickle-down ignorance, that when ignorance is manifest at the highest levels, when words like 'hoax' [and] 'conspiracy' are used right at the top. Those words matter, others hear them. Cutting the funding for science is concerning, but cutting the legitimacy for science, undercutting basic scientific understanding, is just as concerning,” he said.
This week, two of Trump's Cabinet secretaries questioned basic climate science. In an interview on CNBC on Monday, Energy Secretary Rick Perry claimed that carbon dioxide emissions are not the primary driver of climate change. Scientists say they are.
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt made a similar claim earlier this year, even though it's an established basis of climate science that humans are warming the Earth through activity like driving cars.
As the roundtable discussion was being held in the Rayburn House Office Building yesterday, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke was in a budget hearing across the street, questioning the accuracy of climate models widely relied upon by researchers.
Democrats acknowledged that there will always be political differences on climate policy, but they said climate science should not be a victim of that fight.
Source: Scientific America
Congresswoman Johnson Responds To Trump's Cuba Policy Change
'I am disappointed in the President's attempt to drag America back 55 years, when American-Cuban relations were extremely tense,' said Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson. 'The impulsive decision to cut ties with Cuba will result in disastrous consequences that will hurt Texas and American farmers, businesses and airlines. I know firsthand, it will limit opportunities for our universities as well as a number of my constituents who are there as part of medical and environmental research.'
Congresswoman Johnson traveled to Cuba with President Obama in March 2016 as well as a number of congressional delegations in the past in support of the normalization of U.S.-Cuba relations and ending the outdated Cold War policy of isolation.
'A year ago, I was excited about the new chapter in American-Cuban relations, but today, I am saddened by the turn of events. I was hopeful that our relationship with Cuba would be strengthened, but with the new Trump policies, both the U.S. and the Cuban economies will be harmed.' - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson
Congresswoman Johnson Named 2017 Legislator Award For Mental Health Reform
Congresswoman Johnson received the 2017 Legislator Award from Mental Health America for the work she performed in fighting for fair solutions and resources to help those with mental illness. Mental Health America also awarded Representative Tim Murphy (R-PA), Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) for their efforts in authoring, contributing to, and passing the legislation surrounding mental health.
“It is an honor to receive this award with my colleagues—Rep. Tim Murphy and Senators Bill Cassidy and Chris Murphy, who worked tirelessly in helping shape how we address mental illness in our communities,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “Because of our backgrounds and our previous work in Congress, we were all determined to move the needle on mental health in America.”
“What my colleagues and I noticed were a lack of resources available to those in need, the inability to receive treatment during the earlier stages of mental illness, and the visibility of mental illness in our prisons and homeless population. In December 2016, provisions of the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act were included in the 21st Century Cures Act, which was passed in the House and Senate and signed by President Barack Obama to counter some of the issues faced by the severely mentally ill. This will serve as a basis of mental health reform moving forward and will help us to fix our broken mental health system, refocusing programs and removing unnecessary barriers to care. There is still much more work to be done and I will continue to work and fight for additional mental health and substance use disorder reforms to improve public health for our deserving nation.” - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson
Congresswoman Johnson Introduces Resolution Honoring U.S. Capitol Police
H. Con. Res. 64 was created in order to recognize the United States Capitol Police (USCP) and their officers’ dedication to protecting the institution and its staff in the face of new and dynamic threats in the 21st century. This resolution will help honor and respect the bravery displayed by USCP on a daily basis and for their innumerable sacrifices to protect Members of Congress, their staff, and the general public.
“I have served for almost a quarter of a century in the United States Congress, and I have witnessed on many accounts the men and women of the U.S. Capitol Police putting their lives on the line to protect this community,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “Their dedication to this institution and its people has been steadfast, even in the face of the dynamic threats that face Congress. The officers work tirelessly toward ensuring our security, often times without apparent gratitude or recognition. This resolution is just one way for the Congressional community to honor these individuals and express our gratitude once and for all.”
“U.S. Capitol Police do not see red or blue,” said Rep. Reichert. “And as we saw yesterday, they do not hesitate to act swiftly and take fire when someone’s safety is at risk. In an environment where the airwaves are filled with headlines of political feuds, they are a steady, unbiased source of comfort and security to the Capitol Hill community. Their commitment to serving and protecting Members of Congress, congressional aids, and visitors from around the world is party-blind and unwavering. I am proud to join a bipartisan group of colleagues in recognizing their tremendous sacrifice, bravery, and professionalism.”
“The U.S. Capitol Police are some of America’s finest men and women in uniform,” said Rep. Carson. “Each day, these officers perform some of the most important jobs here on the Hill: protecting the thousands of men and women who work at the Capitol complex, as well as the millions of visitors who travel here each year in hopes of seeing our democracy at work. I am proud to join a bipartisan group of colleagues in recognizing their tremendous efforts.”
“The Capitol Police generally don’t get the recognition they deserve. Their bravery this week saved lives, which is just as important as the peace of mind they provide as our nation’s duly elected decision-makers shuffle between buildings and venues all day long,” said Rep. Pascrell. “This is a thankless job about 99 percent of the time. So, I’m proud to honor, not only Special Agents Crystal Griner and David Bailey, who showed extraordinary courage this week, but the full force that protects and serves our nation’s capital.” - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson
Congresswoman Johnson's Statement Following Attorney General Sessions' Senate Testimony
“Today, Attorney General Jeff Sessions was questioned by Congress over allegations of collusion with Russian officials during the 2016 election and any efforts by the Trump Administration to undermine the independent investigation into Russian meddling in our domestic affairs. Unfortunately, I found that many of the questions asked were met with hostility and a general unwillingness to provide clear and concise responses to legitimate inquiries by United States senators. Attorney General Sessions’ failure to answer several basic questions further erodes the American people’s trust in the current administration,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “While President Trump did not invoke executive privilege prior to the hearing, Attorney General Sessions continued to evade questions that many Americans – and not just Congress – have about this Administration and its conduct.”
“My only hope is that as the independent investigation proceeds in earnest, that we can put aside any partisanship and focus on the seriousness of the issues at hand, such as Russian involvement in our elections and potential ties of this Administration to Russian operatives. Our nation is vulnerable at this moment, and it is imperative that we respond quickly and decisively if we are to preserve the integrity of our democratic system and prevent future interference by foreign actors.” - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson
Friday, June 9, 2017
Congresswoman Johnson Introduces STEM Opportunities Act
“The need for full engagement in STEM by women and underrepresented minorities goes beyond enabling individuals to fulfill their dreams of becoming a scientist. Our economic future relies on what we do now to nurture the STEM talent that will be necessary to meet the demands of an increasingly technological and knowledge-based economy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that STEM employment is the fastest growing sector, with computer science and engineering jobs among the fastest growing STEM occupations.
“If things continue as they are now, however, I fear we will be ill equipped to fill these jobs. We are seventeen years into the 21st century and the demographics of the STEM workforce do not reflect the diversity of the nation. In 2015, women earned only 19 percent of bachelor’s degrees in engineering and 18 percent in computer science. Black and Hispanic students are similarly underrepresented in these fields at the undergraduate level, and the problem is even more pronounced in STEM faculty. Women hold only 23 percent of all tenured and tenure-track positions, while Black and Hispanic faculty combined hold a dismal 6.4 percent of these positions. We need to leverage all of our human capital if we are to achieve the necessary capacity to innovate and to discover.”
Sen. Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) introduced a companion bill to the STEM Opportunities Act in the Senate today. “Supporting a diverse STEM workforce is critical to ensuring that we, as a nation, are able remain competitive in today’s global economy,” said Senator Hirono. “By breaking down barriers to advancement, the STEM Opportunities Act represents an important step forward in addressing the factors that have limited the progression of women and underrepresented groups in STEM fields.”
The legislation would require federal agencies that fund scientific research to collect more comprehensive demographic data on the recipients of federal research awards and on STEM faculty at U.S. universities (while protecting individuals’ privacy); promote data-driven research on the participation and trajectories of women and underrepresented minorities in STEM so that policy makers can design more effective policies and practices to reduce barriers; develop, through the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), consistent federal policies for recipients of federal research awards who have caregiving responsibilities, including care for a newborn or newly adopted child, and consistent federal guidance to grant reviewers and program officers on best practices to minimize the effects of implicit bias in the review of federal research grants; require the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop and disseminate guidance to universities to aid them in identifying any cultural and institutional barriers limiting the recruitment, retention, and achievement of women and minorities in research careers and developing and implementing current best practices for reducing such barriers; require OSTP to develop and issue similar guidance to all federal laboratories; and authorize NSF to award grants to universities to implement or expand research-based practices targeted specifically to increasing the recruitment and retention of minority students and faculty.
Ranking Member Johnson said of the legislation, “In developing this legislation, we solicited extensive input from governmental and non-governmental stakeholders to ensure that the guidance and requirements reflect today’s needs and opportunities without unduly burdening our research universities. The result is a bill that attempts to systematically address the full suite of issues facing both female and minority STEM researchers, from work-life balance policies, to campus climate, to better data collection, to recruitment and retention practices. This bill proposes concrete and evidence-based solutions to the indisputable reality that our nation continues to fall well short of engaging our entire talent pool in STEM careers. That disparity in our STEM workforce will continue to have real and increasing consequences to our social, economic, and national security if we do not begin to implement scalable solutions soon...”
In 2015, the GAO released a report (GAO-15-358) that found that three federal agencies, which collectively provide $3 billion in research funding to our nation’s colleges and universities, were failing to collect demographic data for recipients of federal research grants, while other agencies have been doing so for years. This data is necessary to determine whether gender discrimination is a factor in the distribution of federal research grants. Since then, at least two of the agencies have made progress in their data collection efforts. However, this legislation would help ensure that all federal science agencies meet the same standards for ensuring transparency and fairness in the grant-making process.
Congresswoman Johnson's Statement Following Former FBI Director Comey's Senate Testimony
“Hearing the live testimony by former FBI Director James Comey leaves us with more questions than answers,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “However, one point is clear – we can no longer excuse the President’s behavior and complete disregard for maintaining a sense of propriety and lawfulness in his actions as a public official. The fact that Mr. Comey had to take deliberate steps to protect himself due to the lack of trust and apparent conflicts of interest among cabinet officials in the White House is deeply disturbing. It is quite unfortunate that President Trump has chosen to undermine the credibility of the federal government in this way and detract from the more meaningful discussions we should be having about issues facing our nation.”
“Mr. Comey’s need to testify before Congress today highlights the dire consequences of delaying a fully independent commission from investigating the Trump-Russia connection and the possibility of collusion during the 2016 campaign between President Trump, his associates, and Russian operatives. After today’s hearing, it appears that Mr. Comey was fired for his unwillingness to yield to President Trump’s demands to subvert such an investigation. That is wrong.”
“When the President of the United States chooses to influence an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, it can create the appearance of a conflict of interest. This can undermine the American people’s trust in our government, our rule of law, and the elected officials who serve them. If a sitting president chooses to fire the law enforcement officials investigating allegations of wrongdoing committed by the administration, it sets a dangerous precedent if no repercussions follow such actions. This is where Congress must play a bigger role.”
Lastly, the Congresswoman added, “Mr. Comey recalled in his testimony that President Trump demanded and expected loyalty. The American people demand the same of our President, and they expect loyalty to our country – not to foreign adversaries.”
Friday, June 2, 2017
Congresswoman Johnson On Climate Change
Congresswoman Johnson Saddened And Embarrassed By Trump's Decision To Abandon Paris Climate Agreement
Congresswoman Johnson Recognizes LGBT Pride Month
Missed President Trump’s Pride Month proclamation? Yeah, so did we. But, as usual, Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson issued hers.
Johnson has worked closely with the LGBT community since she served in the Texas legislature where she wrote the first legislation in Texas dealing with the AIDS crisis. She’s consistently sponsored legislation including employment nondiscrimination and has a 100 percent voting record with Human Rights Campaign, celebrated marriage equality and mourned our losses with us. Here’s what she said today (June 1):
This June, as we celebrate LGBT Pride Month let’s renew our fight to end discrimination against LGBT Americans.
A year ago this month, the LGBT community was violently attacked at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Although our celebration this year is marred by sorrow, we must remain resilient in fighting to protect the rights of those in the LGBT community. They should be able to freely enjoy themselves in public places without fear of being attacked. So this month, we will continue to remember the 49 beautiful souls who lost their lives, and all of the survivors and family members still reeling from this hateful attack.
We still live in a time when across this country our LGBT friends and family members can still be fired from their jobs or evicted from their apartment just because of who they are or who they love. We all must to do more to protect the dignity of the LGBT community. I commit myself to continuing to fight for full legal and societal equality for LGBT people. Last month, I was proud to join 194 of my House colleagues in reintroducing the Equality Act, comprehensive civil rights legislation that will provide nondiscrimination protections for LGBT people all across this country.
Pride Month recognizes the courage it takes for LGBT people to come out as their true selves into a society that is not always accepting. It is an observance of those who have fought for equality, in some case losing their freedom or even their lives. And it is a celebration of how far we have all come, for when we are more welcoming to our LGBT friends and family we are a stronger, more resilient and more unified society.
I pledge to keep fighting to ensure LGBT Americans have the safety and security they deserve in our Dallas community and across the nation. So I am joining countless others in taking this Pride Month to recognize the significant contributions our LGBT friends and family members have made to the fabric of our nation and stand together in the fight for full and total equality.
SOURCE: Dallas Voice
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