Eddie Johnson

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5430, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act. This legislation ratifies the USMCA, an update to the North American Free Trade Agreement agreed to by the governments of the United States, Canada and Mexico last year. Over the past year, House Democrats have made the USMCA a better deal for the American people. New provisions in this trade agreement improve the original language by strengthening provisions related to labor and the environment. Most importantly, House Democrats fought hard to ensure Congress kept its authority to address the rising costs of prescription drugs by stripping out a giveaway to the pharmaceutical industry that would have locked in high prices for biologics across North America. As the dean of the Texas Congressional Delegation, I know how important trade is to my state. This is an issue that unites Democrats and Republicans across Texas. Whenever trade is brought up, everyone pays attention because it's one of the drivers of our economy. In North Texas, Canada is one of our largest trading partners, and many goods that are transferred between the three countries in this agreement make their way through North Texas either on our highways, through the DFW International Airport, or through the Union Pacific Dallas International Terminal Inland Port in my district. While the energy sector created jobs and built the economy in North Texas, NAFTA and other trade agreements have only made our economy stronger. Last year, I invited Ambassador Lighthizer to speak to the Texas Congressional Delegation about the USMCA and the profound impact it would have on our state. Ambassador Lighthizer and his staff at the office of the United States Trade Representative held similar meetings with other congressional delegations and working groups so that they could understand all points of view on this agreement. Their willingness to work tirelessly alongside House Democrats to make this agreement a better deal for the American people deserves recognition. Mr. Speaker, trade policy shouldn't be an issue that divides the members of this chamber on partisan or regional lines. We see here today what can be done when both sides come together to advance the causes of American workers, farmers and consumers. I strongly urge my colleagues to vote for this bill.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 755, a resolution Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors. Today is indeed a solemn day for the United States of America. The two Articles of Impeachment, as written and passed by the House Judiciary Committee, outline the findings of the investigations done by several committees of jurisdiction, charged with the constitutionally- mandated task of finding out the truth. The truth is the President abused his power of office by obstructing the impeachment inquiry; solicited the interference of the Ukraine Government in the 2020 U.S. presidential election in an attempt to undermine our elections; and posed a threat to national security for political gain. Madam Speaker, I have listened to and spoken with my constituents in my district and throughout the state of Texas. The corrupt pattern of evidence is overwhelming. Therefore, I am voting in favor of H. Res. 755, a resolution Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chair, today I rise in recognition of H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act. This legislation will serve as a critical improvement towards ensuring that essential medications are finally affordable and accessible. As the first registered nurse elected to Congress, I know how the exorbitantly high prices of critical medications burden individuals and their families. Americans should not have to pay more for their medicines, when compared to the same ones sold by pharmaceutical companies, for drastically lower prices in other countries. lt is why I rise today in support of this bill, which provides the authority, mandate, and tools for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate lower drug prices and caps annual out- of-pocket costs in Medicare Part D. The Congressional Budget Office has scored the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act to save our country $456 billion in the next ten years. With these savings generated from lowering drug costs, significant reinvestments will be made to reduce out-of-pocket costs, close coverage gaps for Medicare beneficiaries, invest in critical funding in innovative new treatments, and fight against our nation's opioid crisis. Specifically, I was very pleased to support the inclusion of Medicare Part B coverage for dental, vision, and hearing benefits. For the thousands of seniors in my district and throughout the state of Texas, it is undeniable that this expansion of coverage will be lifechanging, especially as our constituents encounter additional health challenges associated with aging. As a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, I am especially vigilant in ensuring that minority communities which face higher rates of diabetes can access life-saving medications and are not forced to resort to rationing their insulin out of desperation. People living with diabetes will be heartened to learn that the Lower Drug Costs Now Act could potentially save them more than $700 on an annual supply of certain types of insulin. The benefits of the Lower Drug Costs Now Act will even extend to the medical facilities we know and trust throughout our states. Our community health centers and nonprofit hospitals will be able to access the lowered negotiated drug prices because they qualify as providers of services, suppliers, and employers. This bill moves our nation forward in addressing the need for accessible and affordable medications. However, it is prudent to note that there remains much to be done. We must continue to advocate for the inclusion of the uninsured population in these savings. Texas has the highest rate of uninsured individuals in the nation. Therefore, the lowered drug costs achieved in this bill will have limited impact in my state for the uninsured. As members of this body, we should all stand in support to lower drug costs. I would like to especially honor the memory of my dear colleague, the Honorable Elijah E. Cummings. It is altogether very fitting that we recognize his long fight against high drug prices by passing H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, in his memory.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5038, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. This bipartisan piece of legislation will go a long way in addressing the shortage of labor in our agriculture sector. This bill will also provide a pathway to citizenship for agricultural workers who have spent many years working in the fields helping to ensure we have a safe and affordable food supply. Thanks to the leadership of Chairwoman Lofgren and Congressman Newhouse, we have finally started to look at immigration as a solution to some of our labor shortages. Farmers and ranchers rely on foreign seasonal agricultural workers largely because it's difficult to find a reliable source of labor domestically for this sector. It's a fair compromise that these workers be offered a pathway to citizenship so that they can one day live the American dream just like the rest of us. It is my hope that this bill can serve as a blueprint for other sectors of our economy where labor shortages persist. Construction is a prime example of this. My district, along with the rest of North Texas is in the process of seeing rapid population growth. This means construction workers are in high demand to build new homes, schools, roads, and hospitals for the thousands of people moving to the region every month. Similar reforms in the construction industry would help in making sure the economy in North Texas can continue to prosper. Madam Speaker, we have a unique opportunity here today to pass legislation that would benefit both farmers and the agricultural workers they employ. I urge my colleagues to vote in support of this bill.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record an exchange of correspondence between myself and Chairman John Yarmuth acknowledging the Committee on the Budget's jurisdiction over provisions in H.R. 2051, the Sustainable Chemistry Research and Development Act of 2019. House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Washington, DC, November 25, 2019. Chairman John Yarmuth, Committee on the Budget, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Yarmuth: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 2051, the ``Sustainable Chemistry Research and Development Act of 2019,'' which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on April 3, 2019. I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this bill. I recognize that the bill contains provisions that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on the Budget. I acknowledge that your Committee will waive further consideration of H.R. 2051 and that this action is not a waiver of future jurisdictional claims by the Committee on the Budget over this subject matter. I will make sure to include our exchange of letters in the Congressional Record and legislative reports. Thank you for your cooperation on this legislation. Sincerely, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Chairwoman.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4372) to direct Federal science agencies and the Office of Science and Technology Policy to undertake activities to improve the quality of undergraduate STEM education and enhance the research capacity at the Nation's HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous materials on H.R. 4372, the bill that is under consideration.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4372, the MSI STEM Achievement Act, and I thank Representative Waltz for joining me in introducing this bill and for his commitment to increasing diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, or STEM fields. This bill was developed based upon recommendations in the 2019 National Academy of Sciences report entitled, ``Minority Serving Institutions: America's Underutilized Resource for Strengthening the STEM Workforce.'' The demographics of our country are changing, and we must do more to address the underrepresentation of minority students in STEM to keep our workforce competitive. As stated in the report, the STEM readiness of students of color will have direct implications on America's economic growth, national security, and global prosperity. The time to act is now. Minority-serving institutions have a long record of success in recruiting, retaining, and graduating underrepresented minority students in STEM. However, more investment and outreach are needed to enable the MSIs to realize their potential. The MSI STEM Achievement Act ensures that Federal STEM education and research funding opportunities are more accessible to the MSIs. The legislation directs the Government Accountability Office to compile an inventory of Federal science agency programs targeted to MSIs and to make recommendations of what more agencies can do to encourage increased participation and success for the MSIs in these programs. In addition, the legislation authorizes the National Science Foundation to support research on the challenges and successes MSIs have had in contributing to the STEM workforce, including approaches to building the research competitiveness of MSIs. And finally, the bill directs the Office of Science and Technology Policy to develop a government-wide strategic plan and sustained outreach program to support STEM education and research at the MSIs. It is important to remember that these institutions are not a monolith. Indeed, their focus on meeting the distinct needs of their students has been critical to their success. In carrying out the activities of this act, Federal science agencies and OSTP should ensure that they are accounting for the diversity among these institutions and the populations they serve. If we are to continue to prosper as a Nation, we must do more to diversify our STEM workforce. Fortunately, the more than 700 MSIs that enroll nearly 30 percent of our Nation's undergraduates know how to solve this problem. The MSI STEM Achievement Act will ensure these institutions are equipped with the resources they need to lead the way. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this good, bipartisan bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I simply want to thank all of the Members and staff involved in this legislation. I urge its passage. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4373) to provide for a coordinated Federal research initiative to ensure continued United States leadership in engineering biology, as amended.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous materials on H.R. 4373, the bill under consideration.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 4373, the Engineering Biology Research and Development Act of 2019. I want to thank Ranking Member Lucas for joining me in introducing this legislation. The term ``engineering biology'' means the application of engineering design, principles, and practices to biological systems to advance fundamental understanding of complex natural systems and to enable novel functions and capabilities. Engineering biology research is used in microbes and plants to grow food more resilient to climate change, reduce our dependency on fossil fuels, and make more effective drugs to treat human diseases. Some researchers are even engineering microbes for environmental cleanup. These are some of our Nation's and world's greatest challenges, and engineering biology is one of our greatest tools. The economy of the 21st century will be driven by the bioeconomy. Other countries are making significant investments in engineering biology research and development. We must recognize that U.S. leadership is not just about growing our economy and ensuring that our Nation benefits from the products of engineering biology; it is also about leading responsibly. As China accelerates its own investments and the tools of engineering biology are increasingly cheap and accessible to individuals everywhere, we must also be mindful of the security implications. The potential for misuse of this technology to cause harm makes more urgent our need to invest strategically in engineering biology research today. Along with authorizing a Federal engineering biology research initiative, this bill would also establish a framework for greater coordination of Federal investments in engineering biology; require a national strategy for those investments; expand public-private partnerships; focus on the education and training for the next generation of engineering biology researchers; and address any potential ethical, security, and societal issues associated with engineering biology research. It is past time for the United States to recognize the significance of this emerging research area to our economic and national security. I was disappointed by the lack of such recognition in this administration's last budget request but hopeful to see the tide turning with the convening of a recent White House summit on the bioeconomy. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and with the administration to ensure that the United States will not lose its leadership position in this area. H.R. 4373 is an important bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no requests for time, and if the gentleman is ready to close, then I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I wish to express my appreciation for Mr. Sensenbrenner, Mr. Lucas, Ms. Lofgren, and myself, and I have no further requests for time. I would simply urge the passage of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2051) to provide for Federal coordination of activities supporting sustainable chemistry, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous materials on H.R. 2051, the bill under consideration.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 2051, the Sustainable Chemistry Research and Development Act of 2019. I want to thank Representatives Lipinski and Moolenaar for introducing this good, bipartisan bill. Chemistry touches every aspect of modern society. As the chemical industry continues to innovate to make our lives easier, we must do more to minimize the risks to the environment and to public health. Sustainable chemistry practices and principles, once widely adopted, will provide the private sector with tools to meet societal needs while mitigating negative impacts on the health and safety of future generations. Unfortunately, progress in adopting this approach has been slow. As we learned during the Science Committee hearing on this topic earlier this year, the key challenges include a lack of research, a lack of Federal coordination, a lack of consensus regarding how sustainability should be measured and assessed, and a need for improved sustainable chemistry education. This legislation establishes the framework for Federal leadership to advance sustainable chemistry. Specifically, the bill provides for improved coordination of Federal activities, including research and development of more sustainable chemicals, processes, and systems. The bill also supports improved education in sustainable chemistry and expands opportunities for the Federal Government to partner with industry to bring innovations to market. When the Federal science agencies support our Nation's scientists and engineers to come up with better solutions to real-world problems, our brightest minds will always rise to the challenge. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I simply wish to thank our authors and our staff, and I urge passage of this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 737) to direct the National Science Foundation to support STEM education research focused on early childhood.

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 S. 737, the bill under consideration.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 737, the Building Blocks of STEM Act. The demand for computer science skills is on the rise across all sectors of the economy. To ensure that we have the capacity to meet that demand, we must attract more students to study computer science. A major challenge for increasing the number of computer science graduates is the low participation of women. Even as access to high school computer science courses increases, female participation remains low. At high schools offering advanced placement courses in computer science, only 23 percent of the students taking the exam are girls. Research shows us that interventions at the high school level may come too late. Girls as young as 6 years old are internalizing gender- based stereotypes that discourage them from engaging in STEM activities, including computer science. The Building Blocks of STEM Act directs the National Science Foundation to support research into factors that contribute to the early adoption of these stereotypes. The bill also directs the National Science Foundation to support the development of models for intervention to prevent or reverse the effects of these negative and false stereotypes. I thank my colleagues Representatives Stevens and Baird and Senators Rosen and Capito for their leadership on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.