Eddie Johnson

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today we are considering three good bills from the Science Committee: H.R. 5509, the Innovation in Mentoring, Training, and Apprenticeships Act; H.R. 6229, the National Institute of Standards and Technology Reauthorization Act of 2018; and, H.R. 6398, the Department of Energy Veterans' Health Initiative Act. I support each of these bills, and look forward to their passage. I want to thank Majority leader McCarthy for introducing H.R. 5509, the Innovations in Mentoring, Training, and Apprenticeships Act. This legislation directs the National Science Foundation to support research to improve STEM degree programs and apprenticeships in partnership with the private sector. H.R. 5509 also supports labor market research to draw upon lessons learned in countries already benefitting from an emphasis on apprenticeships and skilled-based learning. This is a good bill that will help to bring the education and training our students receive more in line with the skills employers value most. This will benefit those preparing to enter an ever-changing job market, employers seeking to innovate and increase production, and our economy as a whole. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this bill. H.R. 6229, the National Institute of Standards and Technology Reauthorization Act of 2018, is a two-year, bipartisan reauthorization of programs and activities for the National Institute of Standards and Technology, or NIST. I am glad to see that this bill increases funding levels for the agency's laboratory programs and funds research and standards facilitation for important issues such as advanced communications, cybersecurity and privacy, internet of things, quantum information science, artificial intelligence research, and infrastructure resilience. I am glad to support this bill today, and furthermore, urge my colleagues to support increased funding in the future for crucial laboratory infrastructure enhancements on the NIST campuses. H.R. 6398, The Department of Energy Veterans' Health Initiative Act, authorizes the Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct collaborative research with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in order to address complex, large data management challenges associated with veterans' health care issues. Specifically, it aims to leverage DOE's expertise in high performance computing in order to analyze VA-provided health and genomics data. This bill also directs DOE to carry out a two-year research pilot program to advance research in artificial intelligence and data analytics for a broad range of potential applications. It provides the Secretary with the authority to establish user facilities capable of securely storing large data sets created by Federal agencies, academic institutions, or industry at DOE National Laboratories. I appreciate the need to utilize the entire resource base of the Federal government to address the needs of our veterans' health care. This bill provides an important tool to try and make our veterans lives better, and I strongly support the bill's passage.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I am joined by my good friend from Oklahoma, Representative Frank Lucas, in introducing the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act. The contributions of women mathematicians and engineers to the warfighting effort during World War II and the nation's space program have for too long gone unrecognized. While hundreds of women helped bring about one of the nation's crowning technological achievements, landing the first man on the moon, their names are largely lost to history. From the 1930s to the 1970s, women at NASA and its precursor organization, NACA, submitted their work anonymously, were paid less than their male peers, and had few opportunities for career advancement. In addition, women of color working in the West Area Computing Unit were initially subjected to the indignity of segregated bathrooms, dining facilities, and water fountains. The popular book by Margot Lee Shetterly, entitled Hidden Figures, and the subsequent film adaptation, have finally helped bring their incredible and inspiring stories to light. Despite the numerous challenges they faced, women like Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Christine Darden persevered. Their accomplishments will, I hope, inspire young girls to consider careers in STEM fields. The positive attention being paid to their individual stories and the stories of the hundreds of women working alongside them is well deserved and long overdue. This bill will bestow Congress's highest civilian honor in appreciation of the achievements of Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan, Christine Darden, and all the women mathematicians and engineers at NACA and NASA who devoted their talents in service to the nation during this important time in our history. I want to thank Senator Coons for his leadership in championing the effort to honor these women in the Senate with his legislation, S. 3321. Our bill builds on Senator Coons' bill by extending the honor to the hundreds of lesser-known women who worked alongside the four women made famous by the Hidden Figures book and movie. While I am grateful that this book and movie have shone a light on these women and their experiences, I think it's important to acknowledge that the term Hidden Figures is a bit misleading. These women and their talents were never hidden from us. As is far too often the case when women--and especially women of color--are involved, we as a society chose to overlook them. I urge my colleagues to join us in rectifying this oversight and help us give these women the recognition they deserve.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6227, the National Quantum Initiative Act. I want to take a moment to thank Chairman Smith for introducing this good legislation, of which I am a proud original cosponsor. I also want to express my appreciation for the deliberative, bipartisan process by which this bill was developed over the past year. H.R. 6227 is the product of engagement with key stakeholders in industry, academia, and the Federal Government. The Science, Space, and Technology Committee held a hearing on quantum technology last October. At that hearing, we heard from agency, university, and industry representatives about the recent breakthroughs in quantum sensing, quantum communication, and quantum computing. We also heard about the priorities for Federal investment in quantum research and the need for a strategic and coordinated approach going forward. In addition to the hearing, committee staff held numerous bipartisan meetings and roundtables to inform the development of this bill. Quantum information science and technology promises to revolutionize the way we solve problems. Many believe that quantum computing technology has the potential to accelerate progress on some of the most pressing challenges, including how to address climate change and understand complex diseases like cancer. While it is difficult to predict how far-ranging the societal and economic impacts of quantum computing will be, recent breakthroughs demonstrate that we are rapidly clearing the necessary engineering hurdles. It is truly an exciting time for this bill and for the wide range of innovators who are planning to take advantage of these new breakthrough capabilities. The race is on to build the world's first quantum computer capable of solving problems that have long eluded conventional computers. Not unlike the space race in the 1960s, the stakes in today's quantum race are high. Global leadership in quantum computing brings with it a military and intelligence edge, as well as a competitive advantage in what many expect to be a massive industry in decades to come. At this time, when China, Europe, and Russia are investing heavily in quantum research and technology development, it is imperative that we do everything we can to maintain our global standing as the leader in this area. We must invest more in research. We need to ensure that we are educating and training the next generation of top quantum scientists and engineers. And we should do more to encourage partnerships between academia, industry, and government. The National Quantum Initiative Act will set us on the right path. H.R. 6227 directs the President to establish a 10-year National Quantum Initiative Program, with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Energy playing lead roles. Through the establishment of a national coordination office, an outside advisory committee, and an interagency working group, the program will take an integrated government approach to accelerating progress in quantum research and development. I want to express my appreciation for the deliberative, bipartisan process by which we developed this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski).

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, so I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I urge support of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the final passage of H.R. 589, the Department of Energy Research and Innovation Act, for which I am pleased to be a cosponsor. The bill before us today is a result of constructive negotiations with our majority and with our colleagues in the Senate over the last 2 years. I am also pleased to note that many of the provisions in this bill actually were proposed first in the version of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act, and that was sponsored by every Democratic member of the committee last Congress. This bill includes what would be the first comprehensive authorization of the DOE Office of Science, which is the largest supporter of physical sciences research in the country. This is a $6.6 billion office that manages 10 of our national laboratories, often called the crown jewels of our national research infrastructure. Yet, thus far, unlike NSF, NASA, and nearly every other major scientific research agency stewarded by the Federal Government, the Office of Science has not received the statutory guidance and support that its capabilities and mission warrant. So passing this portion of the bill into law alone would be a big step in the right direction. The bill also includes a number of important technology transfer provisions that previously passed the House as part of a bipartisan bill that I and many of my colleagues on the committee cosponsored. In addition, it would provide the first authorization of the promising Innovation Hub model for energy research, and it would enable greater private sector management of ARPA-E. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Smith and his staff for working closely with us and our Senate counterparts to find common ground in each of these areas, as I believe they will be critical to ensuring our Nation's competitiveness and our clean energy future. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I support passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support S. 97, the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act. It is the Senate companion to H.R. 431, which I am very pleased to cosponsor. Today, nuclear power plays a vital role in providing our country with clean, reliable energy. I happen to be one of those who live in an area where we have nuclear energy. Looking toward the future, one of my top priorities is preventing and mitigating the potentially devastating impacts of climate change. I believe that this clean energy resource can and should play a key role in our efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of our electricity sector. But there currently are technical, economic, and policy challenges that prevent nuclear energy from playing a larger role in enabling our clean energy future. The Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act takes several positive steps to address these challenges. Implementing the provisions of this bill will help accelerate the development of advanced nuclear energy technologies that are safer, less expensive, more efficient, and produce less waste than the current generation of nuclear reactors. I hope it will also help ensure a brighter future for the U.S. nuclear energy industry. I would like to express my appreciation for the process we followed to put this bill together. Majority and minority staff in both the House and Senate worked closely together, from engaging stakeholders, through crafting and incorporating suggested changes to the bill language. This is a great example of what we can achieve when we leave politics at the door and look for common ground to address challenges facing our Nation's research enterprise. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my resolution in support of Balance Awareness Week and the related vestibular disorders. The vestibular system includes the parts of the inner ear and brain that process the sensory information involved with controlling balance and eye movements. As many as 35 percent of adults aged 40 years or older in the United States--approximately 69 million Americans--have experienced some form of vestibular dysfunction. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), a further 4 percent (8 million) of American adults report a chronic problem with balance, while an additional 1.1 percent (2.4 million) report a chronic problem with dizziness. Eighty percent of people aged 65 years and older have experienced dizziness, and BPPV, the most common vestibular disorder, is the cause of approximately 50 percent of dizziness in older people. Overall, vertigo from a vestibular problem accounts for one third of all dizziness and vertigo symptoms reported to health care professionals. The most commonly diagnosed vestibular disorders include benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis, Meniere's disease, secondary endolymphatic hydrops, and perilymph fistula. Vestibular disorders also include superior canal dehiscence, acoustic neuroma, ototoxicity, enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome, and mal de debarquement. Other problems related to vestibular dysfunction include vestibular migraine and complications from autoimmune disorders and allergies. There is no cure for this disorder. The form of treatment prescribed for vestibular disorders depends upon symptoms, medical history and general health, a physical examination by a qualified doctor, and diagnostic test results. Treatment can include: vestibular rehabilitation therapy, canalith repositioning maneuvers, home-based exercise, dietary adjustments, counseling, medication or surgery. Because of difficulties posed by accurately diagnosing and reporting vestibular disorders, statistics estimating how common they are, how often they occur, and what social impacts they have range widely. Yet even the lowest estimates reflect the fact that vestibular disorders occur frequently and can affect people of any age. Vestibular disorders not only profoundly affect adults, but also children. Once thought to be exceptionally rare, pediatric vestibular disorders are receiving increasing attention from clinicians as an overlooked problem. In addition to impairments of motor development and balance, vestibular deficits may cause poor gaze stability that inhibits children from learning to read. Despite new awareness of pediatric vestibular disorders, children are currently not typically screened for them, and as a result frequently fail to receive medical treatment for their symptoms. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Members to join me in supporting the third week of September as Balance Awareness Week.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and to honor the legacy of my dear colleague, the Honorable Ronald V. Dellums. Although it saddens my heart to see that we have lost another great trailblazer, I would be remiss if I didn't take the time to honor his life and the change he brought to this great country. Dellums was not only a patriarch for the Congressional Black Caucus, but he was trailblazer for change all around the world. With a political career of over forty years, he was determined to help those around him and provide hope for his community. As a former member of the Berkeley City Council, United States House of Representatives, and mayor of Oakland, Dellums always inspired to pave the way for the next generation to be advocates and a voice. During his 14 years in the U.S. House of Representatives he became the first African American to chair the Armed Services Committee. Dellums used this platform not for his own benefit, but to create an agenda to ensure civil rights and programs for people ahead of weapons systems and warfare. He was also the antiwar activist to hold that post. As a Congresswoman who proudly stands in the gap for my constituents, I always admired how Congressman Dellums fought hard and served his constituents with distinction and treated his colleagues with the utmost respect. He was determined to share his light with the world. As a dedicated leader in human rights and civil rights in America and around the world, Congressman Dellums worked tirelessly to pass anti- apartheid legislation against South Africa. After a 14-year campaign against apartheid in South Africa, he wrote the 1986 legislation that mandated trade embargoes and divestment by American companies and citizens of holdings in South Africa. Congressman Dellums was not only a leader; he was a person of incredible intellect who possessed the ability to build alliances with people and groups from diverse backgrounds and varying interests. He was a co-founder of the Congressional Black Caucus, which he chaired from 1989-1991, and a co-founder of the Congressional Progressive Caucus in 1991. After retiring from Congress he remained involved and determined to be a light for his people. He worked in the private sector on global aids, healthcare and transportation. He returned then to his native Oakland, in 2006, and was elected Mayor, serving one term and retiring from elective office in 2011. I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Congressman Dellums for his outstanding and dedicated service.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise UT Southwestern Medical Center, which has retained its status as the top hospital in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. U.S. News & World Report annually reviews the best hospitals in the U.S. The publication analyzes data from nearly 5,000 medical centers and survey responses from more than 30,000 physicians to rank hospitals in 16 adult specialties. As UT Southwestern celebrates its 75th anniversary, they have been recognized as the top hospital in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the second best in Texas and nationally ranked in seven specialties, including Geriatrics, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Nephrology, Urology, Pulmonology, and Orthopedics. Nationally, only 158 hospitals ranked in at least one of the specialties in 2018-19. U.S. News & World Report also gave UT Southwestern high-performing ratings in the areas of cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, gastroenterology and GI surgery, and ophthalmology, as well as for procedures for abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, heart failure, colon cancer surgery, lung cancer surgery, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. UT Southwestern received excellent ratings for patient satisfaction for all nine categories of procedures reviewed. Recognition comes as UT Southwestern continues to expand access to its distinctive academic medicine through new facilities and partnerships that find innovative approaches to improving efficiencies and lowering the overall costs of care. UT Southwestern is expanding to meet the needs of North Texas by adding 300 new beds to the existing 460, making it among the largest medical facilities in the nation. In addition, scheduled to open in 2020, a 12-story, third tower will serve as a clinical home for neurological care, consolidated acute inpatient care services, additional operating rooms, interventional suites, expanded Emergency Department care, and two new parking structures. Earlier this year, U.S. News & World Report ranked UT Southwestern Medical School as one of the top 20 medical schools for primary care and the top 30 for research in the United States. Among medical specialties, UT Southwestern nationally ranked 14th among internal medicine programs and 18th among obstetrics and gynecology programs. In addition, UT Southwestern's residency program for Internal Medicine was ranked 8th in the nation by Doximity's 2018-2019 Residency Navigator. UT Southwestern Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences ranked 18th in the nation among graduate schools for biological sciences and 41st for chemistry, according to U.S. News & World Report. In Chemistry, UT Southwestern ranked 13th for biochemistry. UT Southwestern ranked No. 1 in the world among peer institutions in the ``healthcare'' research category on the Nature Index 2018 Annual Tables, which evaluates publication of high-quality research. UT Southwestern also ranks fifth in the world in the number of published research articles cited as significant sources in third-party patent applications, used to evaluate an institution's impact and influence on industrial innovation--how a scientific discovery leads to, or plays a part in, the development and commercialization of new products and services. UT Southwestern is one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation. The facility integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution's faculty has received six Nobel Prizes, and includes 22 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 16 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 15 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators. The faculty of more than 2,700 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide care in about 80 specialties to more than 100,000 hospitalized patients, 600,000 emergency room cases, and oversee approximately 2.2 million outpatient visits a year. It is my honor to share the successes of UT Southwestern and my privilege to congratulate them on earning this prestigious recognition.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2345, the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act, and I want to thank Mr. Stewart and the committee leaders for the hard work in presenting this on the floor today. This bipartisan legislation asks the Federal Communications Commission and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to study the designation of a three-digit dialing code similar to 911. Even 3-year-olds can remember 911. When a family is in crisis, an 800 number sometimes is difficult to remember. The suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system makes it all American because we are faced with these kinds of incidences many times every day. The bill also requires them to perform a cost- and-benefit service analysis of using a three-digit dialing code for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system and examine the overall effectiveness of the current National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line and recommend ways to improve the current system. Each year, 45,000 Americans take their own life, an average of 123 completed suicides every day, and an additional 1 million-plus Americans attempt suicide each year. While there are many resources for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis, it can be difficult to find these resources during this extreme time of need. The current National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has increased access, but the dialing code can be cumbersome to remember, 1-800-273- TALK. Just try to remember dialing that many digits. Unfortunately, in many States where there are numerous entities providing services, there is not always one consolidated number to call. The National Suicide Prevention Hotline Improvement Act is an important step to achieve that end. This legislation will build upon the success of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to increase access to lifesaving services while evaluating new and innovative ways to improve the current system. It is critical that we move quickly on this bill so that we can begin saving more lives each day.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the judicial branch serves as one of the key pillars of our democracy, charged with restraining both the legislative and executive branches from reaching beyond their constitutional authority first envisioned by our Founding Fathers. The importance of having qualified judges on the bench is not only vital to the judiciary, but also to the proper functioning of our system of checks and balances--and by extension, our democratic system. By stacking the courts with biased, unqualified judges, President Trump and Senate Majority Leader McConnell are choosing party over their country in a manner that will cause enduring harm to the process and principles that we hold dear as a democratic nation. The nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court is already a dangerous threat to longstanding precedent on matters regarding civil rights, abortion, and government oversight. However, the lower federal courts are equally as important to the judiciary's ability to protect the fundamental rights that we enjoy as Americans. President Trump has demonstrated time and time again through his nominations of extreme candidates that he has little to no regard for due process, and has every intention of leaving behind a lifelong legacy of stacking the courts to favor radical right-wing conservatism. Mr. Speaker, the nominees being put forth by this Administration and the process by which they are being vetted is a wild and dangerous departure from regular order. Senate Republicans are knowingly sidestepping traditional vetting protocols in order to rush right-wing judicial nominees through the process before the American people can react. It is a misguided practice that places partisan politics over the needs of the American people, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to oppose any unqualified nominee at every opportunity.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today marks 100 years since the birth of famed political leader and philanthropist, Nelson Mandela. Often referred to as the ``Father of the Nation,'' Mandela is best known for serving as South Africa's first black head of state and using his administration to dismantle the strict system of apartheid that existed in South Africa from 1948 until the mid-1990s. Since that time, Mandela has become a global icon of democracy and social justice, which is relevant even today as we continue to wrestle with our own issues of divisiveness and racial disparities. Mandela began his activism at a relatively young age. While studying law at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, Mandela quickly became involved in a movement fighting against racial discrimination. In 1944, Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC) and worked to establish its youth league, the ANCYL, in order to help foster new leaders and call for civil disobedience against the new laws that came with apartheid. By 1961, Mandela co-founded an armed wing of the ANC once the government would not respond to peaceful demands for equality. Mandela was ultimately imprisoned for nearly three decades, where he was subjected to inhumane punishment and other atrocities. Once Mandela was released from prison, he quickly moved to lead the ANC in negotiations with the governing National Party to bring an end to apartheid. By May 10, 1994, Mandela was elected and sworn in as the first black president of South Africa--a position he would use to bring peace and equality to the nation. After leaving office, he continued to help address global issues through direct intervention and through the Nelson Mandela Foundation. Nelson Mandela died on December 5, 2013, after a long and fruitful life. Mr. Speaker, Nelson Mandela left behind a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire generations to come. It is fitting that even after one hundred years, as our society continues to overcome challenges to our democracy and social justice, that we honor such a timeless figure in our history. Even in death, his selfless dedication to equality and democratic ideology serve as a reminder that we must always be fighting to defend the values that we hold dear as a nation. It is in the absence of such a strong defense of our values that we succumb to the tyranny and oppression of the past.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, while the Trump administration has clearly taken steps to reunite immigrant children with their families, there are still 100 children under the age of five in the government's custody. The court ordered deadline to reunite all of these children with their parents was yesterday. The Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services must continue to make it a top priority to locate these children's parents and reunite these families in a timely manner. The Trump administration's inhumane ``zero-tolerance'' policy was finally stopped by the President, but the terrible effects of this policy continue. DHS' poor recordkeeping has resulted in the prolonged separation of these children. Twelve of these children's parents have already been deported, making it much more difficult for them to reunite with their children. The Department of Homeland Security has had to resort to DNA testing to ensure that children are properly reunited, a costly and tedious process that prolongs the trauma these children are experiencing. This excess cost to American taxpayers could easily have been avoided had the Trump administration thought about the reunification process rather than solely focusing on separating children from their parents. These children have already endured an incredibly dangerous journey from their home countries, and the Trump administration has subjected them to even more suffering. The American Medical Association has stated that separation from parents can cause lifelong psychological trauma for these children, particularly children who are under the age of five. Sadly, there are already reports of children who no longer recognize their parents after these prolonged periods of separation. The Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services must take immediate action to expedite the process of reunification, and Congress must use its legislative authority to hold these departments accountable and ensure that these human rights violations are corrected. Children have been taken from their parents, and it is all of our responsibility to ensure that this administration are reuniting them as quickly as possible.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I am very pleased to support H.R. 5906, the ARPA-E Act of 2018. Even though the agency is still relatively young, ARPA-E has already demonstrated incredible success in advancing high-risk, high-reward energy technology solutions that neither the public nor the private sector had been willing or able to support in the past. This was highlighted in a Congressionally mandated National Academies review of the agency released last year. Industry leaders like Norm Augustine and Bill Gates have repeatedly called for tripling this agency's budget given the unique role that it is now playing in our energy innovation pipeline. ARPA-E's impressive track record includes over $2.6 billion in private sector follow-on funding for a group of 136 ARPA-E projects since the agency's founding in 2009. Equally notable, 71 projects have formed new companies and 109 projects have shown enough promise to result in partnerships with other government agencies for further development. And I'd be remiss if I didn't refer my colleagues to DOE Secretary Perry's address to the ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit in March, where he said, and I quote, ``ARPA-E is one of the reasons DOE has had and is having such a profound impact on American lives.'' I couldn't have said this better myself. The ARPA-E Act of 2018 maintains the structure and nimbleness of this critical agency while also enabling it to help tackle one of the Department of Energy's most expensive, intransigent problems, which is managing and remediating the legacy waste sites from our nation's past production of nuclear weapons. The bill also includes language from the bipartisan ARPA-E Reauthorization Act that I introduced last year which would ensure that sensitive business information collected by the agency remains protected. This will enable even greater private sector engagement in future ARPA-E projects and programs. I would like to thank Mr. Lucas and Chairman Smith for working with me to introduce this bill, and I hope that all Members will support this critical investment in our nation's clean energy future.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, House Republicans continue to profess that ``family values'' form the bedrock of their decision making. Yet, time and time again there is action being taken to the contrary. We have seen that the same ``family values'' that Republicans claim to have are not evident in the debates here on the floor, the legislation brought forth, and ultimately what is voted on in Congress. Whether the topic is food nutrition for our children, Supplemental Security Income benefits for older Americans, or immigration policies, the average American family does not stand to benefit from many of the proposals considered by my Republican colleagues. Even when it comes down to the physical well-being of our citizens, Republicans have shown through their actions that they value profits more than lowering the cost of health care for millions of Americans. In fact, the recent corporate tax bill passed by the Republican party is have directly associated with a 15% spike in premiums at the expense of middle- and working-class Americans. The nonpartisan CBO also reported that another 3 million will be pushed off their coverage altogether. I have even greater concerns as to how House Republicans are strengthening families while the GOP Farm Bill that passed last week will kick at least 2 million people off food stamps, and cut total food stamp benefits by more than $23 billion. Meanwhile, Republicans refused to include limits on subsidies provided for crop insurance--one of the few federal programs without eligibility caps or payment limits. Moreover, Supplemental Security Income is truly a provider of last resort and is vital for those who depend on it, yet my colleagues continue to impose devastating cuts to a program that benefits our most vulnerable. On the immigration front, Republicans are unwilling to allow migrant families to remain together and are instead separating them at our southern border. Mr. Speaker, these are just a few examples of how what we do here impacts millions of families all across the country. I believe many of my colleagues will agree with me that strong families form the foundation of a strong nation. Any decision on policy, whether economic or social, should be made to the overall benefit of the everyday American family. However, we must be extremely careful not to do so at the expense of millions of middle and lower class Americans who are already struggling to get by.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, during a 2-week period in May, 658 immigrant children were separated from their families by Customs and Border Patrol agents at our southern border. The number of immigrant children held in custody by the United States government is now 10,773, an increase of 21% since the end of April. Sadly, this practice of family separation continues to be applied by the Trump administration today. It must be stopped immediately. The high majority of families crossing our southern border come from Central America, where rampant violence threatens the lives of women and children in particular. These families come to the United States in hopes of finding safety. Instead, this inhumane policy enforced by the Trump administration ensures that parents and children will face additional psychological and emotional trauma. Separation from parents is particularly damaging for young children, who have already endured a long and dangerous journey from their points of origin. Aside from the obvious emotional toll of parental separation, a report released by the American Civil Liberties Union last month details pervasive abuse of unaccompanied children by the Customs and Border Protection agency. Instances of this abuse include CBP officials repeatedly punching a child's head, verbally abusing detained children, and denying a pregnant minor medical care, which resulted in a stillbirth. Congress must come together to end the Trump administration's practice and to ensure that these migrants are treated humanely. Attorney General Jeff Sessions' recent announcement that this administration will not grant asylum to victims of domestic and gang violence will only exacerbate the problems these families face, and at the very least, we must ensure that they are able to stay together as they face their uncertain futures. Mr. Speaker, no matter where they come from, parents and children belong together, Congress must use its legislative authority to prevent the Trump administration from ripping them apart.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the ranking member for her help on this issue. I appreciate the opportunity to speak about an issue that is very important to my constituents and, of course, to me. I began my career as a nurse, where I provided hands-on patient care for 15 years at the Dallas Veterans Administration Hospital. I actually opened the psychiatric service. I rise today regarding an issue that is prevalent in my district and, more likely, is coming around the country: the Department of Veterans Affairs delaying, sometimes for years, payments for services that have been authorized by the VA and performed subject to their requirements. Small business vendors depend on timely payments in order to pay for their services, pay their employees, and conduct business that they have agreed to perform for the price the VA has agreed to pay. Veterans and their care are very important to me, and one thing I have noticed in my career, both at the VA and here in Congress, is that it is important that getting the payment, whatever and wherever it is owed, and whether that is the veteran, a physician, or a contractor, is important. I could talk about a number of things about the VA, but one of the things that is really hurting veterans is the delay of payment of vendors that render service. The other week, one of the small vendors came into my office and said he was still waiting for payment from 2015. These vendors, for the most part, offer services to the veterans away from the hospital. It should not take that long for them to be paid. It is ruining the home healthcare program because they cannot continue, year after year, to deliver this care without getting paid; and many of the small vendors have stopped servicing the veterans because they never see payment in sight. So that is a major issue which I came to speak about today. Fee-basis care is preapproved by the VA, and the veteran, VA facility, and provider are all aware of the costs of the care being performed. There should not be a delay in delivering payment for essential services provided to the veteran. Many of these small businesses have to file lawsuits and get attorneys to retrieve their money. Many of them have been put out of business and made up their mind they cannot service veterans because they cannot get paid in a timely manner. Two or 3 years late for payment is a long time for small businesses. My concern is this slow-walking of claim payments is endemic throughout the VA, and veterans are being held responsible for the delay. Not all contractors are as savvy as my constituent and might not know what the next step should be to resolve these issues. My amendment is designed to encourage the VA to report on the number of vendors who are being held hostage to slow payment around the country and how much money is being tied up in these delays. These small vendors cannot survive these long delays in getting paid. We need to know how big the problem is and how we can figure out how to fix it. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I really appreciate the comments of the ranking member, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, and Chairman Dent agreeing to look into this issue. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. I rise today in support of H.R. 8--the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2018. As the most senior Texan on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and former chair of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, I am pleased to support this bill which represents a bipartisan effort to authorize critical water infrastructure projects and develop our nation's future water resources. Our ports, inland waterways, locks, dams, flood protection, and other water infrastructure are vital to our nation and its global competitiveness. Water infrastructure forms a critical backbone in support of our overall infrastructure needs and H.R. 8 will ensure that the United States can provide not only basic water resources for its people, but also promote commerce along our nation's waterways. One element of the WRDA bill that I wish had been addressed is the full use of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF). The HMTF was established to cover the operation and maintenance (O&M) expenses of our waterways and harbors. As Harbor Maintenance Taxes (HMTs) are collected, it is the responsibility of Congress to appropriate its spending for dredging and other O&M activities. A sufficient amount of HMT revenue is collected each year to meet our nation's annual authorized harbor maintenance needs. It is critical that we remain open to the idea of fully utilizing the HMTF for harbor maintenance purposes. Mr. Chair, I look forward to working with Congress to continue authorizing these important projects and sticking to a two-year authorization cycle. Doing so will ensure that we are able to advance water resources development projects in a timely manner and provide the predictability and support that is so desperately needed.