Eddie Johnson

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my appreciation for the leadership of Representatives Stevens and Baird; Senators Rosen and Capito; and the ranking member, Mr. Lucas. I urge that we pass this important piece of legislation. 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. 4355) to direct the Director of the National Science Foundation to support research on the outputs that may be generated by generative adversarial networks, otherwise known as deepfakes, and other comparable techniques that may be developed in the future, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4355, 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 H.R. 4355, the Identifying Outputs of Generative Adversarial Networks Act. Deepfake technology, which manipulates photos, videos, or audio clips to produce content that seems real but is not, has become increasingly commonplace in recent years. This increase in prevalence has been spurred, in part, by increases in computing power, widespread availability of images and other data, and the use of artificial intelligence. In many cases, the applications of this technology may be benign, but bad actors can also use this technology to spread disinformation and cause great harm to individuals, organizations, and society as a whole. During the Science, Space, and Technology Committee hearing on online imposters and disinformation earlier this year, one of the witnesses showed us a demonstration of a deepfake video in which he swapped the likenesses of two Members of Congress at the hearing. Despite the spread and potential harm of deepfake technology, there are currently no sure-fire methods of identifying and distinguishing manipulated content from authentic content. The ability to differentiate between manipulated and authentic content is essential to maintaining our national and economic security and protecting against malicious use of these technologies. H.R. 4355 leverages the strengths of the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Standards and Technology by directing these agencies to support research on manipulated or synthesized content in order to help develop the standards and other tools necessary to detect this content. I commend my colleagues Representatives Gonzalez, Stevens, and Baird for their excellent leadership on this bipartisan legislation. I urge all of my colleagues to join in passing this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my appreciation for all the Members who have been working on this very important bipartisan legislation. I urge its passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 326. This resolution expresses this chamber's strong support for the longstanding belief that a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict is the best option to ensure Palestinian autonomy and Israel's survival as a Jewish democratic state. During my time in this chamber, I have been a firm supporter of a negotiated two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. While I believe both parties will have to make difficult decisions to ensure a long-lasting peace, I believe it can be done in a way that ensures that the human rights of Palestinians are respected while also securing the safety of our closest ally in the region. This administration's capitulation to Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies on the extreme right in Israeli domestic politics has severely damaged the ability of the United States to be considered a fair neutral party in this conflict. It has made Israel less safe in the long term and has only driven Palestinians into the arms of bad actors in the region like Hamas. In May 2018, this administration chose to abandon our European allies by announcing the withdrawal of the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, commonly known as the Iran Nuclear Deal. Shortly thereafter, the Administration relocated the United States Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem while subsequently eliminating the Consulate General office in Jerusalem, which served as a key diplomatic line to the Palestinian Authority. Additionally, this administration has stripped funding from the United Nations Relief and Work Agency. This agency has worked tirelessly to help Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan, by providing food, housing, education, and other necessities. Eliminating these funds jeopardizes the ability of the UNRWA to help these individuals live as normal a life as possible. It also threatens the security of the Israeli people by ensuring more of these people turn to terrorist organizations like Hamas when their basic needs fail to be met. Last month, Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, announced that Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank did not violate international law. This drastic change in policy on the issue of Israeli settlements essentially gives the green light to the Israeli government to unilaterally annex portions of this region. Any form of annexation would essentially kill the idea of a two-state solution. Mr. Speaker, we are voting on this resolution today to show the international community that regardless of this administration's reckless actions, the United States can play a constructive role in resolving this conflict that has lasted for more than 70 years. I urge all my colleagues to swiftly pass this resolution.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019. This bill restores the full strength of the Voting Rights Act, after a 2013 Supreme Court Decision gutted the Act. The result was a flood of voter suppression laws throughout the country. The possibility of restoring a democratic process that has stifled the black and brown vote in the U.S. deserves our support. We must never allow our constitutional rights to be diminished or even eliminated. In 2013, the Supreme Court decision, Shelby County v. Holder, struck down the existing formula that determined which states and political subdivisions were required to seek federal pre-approval for their voting-related changes. This was to ensure they did not discriminate against minority voters. The Supreme Court put the onus on Congress to enact a new formula, which resulted in States and political subdivisions not being required to seek preclearance unless ordered by a federal court. H.R. 4 restores the Section 5 preclearance process by including a new formula for coverage that ensures that only States and jurisdictions with a recent history of discrimination or use of voter suppression practices would be subject to review before implementing new voting laws or procedures. H.R. 4 protects the sacred rights of minority voters and helps identity discriminatory voting practices. Congress must protect our polls and support H.R. 4 to ensure the constitutional right to vote for every citizen of the United States.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the legacy of Fred Hampton. Mr. Hampton was only 21 years old when he was murdered by the Chicago Police Department and the FBI as he slept in his bedroom. The Chicago Police fired between 82 and 99 rounds into his apartment the night of his murder. Although we lost a powerful fighter for justice on December 4, 1969, Mr. Hampton's commitment to social, racial, and economic justice and his legacy of helping the disenfranchised did not die with him. Working predominately on the South and West Sides of Chicago, Mr. Hampton and the Black Panther Party provided free medical services and implemented a free lunch program that fed 4,000 children daily. These social programs were valuable resources to these underserved communities. The Black Panther Movement shed a spot light on the disparities between the races. Mr. Hampton understood that many of the social injustices stemmed from an unjust political system and fought hard to change it. Mr. Hampton's cruel murder was the catalyst for a political awakening that resulted in the unprecedented election of several African-American mayors like Harold Washington of Chicago in 1983; Wilson Goode of Philadelphia in 1984; Kurt Schmoke of Baltimore in 1988; and David Dinkins of New York City in 1989. Mr. Hampton was the champion for the disadvantaged and I am proud to honor his legacy.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of H. Res. 517, which I have proudly cosponsored. This resolution reaffirms our nation's commitment to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. Amid the worldwide progress that has been made to counter these diseases, it is critical that we maintain our financial contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. As the first registered nurse elected to Congress, I wholeheartedly support the funding of efforts to prevent and eradicate infectious diseases. The Global Fund is the world's largest supporter of prevention, treatment, and care programs for AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. With these investments, it has decreased the number of AIDS- related deaths by half since 2005, contributed to a 37 percent decline in tuberculosis deaths from 2000 to 2016, and facilitated a 60 percent decline in the number of malaria deaths since 2000. On behalf of families and young children across the world, it is our duty to advance the resources needed to address health in all our communities. We must maintain our longstanding commitment to the Global Fund. This is a critical commitment to saving lives, averting new cases, and increasing the ability of people around the world to withstand life-threatening but preventable diseases.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's) have played an important role in our nation's history. These places of higher education have given opportunities to millions of young people to get a quality postsecondary education. Many of these students are the first in their family to attend college. I am proud to say that one of these institutions, Paul Quinn College, is located within my district. Currently, the top priority for HBCU's is to ensure they have the resources needed to prepare students for a competitive, globalized workforce. The FUTURE Act, which passed in this chamber some time ago, does exactly that. The bill reauthorizes critical funding for all Minority Serving Institutions (MSI's) for the next two years. Sadly, like most of the legislation that has passed the House of Representatives this Congress, the Senate refuses to do their job and vote on this noncontroversial bipartisan bill. The College Affordability Act, which was introduced in October, would go beyond what the FUTURE Act does and provides HBCU's more flexibility so that they can strengthen their endowments, academic quality, and institutional management. The College Affordability Act also provides states with incentives to lower the cost for students to obtain a quality college education by raising the maximum amount for Pell Grants and simplifying the student loan repayment program. These two bills are great examples of what we should strive for to guarantee the best outcome for students attending HBCU's and other MSI's. Madam Speaker, We need to make sure our higher education system serves all the students that hope to receive a degree. Historically Black Colleges and Universities along with other Minority Serving institutions play a vital role for African Americans and other minority students. We need to continue passing legislation that provides true educational opportunities for those who desire to learn and are unable to afford it.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4863, the United States Export Finance Agency Act. This legislation will reauthorize the United States Export-Import Bank for a decade, increase the agency's capabilities to keep exporters here in the United States competitive worldwide, and ensures that the Export- Import Bank is prepared for the future by establishing offices within the agency focused on clean energy. Four years ago, Republicans and Democrats in this chamber came together to sign a discharge petition overruling the desire of a vocal minority that was ill informed about the important role the Export Import Bank plays in ensuring that products produced here in the United States can find buyers around the world. They wanted to shut this agency down. Thankfully, cooler minds prevailed, and the agency was reauthorized. This agency is vital to the many farmers, small businesses, and manufacturers who export their products around the world from Texas. Approximately 12 billion dollars in exports from Texas are reliant on the Export-Import Bank. Businesses like Continental Electronics Corporation in my district, which produce radio frequency broadcast transmission equipment, rely on the Export-Import Bank to ensure their high-quality products can be sold to potential buyers across the world. Without the Export-Import Bank, buyers would have to settle for mediocre knockoff products produced in places like China. Mr. Chair, being from a state where our economy thrives thanks to trade, I understand the importance of this legislation. But it's not just me, labor groups like the AFL-CIO, alongside business groups like the Chamber of Commerce support this import legislation. It's not often that you can get those two groups to agree on something. I urge my colleagues to pass this legislation and for the Senate to take this up immediately so that we can provide certainty to our exporters and continue to grow our economy in the right direction.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, today, I rise in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In my home state of Texas, we are unfortunately deeply familiar with the tragedies involved in domestic violence. Families have been broken apart, and people have lost their lives to the scourge of domestic violence. We have the duty to do more to protect the most vulnerable members of our communities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1 in 5 adult women and about 1 in 7 adult men are reported to have experienced severe physical violence from an intimate partner. In the state of Texas, one in three adult Texans have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime, according to a study by the Institute of Domestic and Sexual Assault at the University of Texas at Austin. As representatives of Americans from all corners of our country, we know that domestic violence is not unique to any one part of our nation. It is widespread and engrossing, and our response to it must also measure up to the significance of the challenge. Americans today need protections and assistance to recover from domestic violence, so that they may achieve full and prosperous lives. Congress must uphold our sacred obligation to protect the millions of victims and survivors who need and deserve our whole-hearted and full support. Therefore, I am proud to support Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my concerns with House Resolution 296, which will be debated on the House floor today. This counterproductive resolution does not tell the full story of the region during World War I and reopens a wound between Greeks, Turks, Armenians, Kurds, and other ethnic groups in the region. Favoring the preferred storyline of one of these groups without considering information provided by other ethnic groups in the region would serve as a failure on our part to do our due diligence and hear out all sides on this matter of historic significance. No hearings have been held on this resolution and it has come to the floor without being marked up by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Looking into the future, this resolution fails to help improve relations between the states of Turkey and Armenia. Last year, the Armenian government annulled normalization protocols that were signed by the two governments on October 10, 2009. It is in our best national security interests that we work with both governments to help facilitate the revival of the normalization of relations between the two nations in order to keep the region at peace without any escalation towards conflict. Lastly, the passage of this resolution will only drive our NATO ally, Turkey, into the open arms of Vladimir Putin and Russia. Already, the Turkish government has purchased and taken delivery of the Russian developed S-400 anti-aircraft weapons system. The integration of this military system undermines the commitments made by all NATO allies to move away from Russian military systems. Passing this resolution for the sole purpose of poking Turkey in the eye will only serve as another reason for Turkey to pursue a separation from NATO. Mr. Speaker, I will be voting present on House Resolution 296 as I believe we have failed to do our due diligence in investigating this matter and exploring the possible unintended consequences that may arise upon passage of this resolution.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, today, I rise in support of H.R. 728, the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2019. As the first registered nurse elected to Congress, I know how essential the federal nursing workforce development grant programs are to the development of the next generation of our nursing leaders. These Title VIII programs, administered through the Health Resources and Services Administration, have supported the recruitment, retention, and distribution of our nation's nursing workforce for over five decades. Title VIII programs have supported nursing education at all levels, from entry level preparation through graduate study. They have provided support for institutions that educate nurses for practice in rural and medically underserved communities, thus representing a direct investment in our nation's health. With the support of our House and Senate colleagues, we must continue to elevate and strengthen our nursing workforce for the wellbeing of our nation. I wholeheartedly urge my colleagues to support the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2019.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life and legacy of a distinguished public servant and colleague, Congressman John James Conyers, Jr., who passed away this weekend. Congressman Conyers was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, to parents Lucille Janice (Simpson) and John Conyers. He graduated from Northwestern High School before answering his country's call to service and joining the military. Congressman Conyers served three stints in the military; in the Michigan National Guard from 1948 to 1950; in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1954; and in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1954 to 1957. Following his military service, he attended Wayne State University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws. Congressman Conyers had the opportunity to represent three Congressional Districts in the U.S. House of Representatives during his 52 years in office; Michigan's 1st Congressional District, 14th Congressional District, and 13th Congressional District, respectively. During his time in Congress, he chaired the powerful House Oversight and Judiciary Committees, served as Dean of the House, and notably hired Rosa Parks as a staffer in his district office. Additionally, Congressman Conyers is marked as an original co-founder of the Congressional Black Caucus and was the first to introduce a bill calling for the recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday as a national holiday. At the time of his retirement from public office, he was the longest-serving African American Member of Congress in our history. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in extending sympathies to Congressman Conyers' wife, Monica Conyers, sons John Conyers III and Carl Edward Conyers, and all whom he influenced over the course of his life. May he rest in peace.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to memorialize the life of our honorable statesman and dear friend, Congressman Elijah Cummings. During his tenure in the House of Representatives, Congressman Cummings championed issues, including civil rights, access to affordable healthcare, transportation, and congressional oversight. Representative Cummings was irritated when I pushed him to take an office in the Congressional Black Caucus until he went home that weekend and he came back with a big smile and said that the people at home had noticed it. He also succeeded me as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Madam Speaker, I join Members of Congress in extending our sympathies to Congressman Cummings' wife, Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, his family, and to all who had the great pleasure of knowing him. The legacy of Congressman Cummings will endure in this great institution as those that live in the hearts of others never truly perish.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to memorialize the life of an honorable statesman and dear friend, Congressman Elijah Cummings. Congressman Cummings graduated from Baltimore City College High School before attending Howard University, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Political Science. At Howard, he served as the president of the student government and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest academic honor society in the United States. He continued his studies at the University of Maryland School of Law and went on to be admitted to the Maryland Bar Association. Congressman Cummings was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1982, where he served for 16 years. As a Member of the House of Delegates, he was elected as the first African American Speaker Pro Tempore in the state's history and was selected as Chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus. Following the conclusion of his service in the state legislature, Congressman Cummings was entrusted to represent the constituents of the 7th District of Maryland in the United States House of Representatives, where he had served dutifully since. During his tenure in the House of Representatives, Congressman Cummings championed issues including civil rights, access to affordable healthcare, and congressional oversight, to name a few. He has served as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus in the 108th Congress and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. At the time of his passing, he was Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and a senior Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Congressman Cummings was a faithful member of the Baltimore community above everything else. He served on many local boards, including the U.S. Naval Academy Board of Visitors, the University of Maryland Board of Advisors, and the SEED School of Maryland Board of Directors. In addition, he was an Honorary Board Member of KIPP Baltimore Schools and the Baltimore School for the Arts. Mr. Speaker, I join with Members of Congress in extending our sympathies to Congressman Cummings' wife, Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, his family, and to all who had the great pleasure of knowing him. The legacy of Congressman Cummings will endure in this great institution, as those that live in the hearts of others never truly perish. May he rest in peace.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this summer, we witnessed a record number of Americans take the opportunity to travel. Unfortunately, this also meant a record number of travelers were subjected to hidden fees charged by hotels, motels, and other places of accommodation. It is projected that, in 2019 alone, over $3 billion in revenue will be collected from consumers due to these deceptive hidden fees. That is why I, along with my colleague Mr. Fortenberry from Nebraska, have introduced H.R. 4489, the Hotel Advertising Transparency Act. This bill would require the prices regularly advertised by hotels and online travel agencies to include all mandatory fees that will be charged to a consumer, excluding taxes. Mr. Speaker, consumers deserve full transparency when making their travel plans. They should be able to enjoy their vacations without being ripped off and financially burdened with almost twice as much as the room that had been advertised.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2528) to direct the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to carry out programs and activities to ensure that Federal science agencies and institutions of higher education receiving Federal research and development funding are fully engaging their entire talent pool, and for other purposes, 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.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 2528, the STEM Opportunities Act of 2019. I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas), the ranking member, for joining me in introducing this bill. I also thank the committee cosponsors on both sides of the aisle and the endorsing organizations. Mr. Speaker, this bill has been a long time coming. Over a decade ago, in 2007, I introduced an early version of this legislation in response to the National Academies' report titled ``Beyond Bias and Barriers.'' This report was a call to action to address the biases and outdated institutional structures in universities that perpetuate the underrepresentation of women in many STEM fields. The report made clear that it is not a lack of talent but external factors, like limited access to support and campus resources, pay disparity, bias, and discrimination, that have hindered the advancement of women in academic STEM careers. The National Academies is conducting a follow-up study under the leadership of former NASA astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison. While progress has been made, the fact remains that women are woefully underrepresented at all levels of STEM studies and in STEM careers. We need action, and we need bold leadership. Women already comprise 50 percent of the population. By the year 2050, racial and ethnic minorities will also comprise 50 percent of our Nation's population. Many of these groups are woefully underrepresented in STEM fields. Our Nation will not continue to lead in science and innovation if we do not tap into all the talent this Nation has to offer. While there are unique challenges for different groups underrepresented in STEM, there are also many common themes and many common solutions. Eventually, I combined my legislation focused on the advancement of women in STEM with another piece of legislation focused on underrepresented minorities in STEM. That combined legislation became the STEM Opportunities Act. The STEM Opportunities Act addresses both the uniqueness and similarities, the challenges and solutions. Over the years, I have updated this legislation to incorporate new expert recommendations and stakeholder feedback to reflect emerging needs. The STEM Opportunities Act of 2019 provides for research and demographic data collection to better understand the participation and career trajectories of women and underrepresented minorities in STEM research careers. The bill directs the Office of Science and Technology Policy to develop consistent policies at Federal science agencies to minimize the effects of implicit bias in the grant review process, to help universities identify and address barriers for women and underrepresented minorities in STEM research careers, and to accommodate the needs of grant recipients who have caregiving responsibilities. The bill also directs the National Science Foundation to award grants to support computer science education at the Nation's Tribal colleges and universities. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this 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 rise to close and simply request that all Members support this bill. It is a bill that we need for the Nation and for our Nation's future in innovation, in order to maintain any activity on the world stage in innovation. 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. 335) to require the Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia to develop a plan for reducing, mitigating, and controlling harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in South Florida, and for other purposes, as amended.

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. 335, the bill under consideration.