Eddie Johnson

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, it has been a true honor to represent the 30th Congressional district in Washington and serve the great people of Dallas and North Texas as their representative in the U.S. House of Representatives. I have been privileged to work with so many dedicated public servants over the last 30 years to improve the lives of people not only in my district and state, but throughout the world. I can leave Congress knowing I worked hard every single day to improve the lives of my constituents by improving opportunities for employment, expanding educational access, adding healthcare options for children, seniors, and veterans, and of course bringing their tax dollars back to Texas to invest in a broad range of new and improved infrastructure projects. Throughout my career I have been privileged to be known as a trailblazer, beginning as the first female African American Chief Psychiatric Nurse at the V.A. Hospital in Dallas, as the first Registered Nurse elected to the Texas House and Senate, first woman in Texas history to chair a major Texas House committee, the Labor Committee and U.S. Congress, and the first African American and female to chair the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. I was honored to be recognized as one of the most effective legislators in Congress, sponsoring and cosponsoring more than 300 bills passed by the House and Senate and signed into law, and my acclaimed initiative, A World of Women for World Peace, has gained national and international recognition. I am also proud of founding the Diversity and Innovation Caucus and Homelessness Caucus and chairing the Lupus Caucus, the Congressional Caucus on Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Congressional Black Caucus. One of my proudest accomplishments during my time as the Chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus was to ensure that all minority voices were heard with one strong, unified voice. With that goal in mind, I formed the Tri Caucus where Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, and Congressional Hispanic Caucus came together to be a unifying group to bring attention to the issues all minority populations in this country face. My service as a senior Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has given me an opportunity to fund critical infrastructure projects in my district including the expansion of Love Field Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), the International Inland Port of Dallas, the creation of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) system, the construction of the 5.2-acre Woodall Rodgers Park project; millions of dollars for construction, operations and maintenance projects in the Dallas Floodway and Dallas Floodway Extension, drinking water facilities in North Texas as well as establishing a water research project at the University of Texas at Dallas and many other road and transportation projects such as securing funding to help complete the new signature Calatrava bridges on Interstate 30 and Interstate 35E. I successfully secured Federal Transit Administration funding for a program for intermodal terminals that will help entities like Dallas- based Greyhound Corporation improve the efficiency of public surface transportation. I also successfully secured millions of dollars for improving bus stop by adding shelters and benches. I appreciate working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers along with local partners and the North Central Texas Council of Governments to carry out various studies, projects, and programs relating to navigation, flood damage reduction, shoreline protection, dam safety, water supply, recreation, and environmental restoration and protection. As the Chair of the Water Resources subcommittee, I authorized programs that improved drinking and wastewater systems in North Texas and cleaned up the Trinity River. I also joined my Congressional Black Caucus colleagues to improve and strengthen Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) programs and expand opportunities for minority and women owned businesses throughout the transportation industry. Throughout my tenure as Chairwoman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee and Ranking Member of the House Science Committee, I have often referred to it as the ``Committee of the Future.'' When I earned the Chairwomanship for the Full Science Committee at the start of the 116th Congress, I laid out 3 main priorities. Those included: Ensuring the U.S. remains a global leader in innovation; addressing the climate crisis and restoring the credibility of the Science Committee as a place where science is respected and recognized as critical to good policymaking. I am proud to say that we have delivered great progress on every one of our priorities. From transformative legislation like the CHIPS and Science Act, to recognizing and honoring hidden figures, and helping to support a strong research and development enterprise for the U.S., we have made great strides in what we set out to do. The Committee is well-known for its bipartisanship and ability to get things done. I think this speaks to the spirit of the Science Committee--and with few exceptions over the years, I think it has been this way for some time. When we're working together to build a better future for Americans through building up our STEM pipeline, strengthening our nation's scientific institutions, and enhancing our research and development initiatives, to name a few, we are united in that effort. Since the day I was elected Chairwoman, I have been dedicated to ensuring the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology is run in a bipartisan, effective, and efficient manner. I am very thankful for the partnership I have had with Ranking Member Lucas in so many of our efforts. A main priority throughout my entire career has been to build opportunities in STEM for all--no matter their background, race, or zip code. I am pleased to say, many of our efforts to increase recognition and representation in STEM have been enacted. There is 1 bill in particular that I worked for 15 years to make it a public law, the STEM Opportunities Act. It passed this year as part of the CHIPS and Science Act. With CHIPS and Science, we will create solutions to the climate crisis, advance semiconductor research and manufacturing, and so much more. We put this bill together with the needs of each and every American in mind, and with solutions at the forefront. We must remain steadfast in making sure the U.S. remains a beacon of excellence in science and innovation. But I couldn't have done all of these things without my committee and personal staff and all the great people I worked with locally and in Congress, and the hundreds of people I've leaned on along the way, putting politics aside to make North Texas and the entire state a better place to live and raise a family. Finally, as I leave this chamber after 3 decades of service, I want to provide some advice to my colleagues in this Congress and to those who will begin their service in the next session: Always remember that everyone has the same right to believe what they believe as you believe what you believe. Try to understand their reasoning for their beliefs to start to improve mutual understanding. Do not condemn before you have the explanation. It can start a mutual respect you never thought you would have. And although I look forward to having some more personal time, there are still things I want to accomplish, and if the good Lord is willing, I will continue working to make Dallas area the best region in the nation.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise to celebrate 3 schools in my Congressional District for their display of excellence this past weekend at the University Interscholastic League Texas High School Football State Championships in Arlington. This past Friday, South Oak Cliff High School, part of the Dallas Independent School District, became the first DISD school to repeat as state champions by winning their thirteenth straight game, defeating Port Neches-Groves High School by a score of 34 to 24 to win the UIL Class SA Division 2 title. The Golden Bears fell behind early, 17 to 5 but came back to win the game thanks to solid performances by Quarterback William Little, who threw for a season-high 233 yards, and the South Oak Cliff defense, who forced 2 safeties along with a critical interception that was returned for a touchdown to put the game away late in the third quarter. With the victory, head coach Jason Todd made Texas history by becoming the first African American head coach to win 2 state championships with the same school. The next day, the DeSoto High School Eagles showed the State of Texas why they're a top-ranked offensive program by overpowering the Vandegrift Vipers by a score of 42 to 17 in their UIL Class 6A Division 2 state championship game. The Eagles racked up more than 600 yards of total offense, including two 100-yard receiving performances by wide receivers Tre Wisner and Johntay Cook II and a 100-yard rushing performance by running back Deondrae Riden, who found the endzone twice in the third quarter to put the game out of reach. In the nightcap on Saturday, The Duncanville High School Panthers finally did something they've been trying to do for the past 5 years, defeat North Shore High School and earn Head Coach Reginald Samuel a championship ring. The game was competitive, with both teams tied at 21 a piece going into halftime, but a critical drive capped off by a 9-yard touchdown run by Caden Durham gave the Panthers the lead in the third quarter. A drive late in the fourth quarter by North Shore was stopped inches short by the Panthers' staunch defense with seconds left on the clock to secure the UIL Class 6A Division 1 title. Madam Speaker, many members can say that their district is home to some of the top recruiting prospects in high school football, only a few members can say that their district is home to 3 state champions, but no other member in this chamber can proudly say that they have 3 of the top 70 nationally ranked programs in the country within their district lines. I want to congratulate the players, coaches, medical trainers, students, teachers, facility, staff, parents, and alumni of these 3 schools on their historic achievement and on showing the rest of the nation that Texas 30 is genuinely the district of champions.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize my longtime Chief of Staff, Mr. Murat Gokcigdem. He is leaving the Hill this month after 29 years of service to the House of Representatives. Prior to coming to my office, Mr. Gokcigdem attended West Virginia University in Charleston, earning his bachelor's and his master's degree in International Public Policy. He then began his career as a Hill staffer working for Congressmen Jim Moody and Tom Barrett. He worked his way from Special Assistant to Legislative Director before joining my staff. He has since served in my Washington, DC office for over 21 years. He began as my Legislative Director in 2001 and quickly demonstrated a deep understanding of the legislative process and inner workings of Capitol Hill. His success in that role led me to promote him to Chief of Staff, where he has long advised me on all communications, legislative, and administrative issues and managed my DC and district office staff. Murat has been a constant companion for those 21 years, probably more so than he ever imagined. I would not have made it this long in this job without his counsel. I call him at all hours of the day and night, make seemingly impossible requests, and rely on him in part for every aspect of my Congressional operation. Murat has also served as a resource for Legislative Directors, Chiefs of Staff, and schedulers from all over the Hill, particularly for those serving the Congressional Black Caucus and the Texas delegation. They know that if they have a question, Murat has an answer. Murat's presence in my office has greatly improved my capacity to serve the constituents of TX-30 and supported the professional development of those who have worked for me. I want to thank him and his family, his wife Elin and his children Ela and Elif, for his service, his counsel, and most importantly, his friendship over the years.

Mr. JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bill before us today, which will provide one additional week of continuing appropriations to allow work on the Omnibus appropriations act to be completed. In addition, the bill includes the ``Providing Research and Estimates of Changes in Precipitation'', or ``PRECIP Act.'' I am proud to be an original cosponsor of Representative Sherrill's bipartisan PRECIP Act. Representative Sherrill has been a tireless advocate for improving our understanding of extreme precipitation. As the Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Environment of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Representative Sherrill has been a steadfast leader in promoting understanding of how science can help better prepare our communities for extreme precipitation events, and the PRECIP Act is a direct outcome of those efforts. This bill will address gaps in accurate probable maximum precipitation, or PMP, estimates and it directs NOAA to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a study on the best practices for estimating precipitation. The PRECIP Act will ensure precipitation estimates are updated at least every decade across the U.S. Further, this legislation will direct the NOAA to include forecasted changes in precipitation due to climate change in precipitation studies. We have been feeling the changes in precipitation across the country, and these changes will only get more extreme with climate change. Having access to the best available information is critical to protect lives, taxpayer dollars, and infrastructure. The PRECIP Act will assist stakeholders such as floodplain managers, emergency managers, local governments, and many more. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the bipartisan, bicameral FLOODS Act led by Senator Wicker. Flooding is the most common natural hazard in the United States, resulting in the greatest number of lives lost and property damaged. We passed the tenth anniversary of Superstorm Sandy about one month ago. That storm was a harbinger of the future as we have seen many storms with record- breaking extreme precipitation that has led to flooding events, from Hurricane Harvey in my home state of Texas, to the more recent Hurricane Ida. The need to better prepare our communities for potential catastrophic flooding is now more crucial than ever. The FLOODS Act directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to establish a National Integrated Flood Information System that will inform and provide timely decision-making in the face of flooding events and coordinate and integrate flood research at NOAA. The bill would also designate a service coordination hydrologist at each National Weather Service River Forecast Center, and it requires NOAA to leverage existing work through intra-agency and external partnerships to improve impact decision support systems, as well as regularly update Atlas 14 precipitation frequency estimates. It cannot be overstated how urgent the need for this basic work is for informing products such as updated FEMA flood maps used in flood insurance determinations, designing infrastructure in flood prone areas, and for planning evacuations. I want to thank Representative Sherrill for her leadership on this legislation and on the issue of addressing the causes and impacts of flooding on Americans across the country. I urge my colleagues to support its passage.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a valued staff member of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Richard ``Dick'' Obermann, who is retiring this month after 33 years of service to the House of Representatives. Dick Obermann began his career in the House in 1990, as the Science Advisor for the Space Subcommittee on the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. He was well qualified for the position, holding both a M.S.E. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford and a B.S.E. and Ph.D. in Aerospace and Mechanical Sciences from Princeton University. Before working at the Committee, Dick worked on the technical staff at the MITRE Corporation and as a senior program officer at the National Research Council. Dick worked on space policy issues for his entire 33 years on the Committee, and he is generally regarded as one of the foremost space policy experts in the United States. I was elected to Congress in 1992, and I began my service on the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology in that same year. I have known Dick Obermann for 30 years. During my time on the Committee, I have always known Dick to be a consummate professional with an exacting attention to detail and a passion for ensuring the success of America's space program. When I took over as the Ranking Democrat on the Committee, my first action was to name Dick the Chief of Staff. In the ensuing 12 years as my Chief of Staff, Dick guided the Committee staff through many successes, culminating in the passage this year of the CHIPS and Science Act, the largest and most comprehensive legislation in the Committee's history. After three decades of service, I am happy that Dick will have some well-deserved time for rest and relaxation. I know he will appreciate having more time to spend with his beloved wife, Grace and his two children Pearl and John. But I also know that Dick is not one to hold still for too long, and I'm sure he will have success in any of his future endeavors. We often speak of the dedicated staff who make this institution such a wonderful place in which to work. Dick Obermann is just such a person. His decades of public service have made this institution a better place. His efforts as a space policy professional were instrumental in ensuring the many successes of our nation's space program. But most of all, his sound counsel and friendship have made my time in Congress all the better. I thank Dick for his many years of dedicated and loyal service.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 3825, led by Senator Cornyn in the Senate, to name a Post Office in Arlington in honor of my dear friend, former Congressman Ron Wright, who was sadly taken from us last year as he served his second term as a member of this body. Congressman Wright had a passion for public service. He served as the District Director and Chief of Staff to another dear friend of mine, former Congressman Joe Barton, before stepping into the spotlight and utilizing the valuable experience he gained in local government to be the face of the federal government to hundreds of thousands of North Texans residing in Tarrant, Ellis, and Navarro Counties. He worked hard as a staffer and member to be a positive force and ensure bills passed in Congress that he believed would benefit the constituents of the Sixth Congressional district of Texas, regardless of politics or party affiliation. Having a Post Office named after Congressman Wright in Arlington, where he's spent so much of his life, from attending the University of Texas at Arlington to serving on the Arlington City Council, is a fitting way to honor the life and legacy of a public servant who has meant and done so much for his community. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation so President Biden can sign this into law.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 231, the Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances Act or the PFAS Act. PFAS are a group of human-made chemicals that have been manufactured since the 1940's and can be found in a wide range of both consumer and industrial products, including firefighting foam and firefighter turnout gear. These chemicals are sometimes known as ``forever chemicals'' due to their widespread use, persistence in the environment, and a molecular structure that makes them very difficult to break down. There is growing evidence that PFAS are linked to adverse health outcomes including liver damage, thyroid disease, and an increased risk of cancer. While we still have much to learn about the health risks associated with prolonged exposure to PFAS, work is underway to better understand the exposure pathways of PFAS and to develop alternatives to these chemicals. The Department of Defense, the National Institutes of Standards and Technology, and the Federal Aviation Administration all conduct research on PFAS-free firefighting foam or PFAS-free fighter gear. This promising work is vital to reducing the release of and exposure to PFAS but more progress is needed. Until PFAS-free alternatives are widespread, we must do everything we can to protect those who are exposed to PFAS in the course of their job and to limit the release of PFAS into the environment. S. 231 directs the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to develop guidance for firefighters and other emergency response personnel on best practices to protect them from exposure to PFAS and to limit and prevent the release of PFAS into the environment as well provide resources that identify PFAS-free alternatives for firefighting gear and equipment. This guidance would be developed in consultation with other federal agencies conducting research on PFAS-alternatives as well as a wide range of stakeholders including firefighting and emergency response personnel, communities dealing with PFAS contamination, fire training academies, manufacturers of firefighting tools and equipment, and voluntary standards organizations. This bill is an important step to protecting our first responders from exposure to harmful chemicals. It has already passed the Senate with bipartisan support and today I urge my colleagues to join me in passing the bill here in the House and sending it to the President.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 8453, the Upholding the Dayton Peace Accords through Sanctions Act. I want to begin by thanking the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Gregory Meeks, and my colleagues, Representatives Wagner and Wilde, for their leadership on this issue and for bringing this bill to the floor. Twenty-seven years ago, thanks to the leadership of President Bill Clinton, the Dayton Accords were signed, officially marking the end of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Today, however, we still have domestic and foreign actors threatening to undermine the accords' legitimacy. I am concerned that any challenge to the agreements laid out in the accords poses a severe risk to the relative stability of the Western Balkans. For the region's sake, we cannot afford to let these bad actors go unpunished. That's why I believe that the House of Representatives--and our government as a whole--must continue to support the European integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is a necessary step and one that I hope will eventually lead to them joining the European Union and NATO. As a Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Bosnia and Herzegovina, I have seen the incredible progress that this young country has made over the past quarter century. Yes, the situation is far from perfect; corruption issues linger, and young, educated people continue to leave in search of a better life. But, Mr. Speaker, progress is often slow and incremental. With our enduring support, I am optimistic for their future. Fortunately, H.R. 8453 provides for that support--and more. The bill recognizes it as the policy of the United States to support a unified, sovereign, and multiethnic Bosnia and Herzegovina. It also strengthens the sanction tools available to Administrations to ensure lasting peace and security in the country. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill and hope for a swift passage in the Senate.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I would simply like to say in closing that when we pass up an opportunity that we have like today in this bill, where we are looking out for our scientific enterprise, looking out for our space exploration and chip manufacturing, which will drive our future, we simply will be closing the door to our future to turn any of this down. We cannot be competitive in the world without adequate research and adequate assistance to keep our research enterprise growing strongly. I am not willing to give up this opportunity and close the door on my Nation. And I simply would ask all the people who possibly can, not to think about the bill that was passed or going to pass in the Senate yesterday, or last night, but think about the importance of keeping the doors and opportunities open for our Nation and having the jobs and talent right here in the United States. It is bigger than all of us. We were sent here to look out for our Nation, and this is a measure that will do that. So I simply plead with everyone who can possibly see the future, or even dream about the future, to vote for this measure. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4346, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no more requests for time, and I am prepared to close.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, may I ask how much time I have remaining?

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Ohio.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan).

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Lamb).

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Stansbury).

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney).

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal).

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui).

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone).

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), our distinguished Speaker.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I stand before you today to strongly urge support for the CHIPS and Science Act. The CHIPS Act and the bipartisan Science, Space, and Technology Committee provisions that form this package are vital to ensuring a bold and prosperous future for American science and innovation, maintaining our international competitiveness, and bolstering our economic and national security. These provisions were built with rigorous input from the scientific community, industry, academia, and other stakeholders on what they need most to succeed in the 21st century. This final product is the result of months of bipartisan negotiations. It is also the result of dedicated efforts and long hours put in by the committee staff, and I thank each of them for helping us to get where we are today. With this legislation, we will bring about solutions for the climate crisis, enhance our semiconductor research and manufacturing, create jobs, increase regional innovation, and so much more. We will also take historic and much-needed action to build a strong and diverse STEM workforce and ensure that we are able to make use of all the brainpower and talent we have in our great Nation. With bipartisan STEM pieces in this bill, we will create a bright future for all those who want to pursue STEM, no matter their race, gender, or ZIP Code. We are ushering in a strong future for our premier scientific agencies with transformational funding at NIST, NSF, and DOE. We also authorize important activities at NASA and address other discrete research topics across the government's scientific agencies. The United States has long been a beacon of excellence in science and innovation, and it is far past time that we revitalize Federal support for the initiatives that have enabled us to lead. I am proud of this package, and I am especially proud of the bipartisan provisions in Division B that began in the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. I thank Ranking Member Lucas for his partnership in this effort. I know that this package does not have everything that everyone wanted. It doesn't have everything I wanted, but that is the nature of compromise and a result of urgency of this situation. We must pass this legislation immediately to ensure that the United States remains a global leader in science, technology, and innovation and to bolster our economic and national security. I urge all Members to put aside politics and support this thoughtful and balanced bipartisan package. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 4346, the bill now under consideration.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Beatty).