Congresswoman Johnson Congratulates DFW International Airport For Receiving $52 Million In Grant Funding From FAA

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson attended a ceremony to commemorate this important occasion at DFW International Airport and announced that the airport will be receiving a total of $52 million in federal funding through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program.  Approximately $49.5 million will be committed to the refurbishment of Runway 17-Center/35-Center, DFW’s busiest arrival runway, while an additional $2.6 million will help fund a lighting upgrade for the Terminal ramp areas.

“DFW consistently remains the third busiest airport in the world based on aircraft movements.  I am incredibly proud to serve as one of DFW’s key federal partners in helping to ensure that our airport has the resources it needs to be effective, while meeting the growing demands of the DFW region,” said Congresswoman Johnson.  “As the most senior Texan on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I will fight to ensure that we continue to make those investments in airports like DFW so that we can stay ahead of the competition and keep America moving.”

Congresswoman Johnson Decries House Passage Of Republican Tax Bill

“Prior to the vote today, I reached out to mayors and city managers within my congressional district asking for their position and input.  What I received were overwhelming concerns about how this would impact our communities,” said Congresswoman Johnson.  “I wholeheartedly believe that we are long overdue for changes to our federal tax code.  And the hope was that when we considered tax reform in Congress, that it would be a fair and balanced approach that considered the views of all Americans and not just a select few.”

“The bill passed out of the House will prove to be a huge burden on small businesses and working and middle class families.  In fact, there are more than 64,000 employer establishments in Dallas County that contribute to our local, state, and national economy.  However, this bill ignores the challenges currently facing American workers, families, and students in favor of slashing taxes for the wealthiest Americans and most profitable corporations.”

A host of tax credits and deductions will be cut under the current Republican tax plan – such as individual credits and deductions, child tax credits, student loan interest deductions, and lifetime learning credits – in an effort to fund a bill that will decrease corporate taxes by 15%, consolidate individual tax rates into just 4 new brackets, and repeal both the estate tax and alternative minimum tax to the great benefit of wealthy Americans and U.S. corporations.

“While I do agree that a modern tax code is desperately needed to help shore up funding for critical infrastructure projects, scientific research, and education, the Republican tax plan falls short of helping to address these dire needs.  I urge the Senators to listen the concerns of middle class citizens, academic institutions and local governments. And we must remind our senators that this bill is catastrophically flawed.  The devastation that this bill would wreak on our economy is too great to ignore, the effects of which would be widespread and long-lasting.”

Congresswoman Johnson opposes Republican Tax Bill Attacking Students, Graduates, and Teachers

Congresswoman Johnson opposes Republican Tax Bill that a new report shows 20,624 people in Texas will lose student loan interest deduction and 353,650 Texas teachers will lose deduction for buying school supplies:

“Affording an education is difficult enough in the 21st century economy,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “Yet, this brutal Republican tax plan would bury many students and graduates under a mountain of debt. Young men and women who reached for the promise of higher education will face a heavier burden from their loans that will push their American Dreams further and further from reach. If that weren’t cruel enough, our teachers and schools will also face devastating new costs.”

H.R.1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Acts, eliminates key deductions for students, young graduates and teachers across the country, just to hand deficit-exploding giveaways to the wealthiest Americans and corporations shipping jobs overseas. In the 30th district alone, 20,624 people will lose the student loan interest deduction under the Republican bill, according to a new analysis by the Center for American Progress. Altogether, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, the House Republican bill raises taxes on 36 million middle class families nationwide.

This bill also takes numerous steps that would harm millions of students, employees, and teachers, including by ripping away the lifeline of the student loan interest deduction that 12 million graduates rely on, ending lifetime learning credits, ending tax-free tuition assistance from employers and decimating the state and local tax deduction that helps fund our schools. The Republican bill also eliminates deductions for teachers who buy school supplies for their students, stripping a key deduction away from 353,650 teachers  in Texas. 

“Educating our young people is the most important investment government can make,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “How will Texas Republicans justify stealing from students and schools, just so they can write bigger checks for the super-rich and corporations shipping jobs overseas?  The American people deserve real tax reform that puts the middle class first, not the insulting rip-off that Republicans are pushing in this Republican Tax Scam.”

Congresswoman Johnson Introduces Bi-Partisan Legislation To Improve National Suicide Prevention Hotline

Congresswoman Johnson has introduced bi-partisan legislation with Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), and Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), to improvethe National Suicide Prevention Hotline. This bill, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline Improvement Act, aims to designate a new national 3-digit dialing code – similar to 911 – to be used for a mental health crisis and suicide prevention hotline.

While there is currently a National Suicide Prevention Lifeline phone number, 1-800-273-TALK, it can be cumbersome to remember. This bill works to simplify the hotline phone number to make it more accessible to Americans in their time of need. This is particularly timely as May is National Mental Health Awareness Month.

“Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States,” said Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson. “I am pleased to work with Congressman Stewart on a National Suicide Prevention Hotline which will help Americans during a time of need. While resources do currently exist for this purpose, the national phone number is challenging to recall. We must find a solution for those struggling during a mental health crisis and provide a solution during a difficult time.”

“Each year, almost 35,000 Americans tragically take their own life,” said Rep. Chris Stewart. “In addition, one person attempts to commit suicide every 38 seconds. This is devastating to families and communities. The resources we currently have in place for suicide prevention and other mental health crises are simply too difficult to find during a time of need. This bill works to streamline and provide easy access to potentially lifesaving resources.”

“Every 14 hours, a Utahn commits suicide, resulting in an average of 557 deaths each year,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch. “The problem is so acute that Utah now has the 5th highest suicide rate in the nation. This trend is particularly pronounced among Utah’s youth. Utah’s teenagers desperately need our help. That’s why last December I convened a roundtable discussion with community leaders, healthcare professionals, principals, and parents at East High School in Salt Lake City. There, we discussed proven methods to destigmatize mental illness and address the teen suicide crisis. In response to what I learned at our roundtable discussion, I will introduce the bipartisan National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act, which will make it easier for Americans to access the help and treatment they need when they consider harming themselves.”

“As we work to reduce the number of suicides in Indiana and across the country, this bill would examine if an easy-to-remember, 3-digit hotline would help save lives,” said Sen. Joe Donnelly. “I’m proud to work with Senator Hatch on this bipartisan effort, because we can all support working to improve mental health services and ending the stigma attached to mental health issues.”

While there is currently a National Suicide Prevention Lifeline phone number, 1-800-273-TALK, it can be cumbersome to remember. This bill works to simplify the hotline phone number to make it more accessible to Americans in their time of need. This is particularly timely as May is National Mental Health Awareness Month.

Specifically, The National Suicide Prevention Hotline Improvement Act:
Asks the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to conduct the following study:

• Recommend the best national three-digit number for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline.
• Examine the overall effectiveness of the current National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line and recommend ways to improve the current system

• Perform a cost and benefit analysis of using a three-digit dialing code for this hotline system.

Congresswoman Johnson Hosts STEM For All - The Future Of The U.S. Workforce

Experts project the American workforce will need a million science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) graduates by 2022. To realize this vision of a diverse workforce, the Congressional Black Caucus held a briefing this week aimed at highlighting the importance and value of blue collar jobs.

“This is the first in a series of events aimed at highlighting the importance and value of blue-collar STEM fields and what it means to include traditionally underrepresented segments of the population,” Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson said. “It is my personal commitment to join my colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus and others in Congress to ensure that every American has the tools they need to excel in these new fields.”

The discussion was hosted by Technology and Infrastructure Development Task Force co-chairs Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, Rep. Val Butler Demings and the Congressional Black Caucus Education and Labor Task Force Co-Chairs: Rep. Danny Davis, Rep. Frederica Wilson, and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman.

Dr. Victor McCrary, vice president for research and development, Morgan State University and a National Science Board Member was on the panel.

Morgan State University, Maryland’s public urban university, produces the largest number of black engineers in the state. The National Science Board governs the National Science Foundation (NSF), the government agency that supports the advancement of science and engineering.

“Both Morgan and the National Science Foundation care deeply about the health of the STEM workforce,” McCrary said. “This includes blue-collar STEM workers, which the National Academies have termed the skilled technical workforce.”

McCrary noted the growing importance and pervasiveness of science and technology in the American economy.

“Recent estimates suggest over 12 percent of all the jobs in the U.S. require skilled technical workers, that’s over 16 million jobs,” McCrary said, adding that more than 11 million jobs— from farms to factory floors and everything in between— required some college education.

“We all need to be lifelong learners, adapting to a constantly evolving workplace as the cost of 4-year degrees continues to grow in leaps and bounds,” McCrary said.

Programs like the NSF’s Advanced Technological Education (ATE) are making a difference.

The ATE focuses on the education of blue-collar workers for high-tech fields that drive the American economy. ATE partners with academic institutions and industry to promote improvement in the education of science and engineering technicians at the undergraduate and secondary school levels.

The ATE program also encourages partnerships with institutions like Morgan State University, Baltimore’s urban university, which support the recruitment, retention of students underrepresented in STEM in technician education programs that award associate degrees.

“ATE does what the NSF does best,” McCrary said.

According to a recent study, students in 2-year programs accounted for 40 percent of undergraduates across all fields of study.

A 2014 analysis of data on community college entrants in 2003–2004 found that about half were enrolled at some time in a STEM field over the following 6 years.

Community colleges offer STEM programs that provide an “on-ramp” to science and engineering study and develop the knowledge and skills required to directly enter the workforce.

“This workforce is vital to the well being of our society and to the economic competitiveness of our nation,” McCrary said. “We should care about this workforce because we live in a global economy where knowledge is king, and in the new world, we should do all we can to make sure that none of us is left behind.”

Other members of the panel spoke on the variety of pathways in STEM for high-skill as well as middle-skill jobs and success stories such as Chicago’s Computer Science for All initiative.

The panel included Dr. Steve McGee, president of The Learning Partnership; Pat Yongpradit, chief academic officer at Code.org; and Jacqueline E. Rodriguez, program associate at Opportunity@Work. The briefing was moderated by Spencer Overton, president of The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.

“The discussion surrounding the skills necessary to succeed in a 21st-century economy is one that must continue,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “When we discuss opportunities in STEM and the future of our workforce, the conversation should also be inclusive of those who have chosen to pursue a two-year degree or vocational training. Every person deserves the opportunity to participate in our economy.”

The 2017 Budget prioritized three major areas for investment to support STEM education for all students:

• Expanding access to rigorous STEM courses

• Improving STEM teaching and supporting active learning

• Overcoming stereotypes and expanding opportunities for all students in STEM, including through a comprehensive NSF effort that will invest $16 million to support alliances and backbone organizations dedicated to increasing diversity and successfully engaging traditionally underrepresented groups in STEM.

Congresswoman Johnson Honors The Contributions Of Veterans

"I am very grateful for the sacrifices made by our current service members and veterans in our community, including the more than 105,000 veterans in Dallas County alone," said Congresswoman Johnson. "These men and women of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard are the real heroes who continue to put their lives on the line. Our veterans and their family members deserve our profound gratitude and respect. We are indebted to their willingness to serve and protect our freedom every day."

"As a granddaughter, daughter, niece, wife and sister of a veteran, I have stood by veterans my entire life and will continue to ensure that they receive the benefits they have hard earned for their service to this great country. We must protect their access to affordable and quality healthcare, and provide them with the resources needed to pursue educational opportunities and quality jobs and when they return home. So, I remain committed to supporting legislation that protects veterans and their families."

Congresswoman Johnson continued to discuss her plans for Veterans Day, "I hope that you will join me this weekend by honoring our veterans and service members who have given so much to this nation by participating in Vet Fest at the Historic Nance Farm on Saturday, November 11th."

Congresswoman Johnson Hosts Blue Collar STEM Briefing On Future Of U.S. Workforce

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson hosted a briefing with Members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), entitled Blue Collar STEM: The Future of the U.S. Workforce. The briefing was organized to demonstrate a commitment by policymakers to support efforts to modernize our approach to workforce training and help steer young leaders into fields that will enable them to compete in a global economy. This event was organized with her co-chair of the CBC Technology and Infrastructure Development Task Force, Congresswoman Val Demings:

“The discussion surrounding the future our of workforce and the skills necessary to succeed in a 21st century economy is one that must continue,” said Congresswoman Johnson.  “When we discuss opportunities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and the future of our workforce, the conversation should also be inclusive of those who have chosen to pursue a two-year degree or vocational training.  Every person deserves the opportunity to participate in our economy.”

“This is the first in a series of events aimed at highlighting the importance and value of blue collar STEM fields and what it means to include traditionally underrepresented segments of the population.  It is my personal commitment to join my colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus and others in Congress to ensure that every American has the tools they need to excel in these new fields.”

The following individuals participated in the panel: Dr. Victor McCrary, Vice President for Research and Economic Develop, Morgan State University and National Science Board Member; Dr. Steve McGee, President of The Learning Partnership; Pat Yongpradit, Chief Academic Officer at Code.org; and Jacqueline E. Rodriguez,Program Associate at Opportunity@Work.  The briefing was moderated by Spencer Overton, President of The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.

Congresswoman Johnson Welcomes Reverend Michael Waters To The U.S. Capitol

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson welcomed Reverend Michael Waters, founding pastor of Joy Tabernacle African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church from Dallas, TX, as he opened prayer on the House floor of the U.S. Capitol. Reverend Waters was accompanied by his family, friends, and church members.

“It was an honor to host Reverend Michael Waters and his family today at the U.S. Capitol,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “Rev. Waters is a true community servant and man of God that continues to help everyone. Earlier in the year he served at my annual prayer breakfast and has been a notable friend of the community. He continues to be a strong and respected leader with his powerful words and commitment to helping others.”

“Additionally, I am proud of the efforts made by his wife, Mrs. Yulise Waters, in co-founding the Second Chance Community Improvement Program Court. Their program equips men ages 18-30 with skills to succeed in the world upon re-entry by providing mental health services, career development, and basic life skills training. It was a reminder that we cannot give up on the men and women who are imprisoned and the ones who have a second chance at life. I look forward to working with him and his church, Joy Tabernacle A.M.E., in the near future by uplifting those in our communities with resources, education and awareness.”

Congresswoman Johnson Denounces Republican Purge Of Scientists From Environmental Protection Agency's Advisory Boards

Scientists receiving grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington, D.C., many of them leading university researchers, are being purged from the agency’s advisory boards. The move, announced today by EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, bars scientists from serving on these boards if they are now receiving money through an agency grant. It marks a major change in who can serve on the committees, which help steer EPA research and regulations by providing input on scientific questions.

Pruitt announced a new policy, effective immediately, restricting who is eligible to serve on agency advisory panels. It bans scientists from sitting on the committees while they are receiving EPA grant funding. Pruitt said the new policy was designed to prevent a conflict of interest. “When we have members of those committees that received tens of millions of dollars in grants at the same time that they are advising this agency on rulemaking, that is not good,” Pruitt said.

He has not raised similar concerns about potential conflicts of interest for scientists who work for regulated industries or state and local governments subject to EPA regulation. A majority of the scientists on the EPA committees have traditionally hailed from academia, with a handful from private industry, environmental groups, and state and local governments.

Regulated industries have been pushing for years to boost their presence on these advisory boards. The 
U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year passed a Republican-backed bill that mirrors much of what 
Pruitt did today. One of its main sponsors was Representative Lamar Smith (R–TX), chairperson of the 
House science committee and a frequent critic of the science behind environmental regulations, particularly 
climate change. That bill won the support of industry-backed groups including the American Chemistry 
Council in Washington, D.C. But similar measures have failed to gain traction in the Senate, and have 
never become law. So, in essence, Pruitt took administrative action to accomplish what Republicans in 
Congress could not.

Smith appeared with Pruitt today and praised the new policy, saying it will enable “honest government, 
sound scientific opinions, and a more responsive EPA.”

Environmental groups, meanwhile, have warned that restricting grant-funded researchers will weaken the 
scientific rigor of the panels and tilt the balance toward people representing the groups that have a financial 
stake in less-restrictive regulations.

EPA didn’t provide a list of current board members who are disqualified. But people recently dismissed 
from the main advisory board before completing their terms include scientists from the University of 
Washington in Seattle; Harvard University; Stanford University in Palo Alto, California; the University of 
Southern California in Los Angeles; and Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts.

The agency is one of the primary sources of environmental science funding in the country. Much of that research is done by the agency itself, through the Office of Research and Development. It also gives external grants, including approximately $50 million a year through its Science to Achieve Results program. The new policy would ban current recipients of those grants, many of them university researchers. In 2016, the agency listed grants with 36 principal investigators to scientists at eight universities. In his remarks today, Pruitt said committee members included people receiving a total of about $77 million in EPA funding over the past 3 years.

Though the agency didn’t release a full list today, Pruitt introduced the new heads of the three main 
committees.Michael Honeycutt, lead toxicologist for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in 
Austin, takes over as chairperson of the Science Advisory Board. Honeycutt has challenged EPA moves to 
tighten standards for ozone pollution. He replaces Peter Thorne, head of the University of Iowa’s 
Department of Occupational and Environmental Health in Iowa City.The new head of the scientific 
counselors panel is Paul Gilman, an executive at Covanta, a New Jersey company that handles waste, 
including incinerating waste to produce energy. He worked at EPA during former President George W. 
Bush’s administration as the agency’s science adviser.  It was previously led by Deborah Swackhamer, a 
professor at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis who studies toxic chemicals in the environment. On
the clean air committee, it’s Tony Cox, expert in risk analysis whose private consulting firm in Colorado 
lists industry clients in the oil and chemical industries.He replaces Ana Diez Roux, an epidemiologist at 
Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

"Allowing scientists funded by the very industries the agency is tasked with regulating to participate on independent science review panels, while prohibiting leading scientists simply because they have received funding through EPA grants, is the height of hypocrisy.” — Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, ranking member on the House science committee

Congresswoman Johnson Condemns Trump's Executive Order Threatening Healthcare

“President Trump is failing the American people when he chooses not to exercise proper judgment and action when reviewing what is truly at stake for those who will lose their health care coverage due to his proposed policies,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “By signing an executive order the president is creating an unleveled playing field for certain insurance companies allowing “short-term” plans to play by different rules.”   

“This legislation has the ability to rob millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions of affordable health coverage. And it will allow businesses to provide coverage that doesn’t cover much at all. 

Congresswoman Johnson continued to stress, “it is important we work together in Congress to provide all Americans with access and affordable health care without driving up costs that will ultimately cut their coverage. We should continue to listen to how our constituents and those across the nation are personally impacted by the health care system, instead of making unilateral decisions that can ultimately harm millions.”

Congresswoman Johnson Honours Vivian Castleberry

 “Vivian Castleberry lived an amazing life and leaves behind a rich legacy because of her humility, boldness and tenacity to push through the gender lines,” said Congresswoman Johnson. Ms. Castleberry co-founded The Dallas Women's Foundation, The Family Place, and the Women's Center of Dallas and founded Peacemakers Incorporated. And she inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame in 1984 which was the same year of its creation. “Her success in shining the light on capable and accomplished women has contributed to today's women's movement. I am proud to have known Ms. Castleberry—a journalistic pioneer.”  

Congresswoman Johnson added, “I will always remember Vivian as one of my good friends and supporters over the years. She will be greatly missed.”

Congresswoman Johnson Opposes Republican Tax Plan That Would Raise Taxes On District 30 Families

“Real tax reform doesn’t raise taxes on hard-working families while handing billions of dollars in tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans. Unfortunately, that is precisely what the Ryan-McConnell tax plan would do,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “I call upon all of my Texas Republican colleagues to join me in opposing this inexplicable plan to raise taxes on working people.  Families in my district should not be paying more in taxes so that Republicans can add trillions to the deficit while giving tax breaks to billionaires and our largest corporations. Instead, the Ryan-McConnell tax plan places the burden squarely on the backs of our most vulnerable segments of the population.”

An additional analysis by the non-partisan Tax Policy Center found that 80 percent of the individual tax cuts in the Ryan-McConnell tax framework would go to the wealthiest one percent of Americans. Millions of middle class families would pay more in taxes under the Republican framework.

“The Ryan-McConnell tax plan relies on the same tired, trickle-down tax agenda that Republicans have used for decades,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “I will fight for the people of District 30 and stand firm in demanding real tax reform that puts the middle class first, with not one penny in tax cuts for the top 1 percent.”

Congresswoman Johnson Requests Additional Funding For Harvey Relief

Congresswoman Johnson joins Senator John Cornyn and SenatorTed Cruz along with Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX), led a bipartisan, bicameral letter from the Texas congressional delegation to leaders of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees urging them to include $18.7 billion in funding for relief and recovery efforts from Hurricane Harvey in the next Supplemental Appropriations bill.

“Texas greatly appreciates the appropriations committees’ efforts to swiftly provide funds,” the Members wrote. “However, in light of the unprecedented damage from Hurricane Harvey and the historically epochal flooding of Houston, Beaumont and surrounding regions, we all recognize that the funding already appropriated is a small fraction of the federal resources needed to help rebuild Texas and reinvigorate the American economy.”

Congresswoman Johnson Condemns Senseless Las Vegas Attacks

“The violence that took place in Las Vegas last night is yet another senseless act of gun violence to shake our nation. I extend my heartfelt condolences and prayers to the victims and family members of those who were faced with such horrific violence. The perpetrator’s actions were deplorable, reprehensible, and inexcusable. While his actions were aimed to strike fear at the heart of the American people, we are a strong nation and a community that will stand together as one during these difficult times.

“This is an important time to mourn the loss of our loved ones. However, it is also an important time to act. I will work with my colleagues in Congress to consider preventive measures to alleviate tensions throughout our society and stop such egregious attacks on innocent people before they happen.” - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson

Congresswoman Johnson Announces AFG SAFER Program Reauthorization Act of 2017

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space & Technology, along with U.S. Representatives Dave Reichert (R-WA), a law enforcement veteran of 33 years, Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), Peter King (R-NY), and Steny Hoyer (D-MD) co-chairs of the Congressional Fire Service Caucus, announced the AFG and SAFER Program Reauthorization Act of 2017. Each year more than one million fire and emergency services personnel respond to over 30 million emergency calls across the country. This bipartisan legislation would ensure that our over 30,000 fire departments continue to have access to the necessary training, equipment, and staffing to conduct emergency response missions and to continue to reduce community risk. Specifically, this legislation would reauthorize the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, the Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grant program, the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants. Congressional authorization for these grants expire tomorrow and sunset in January 2, 2018. The bill is a companion to S.829, sponsored by Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Jon Tester (D-MT), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tom Carper (D-DE).

"Every day our firefighters risk their lives to keep us safe, so it is important that we make every effort to support the important work and service they provide to our communities. This legislation will allow our first responders to enhance their fire prevention program and reduce the incidences of injury or death, helping them to continue the vital services they provide to our community." - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson

Background on AFG, FP&S, and SAFER Grant program

Congress created these grant programs to help address the significant staffing, equipment, training, and health and safety needs of fire departments. The SAFER Grant program provides funding to cover the costs associated with hiring personnel to maintain safe staffing levels. The AFG program makes funds available for fire departments to purchase equipment, provide training, and meet other fire department needs. The FP&S Grant program provides assistance to fire departments to support projects that enhance the safety of the public and firefighters from fire and related hazards in order to reduce injury and prevent death among high-risk populations.

Details of the AFG and SAFER Program Reauthorization Act of 2017

In order to improve upon the success of these grant programs, this legislation makes the following minor changes as part of the reauthorization:

• Eliminates the sunset provision: This legislation removes the sunset provision in current authorization for these grant programs in order to keep the programs from expiring.

• Extends the authorization date: This legislation extends the current AFG and SAFER Grant programs’ authorization levels of $750 million through FY 2023.

• Individual waiver authority: The last authorization for the SAFER grant program allowed the FEMA Administrator the discretion to waive the local match requirement. Erroneously, the bill only waived the reference to the local match requirement in one part of the statute and not the other, creating a situation where FEMA is unable to exercise the waiver authority as Congress intended. This legislation makes the technical correction to ensure the waiver authority operates as Congress intended for jurisdictions with demonstrated local hardship.

• Improved oversight: This legislation requires the FEMA Administrator and Assistant Administrator for the Grant Program Directorate to make grants administration training available online so potential grant recipients are better able to access and manage grants. Additionally, the legislation requires the development and implementation of an oversight framework to reduce potential waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement.

• Expanded use of SAFER funds: This bill expands the use for SAFER grants so that fire departments may change part-time or paid-on-call firefighters to full-time firefighters.

Congresswoman Johnson Recognizes District 30 Schools That Received National Blue Ribbon Honors

Congresswoman Johnson was notified by the U.S. Department of Education that 342 schools were selected as honorees of the National Blue Ribbon. Three of the 342 schools are from District 30 - the Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy at B.F. Darrell Middle School, Dallas Environmental Science Academy, and Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women's Leadership School. The students at these schools were among the state's highest performing schools.

'This is very exciting news to have affirmation that our efforts to effectively educate our children in Dallas are successful,' said Congresswoman Johnson. 'Students at all levels are on the trajectory to succeed in their future endeavors because of our educators' commitment to providing a welcoming and fulfilling educational experience. I look forward to seeing even more schools from our district highlighted for their exemplary performance in the future.'

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.

Congresswoman Johnson Calls On Trump Administration To Support Historically Black Colleges & Universities

For schools that make up just 3 percent of all higher education offerings, historically black colleges and universities have an outsized impact on the success of African-Americans and the workforce as a whole.

More than 20 percent of African-American college graduates receive their degree from an HBCU, and the schools are responsible for producing an impressive proportion of STEM degrees earned by African-Americans, including 31 percent of biological science and math degrees. Moreover, 40 percent of African-American members of Congress, 50 percent of African-American lawyers, and 80 percent of African-American judges graduated from an HBCU.

But HBCUS are currently reeling from rising costs, declining enrollment and a host of other obstacles that are rocking the entire higher education sector.

Those trends have had a concentrated effect on HBCUs, which primarily serve low-income and first-generation students who rely more heavily on student loans and who are also in need of more remedial education.

"I am not convinced, frankly, that this administration is even aware of the importance of the history of HBCUs," Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, says. "It's not for a photo op. It is not to make you look like you're doing something. It's a real thing and if we cannot get to the bottom of where we are with support, and I have not seen that forthcoming at this point, then I think we have a sham."

SOURCE: U.S. News

Congresswoman Johnson's Annual STEM Braintrust Shaping Next Tech Pipeline

Twenty-five is a significant number when it comes to this particular event in the technology space.  That's the number of years the  Science & Technology Braintrust has been held within the  Annual Legislative Conference of the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington, D.C. And it is a power-packed symposium that not only draws the likes of major tech behemoths from LinkedIn to eBay but is also quietly responsible for a part of the pipeline of the next generation of tech employees that will develop the products and services that will impact every business in the country.

Envisioned by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), the STEM Braintrust came from very humble beginnings.  "When we first launched this program," she says, "I had one company that was interested and 10 people in the audience.  Now we have all the tech giants and we've reached nearly 500 attendees in the past."  This year's plenary entitled, "Glancing Toward The Future: To Technology and Beyond" featured top executives from  Google, LinkedIn, Chevron, eBay, the National Association of Black Engineers (NBSE) and more.  Not bad for an early Fall Friday morning.

Each year the focus is to connect the young audience of color and various other constituents with professionals in the technology space so that they can learn about career paths and the manner in which to best navigate them. It's a key event for such a tense time around race in our country and the larger narrative around diversity and technology.  Kim Martin, Technical Lead/Software Engineer, Google YouTube who spoke on the panel said, "It's important for students to see real engineers.  Google is here because events like these speak to the identity of the company - to make the best product for all of humanity."

"The Braintrust is actually a social investment for the future of companies such as Google that participate," explains Dr. Reagan Flowers who moderated the morning's events and was one of the first people in the country to launch STEM programming. "This is about access to the future workforce, and that is vital to all tech companies today."

Rep. Johnson adds, "Quite simply, women and minorities are the growing populations so tapping into these demographics are the only way that the U.S. will be able to remain in the lead in the tech space."  Having introduced some of the first legislation around women and minorities back in 1974, Rep. Johnson has been a proponent of technology for most of her career in public service.  She says that she knew when she saw the first chip created by Texas Instruments that it would change our daily lives.  However, such fervor was often times met with a lukewarm welcome.  "So many people thought I was crazy at first to focus on technology and diversity. It was hard.  Even my own colleagues thought I was crazy. I simply had to persist," explains the 81-year-old.

The focus is paying off yet the journey is far from complete. Rep. Johnson stresses that vast numbers of people in our society need training for the changes that will eliminate traditional jobs.  Citing the fact that hotels in her district in Texas are already using robots for check-in, Johnson notes that the challenges will be great.  But there are additional complications that arose during discussions at the Braintrust. Regina Wallace-Jones, Chief of Staff and Head of Product Operations at eBay notes, "Part of the issue around diversity in tech is that it is still a hard sell for certain demographics.  To ask a first-generation student of color to come and live in an expensive city such as San Francisco where there is little to reflect their culture is a challenge."  Her solution?  To actually create what she calls centers of excellence in various cities.  "The tech industry needs to start to go where the diverse population is," poses Wallace-Jones. "Not the reverse."

The next steps will also be about maintaining balance.  Matthew Nelson, National Chairperson, NSBE, noted that because so much focus is on girls and tech, that the numbers for boys is starting to fall. "Don't forget that those young boys cannot be left behind in coding outreach now as well.  That's imperative."

Indeed, the next 25 years in the tech arena will, no doubt, be fraught with hurdles and setbacks but also offer some of the most astounding advancements. Perhaps one of the biggest success stories will be that such achievements were made by a society that will have worked together to create them from various talents equally represented both genders and multi-hues.

SORCE: Forbes

Congresswoman Johnson Urges HUD To Speed Up Allocation Of Harvey Relief Funds

Congresswoman Johnson joins U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz in a bipartisan, bicameral letter from members of the Texas delegation to Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson requesting that HUD allocate the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds intended for Harvey immediately, lower certain statutory income requirements, give grantees maximum flexibility when funds are dispersed, and shorten the public comment period.

“In response to this catastrophic event, Congress moved on H.R. 601 with a high sense of urgency, in an effort to make sure that the State of Texas and local governments received aid as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, Congress’ quick action can easily be undone by unnecessary delays at the agency level,” the Members wrote.

“Our constituents in Texas have been suffering from the consequences of Hurricane Harvey for nearly a month. The State of Texas and local governments are eager to begin the rebuilding and recovery process,” they continued. “We trust that HUD will give full consideration to the intent of Congress’ in appropriating these CDBG-DR funds and avoid burdensome artificial restrictions.”

Congresswoman Johnson Supports NOAA's Climate Science Research

On Sunday, the British tabloid The Mail on Sunday, was forced to publish an “adverse adjudication” against it by the Independent Press Standards Organization (IPSO), the independent regulator of the British newspaper and magazine industry, regarding a climate change story it published on February 5, 2017, by controversial reporter David Rose. The article, with the original online headline: Exposed: How world leaders were duped into investing billions over manipulated global warming data, was largely based on an interview with Dr. John Bates, a former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientist about his criticism of a NOAA climate study. In its published findings, the IPSO concluded that the article was both inaccurate and misleading.
 The article in question referred to a twice-peer reviewed scientific study published in June 2015 in the journal Science in which seven NOAA scientists, led by Thomas Karl found that the global warming “hiatus” had not actually occurred and that the planet had continued to warm over the previous 15 years.

Following publication of the Karl study, Science Committee Chairman Lamar Smith immediately launched an unsubstantiated attack against NOAA and the scientists involved in the Karl study, claiming the NOAA scientists had manipulated the data in the study for political purposes. Since they began this investigation in July 2015, the Science Committee Republicans have yet to offer a single piece of evidence to support the basis of their claims. For more details on the Majority’s investigation into this issue see the Minority Staff report, “Much Ado About Nothing: A Minority Review of the Majority’s Climate Science Investigation,” released in March 2017.
 
Science Committee Republicans had seized on the misleading The Mail on Sunday article and published their own press release the same day the article appeared on February 5, 2017 with a headline that also twisted the comments by Dr. Bates, incorrectly asserting that Dr. Bates had said NOAA colleagues “manipulated climate records.” This assertion was false. In truth, Dr. Bates took issue over how the NOAA data used in the Karl study was archived, but never suggested the data was manipulated, as both The Mail on Sunday and the Science Committee Republicans alleged. Dr. Bates, for instance, told E&E News and the Associated Press in stories published on February 6, 2017 and February 7, 2017 that he never suggested the NOAA scientists manipulated data “in any way shape or form.” Despite this, Science Committee Chairman Lamar Smith wrote to the Acting Administrator of NOAA on February 14, 2017, citing the now invalidated The Mail on Sunday article and requesting documents related to the Karl Study.
 
The Mail on Sunday article also formed the immediate impetus for a Science Committee hearing on March 29, 2017, titled: “Climate Science: Assumptions, Policy Implications, and the Scientific Method,” which included climate change skeptics invited by the Majority. One claim Dr. Bates made in The Mail on Sunday article, that the Karl study was “rushed” to publication, is contradicted by documents provided to the Committee by NOAA after the March 2017 hearing. A key e-mail from Dr. Bates actually shows he personally signed off on the Karl study on December 24, 2014 – a full six months before it was published in the journal Science. Furthermore, Dr. Bates wrote in his approval of the Karl manuscript, that he later criticized in The Mail on Sunday story, “It is a pleasure to approve your manuscript….this is an important paper. It will be highly controversial and so the roll out and support for follow up should be carefully planned and fully staffed…. Thank you for your fine contribution, and success with your submission.” Understandably, the Majority has still not released this key document as it undercuts Dr. Bates’ own assertions about the Karl study.
 
Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson commented, “The findings by the British independent press organization IPSO are significant. However, it seems unlikely that they will prevent attempts to spread false, misleading and inaccurate information about climate change in the future by climate change skeptics and deniers. I hope that my Majority Science Committee colleagues will stop trying to politicize science, and not give comfort to those who are attempting to do so. Instead, our Committee needs to focus on core scientific issues that our nation should be addressing, one of which is how we should be addressing the reality of climate change.”