Eddie Johnson

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1020--although, reluctantly, I must qualify my support. I will begin with the parts of the bill that I strongly support. I want to thank Ms. Esty for her language to amend NSF's Noyce Master Teacher Fellowship program. This is an important update to the program to ensure that we are tapping into our entire pool of talented math and science teachers who might serve as master teachers in their schools and districts. I also want to thank Mr. Lipinski for his language to authorize the National Science Foundation's informal STEM education portfolio. While we know that informal STEM education learning holds great promise to increase engagement in STEM by diverse populations and to enhance learning of STEM content, there is still more R&D to be done to make sure we are developing and implementing the most effective programs. My support for those sections of this bill is unqualified. However, I must express my concern about the definition for STEM included in this legislation which differs in a significant way from the definition of STEM that Chairman Smith proposed in last year's version of this same bill. Specifically, the current version would define STEM as ``science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, including computer science.'' Last year's version, developed in collaboration with the STEM Education Coalition, read as ``science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, including other academic subjects that build on these disciplines such as computer science.'' This second definition, the one this entire House agreed to last year, was agreed to because it left the door open for other critical fields such as statistics and geology that don't cleanly fit into S, T, E, or M of STEM in K-12 teacher certifications and curricula. I think we can all agree to the importance of computer science education. The current disconnect between the high demand for information technology jobs and limited opportunities for students to be exposed to computer science at the K-12 level puts American students and American companies at a significant disadvantage. However, it baffles me as to why we would implicitly devalue such fields as statistics and geology in order to highlight computer science. Statistics is an essential tool across all fields of science. Without good statistics, the biomedical research results that we count on to develop new diagnostics and therapeutics for diseases would be meaningless. Without geology, oil and gas companies would not be able to locate and drill for new sources of energy. Without geology, we will never achieve early warning for earthquakes to save lives. Whether we are from Texas or California, we ought to place high value on geology. I am also baffled why this bill is so urgent that we had to skip regular order to bring it to the floor. I requested that the committee hold a hearing or a markup on this legislation so that we might settle the definition dispute in committee after an open and public debate, but my request was denied. Mr. Speaker, I will support this bill today, but I hope that the Senate will be wiser than we are being today in defining STEM. This is not simply semantics. How and what science is taught in our Nation's classrooms is essential to our future economic competitiveness, national security, and overall well-being.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to commemorate the 90th birthday of my friend and colleague, former Congressman Louis Stokes. Louis Stokes rose from local housing projects in Cleveland, Ohio to serve 30 years in the U.S. House, first elected in 1968. Reluctant to enter the political arena, Stokes was persuaded to run for office by his younger brother, Carl B. Stokes, the first Black mayor of a major American city, elected in 1967. Prior to serving in Congress Louis served for decades as a civil rights lawyer. Louis Stokes was the first black to represent the State of Ohio in Congress and was a founding Member of the Congressional Black Caucus. Throughout his tenure in the House, Stokes chaired several congressional committees and was the first African American to win a seat on the House Appropriations Committee. During his long tenure in Congress, Louis Stokes headed and participated in several major House investigations. In March 1977 he was appointed to lead the Select Committee on Assassinations, formed to conduct an investigation of the circumstances surrounding the deaths of President John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Stokes also served as chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, becoming the first Black Member of Congress to head this committee. Stokes was the dean of the Ohio Congressional Delegation. His work in the area of health led to his appointment as a member of the Pepper Commission on Comprehensive Health Care, and he was the founder and chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Brain Trust. In 1991 Stokes chaired the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. When Louis Stokes retired in 1998, he became the first African American in the history of the U.S. Congress to have completed 30 years in office. Following his service in Congress, he became senior counsel at Squire, Sanders, and Dempsey L.L.P., a global law firm, and Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University. Stokes also served as vice chairman of the PEW Environmental Health Commission at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and was appointed by former Health and Human Services Secretary, Donna E. Shalala, as chairman of the Advisory Committee on Minority Health. Mr. Speaker, I join with his wife Jay, children, Shelley, Angela, Louis and Lori, grandchildren, family and friends in wishing Congressman Louis Stokes a very happy and blessed 90th birthday. You have been a trailblazer for so many. May you have many, many more.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the designation of February 19, 2015 as National Anthropology Day. Throughout the third week of February, but particularly on the 19th, anthropological societies, museums, and student clubs in more than 100 American cities will celebrate the anthropology's contributions to advancing understanding of the human condition and applying this understanding to addressing some of the world's most pressing problems. The American Anthropological Association, together with the Archaeological Institute of America and American Association of Physical Anthropologists, represent a combined total of more than 200,000 members, and will lead in a host of public educational activities to demonstrate the ways in which anthropology produces a body of facts about how we identify ourselves and create communities, beliefs, cultures, and how we can live sustainably in our natural and built environments. Anthropology teaches respect for cultural differences--a sensibility that is crucial in today's increasingly mobile and interconnected world. The field of knowledge contributes to the well-being of humanity in nearly every facet of our lives, including, promoting health and strengthening health care delivery systems, developing appropriate technology that meets individual and societal needs, understanding and preserving the past to help us face collective future challenges, identifying best practices in education, environmental and cultural resource protection, and preservation of our diverse linguistic heritage, and celebrating our nation's ethnic, racial, and cultural diversity. As lawmakers, we must do all we can to support these efforts. I am proud to join with communities across the country in recognizing February 19th as National Anthropology Day.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of the preeminent civil rights organizations in America, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, on their 106th anniversary. Widely recognized as the nation's oldest and largest civil rights group, this organization has been essential in helping African Americans find and maintain their voice since its founding in 1909. Founded by W.E.B. Du Bois, Ida B. Wells and a host of other progressive and forward thinking leaders, the NAACP has always been on the front lines for Blacks in this country. Established partly in response to the horrific lynchings of the early 1900s, the group quickly expanded, focusing many of its early battles on the court system and legalized segregation. With the stated purpose of securing the rights guaranteed by the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments for all Americans, the NAACP worked tirelessly to secure equal protection under the law and the right to vote. With the founding of the NAACP's Legal Defense Fund in 1939, America saw the brilliant litigation strategy of Charles Hamilton Houston and Thurgood Marshall as they advocated for the famous Brown v. Board of Education decision, which many credit with beginning the modern Civil Rights Movement. As the 20th century neared its close, and African Americans experienced the transition from the overt racism that plagues the Jim Crow South to urban areas plagued by poverty and crime. Again, the NAACP adopted its mantra to meet this challenge and remains a relevant advocate improving the lives of Blacks in America. I rise to recognize and celebrate the 106 year history of the NAACP's advocacy and. From the early 20th century, fighting for Blacks to serve as officers in World War I, to the present day efforts to address disparities in economic access and the criminal justice system, the NAACP continues to fulfill its mission of providing a voice to the voiceless and improving the quality of life for all Americans.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 810, the NASA Authorization Act of 2015. NASA is a critical engine of discovery, science, innovation, and inspiration. During the last Congress, our committee leadership and Members from both sides came together to work through a compromise NASA authorization act. It was for a 1-year bill, but it provided important policy direction to the agency at a time when we in Congress wanted NASA to build on its progress and keep its focus on the priorities established through successive authorization acts. That bipartisan bill passed the House last year by an overwhelming 401-2 margin. The bill, H.R. 810, which is also a 1-year reauthorization, takes that same policy language and updates the authorization of appropriations to be consistent with the funding levels enacted in fiscal year 2015. The bill also provides necessary date changes where relevant. While this is not a perfect bill, especially in terms of its short duration and lack of meaningful outyear funding guidance, it includes many important policy provisions that will help guide the future of NASA at a critical time for our space program. H.R. 810 emphasizes NASA's role as a multimission agency with programs in aeronautics, science, exploration, and human spaceflight. It also establishes a clear long-term goal of sending humans to the surface of Mars and directs NASA to prepare a human exploration roadmap of what is needed to get there. The bill also provides policy direction on a host of other priority activities, including space and earth science, aeronautics, space technology, and education, as well as good government directives on curbing cost growth and strengthening program management, among others. Consistent with the recommendations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, H.R. 810 directs that safety be the highest priority in the commercial human spaceflight program to transport our astronauts to the international space station. NASA is doing all that it can to make effective progress on its programs thanks to its passionate and dedicated civil servant workforce and extended contractor and academic communities. We want to sustain NASA's progress on critical programs, including the Space Launch System and Orion, by providing consistency and constancy of purpose and direction. This bill enables such stability while providing our committee the time needed to develop a comprehensive multiyear reauthorization of NASA once H.R. 810 is enacted into law. I want to recognize the efforts of the committee leadership, including our chairman, Lamar Smith, and most especially our subcommittee chairman, Steve Palazzo, and the ranking member, Congresswoman Donna Edwards, for their dedication and willingness to work together with me to achieve this bipartisan bill, H.R. 810, the NASA Authorization Act of 2015. We need a strong NASA with an inspiring agenda for our children and grandchildren, and we need to fund it at a level commensurate with the tasks we have given them to achieve. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 810, the NASA Authorization Act of 2015.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, along with my colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus, to recognize the lasting legacy of the Selma marches. 50 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King, Stokely Carmichael, Congressman John Lewis, and a number of other fearless fighters, led the historic marches from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in protest of discriminatory voting laws. In the years prior to the Selma marches, less than 1% of the black voting age population was registered to vote in Dallas County, where Selma is located. However, more than 80% of Dallas County blacks lived below the poverty line. Various efforts to get blacks in Dallas County registered to vote were met physical violence and economic intimidation. But with the local leadership of the Dallas County Voters League, and the help of two national organizations, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the Student Nonviolence Coordinating Committee, the Selma marches were born. During the first march from Selma to Montgomery, in what would become known as ``Bloody Sunday,'' the nation watched in horror as African Americans were brutally beaten by police officers, attacked by dogs, and sprayed by fire hoses. Their courage, in the face of dehumanizing treatment from law enforcement, thrust the issue of segregation and race relations in the Deep South into the national consciousness. It led to President Lyndon B. Johnson presenting to a joint session of Congress what would become the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the most important piece of civil rights legislation in the history of this country. 50 years later, the images of ``Bloody Sunday'' are permanently etched into our Nation's history as a deep and painful reminder of the struggles we triumphantly conquered to get to where we are today. And yet, the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, at the hands of law enforcement, serve as tragic reminders that we still have so far to go. The work of Selma is not finished. The work of Dr. King, Stokely Carmichael, and Congressman Lewis is not finished. But we must remain encouraged and faithful for the progress still left to achieve. While the discriminatory voting laws of the 1960s are no more, we have encountered a new brand of voter disenfranchisement in 2015 that poses a serious threat to the electoral process. And once again, the great citizens of this nation must fight to protect their constitutional right to vote. It is with the painful lessons learned from the marches on Selma, and with the same tenacity and fearlessness that we will continue to fight this battle today.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Amendment XXII: Section 1: ``No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of President more than once.''

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of a Democratic legislative agenda that would improve our Nation's infrastructure and focus on job creation and support of the American people. Instead of taking backward steps and undermining existing law that protects and helps our fellow Americans, we must concentrate on fair wages, scientific advancement, and allowing individuals to access health security. We must begin to work on reauthorizing the highway trust fund immediately, moving beyond the all-too-familiar recurring nightmare of short-term, piecemeal highway reauthorizations. Instead of providing giveaways to special interest groups, we must strengthen protections in public health, the environment, food safety, and consumer safety for hardworking Americans. We must support access to quality, affordable health insurance for millions of Americans instead of slowly chipping away provisions of the Affordable Care Act. And Congress must think in the long term by leading efforts to curb climate change.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 23, legislation that would reauthorize the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program--or NWIRP. The last few years have been devastating years for natural disasters across the country. There were massive tornadoes across the Midwest that resulted in loss of life and significant economic damages. In addition, Hurricane Irene in 2011 and Superstorm Sandy in 2012 caused widespread destruction and death along the Eastern seaboard. H.R. 23 directs NIST, NSF, NOAA, and FEMA to support activities to improve the understanding of windstorms and their impacts. We can use that knowledge to reduce the vulnerability of our communities to natural disasters. The NWIRP program helps our federal agencies and communities across the nation develop and implement many measures that help minimize the loss of life and property during windstorms and to rebuild effectively and safely after such storms. I was pleased that when this bill was considered by the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee last Congress, we worked in a bipartisan manner and made several improvements to the bill. We worked together to increase the authorization for FEMA, the agency tasked with implementing the research conducted by the other NWIRP agencies. Additionally, we added several social science-related provisions to the bill. We cannot design effective disaster preparation strategies without understanding how people make decisions and respond to disaster warnings. This is a compromise bill and so it doesn't contain as much as I think should be done. In particular, I wish this bill included authorization increases for the NWIRP agencies--increases that are justified by the important activities those agencies carry out. However, it is still a good bill and an important bill for us to act on. I want to thank my fellow Texans--Chairman Smith and Mr. Neugebauer-- for working across the aisle on this bill and for bringing it to the floor today. And I want to thank Ms. Wilson for her efforts on this legislation. It was good to see Members of the Committee coming together, working out their differences, compromising, and ending up with a bill with bipartisan support. I support the bill and urge my colleagues to support this important bill.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 34, the ``Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2015''. First, I want to thank the Ranking Member of the Environment Subcommittee, Ms. Bonamici, for her work on this legislation and her commitment to maintaining the health and vitality of the Nation's oceans and coastal communities. I would also like to thank Mr. Rohrabacher for joining her in this bipartisan effort, and Mr. Smith, the Chairman of the Science Committee, for starting the 114th Congress with a good bipartisan bill. Over 120 million Americans call the United States coastline their home. These coastal communities--from major cities to small towns--play a vital role in sustaining the American economy. In fact, approximately one-third of the U.S. gross domestic product has its origins in coastal areas. That is why the bill we are considering today is so important. It would allow the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to continue to protect Americans and our coastal economies from the threat of tsunamis. This legislation is a perfect example of a familiar saying: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Our tsunami warning program has increased in effectiveness over the last decade, but we must remain vigilant in our preparedness and continue to invest in the research and development, and education and outreach, necessary to improve the resiliency of our coastal communities to these destructive waves. We were reminded in 2004 in Sumatra, and again in 2011 in Japan, of the devastation that can be caused by a tsunami. Billions and billions of dollars in economic damages and countless lives are at risk if we do not maintain, and improve, our tsunami detection and forecasting capabilities. Today's legislation advances NOAA's research efforts to do just that and may ultimately add minutes of critical response time to tsunami warnings. The bill also recognizes that the results of NOAA's research must be translated into outreach and education activities at the state and local level. The effective and timely communication of threats is critical in mitigating the impacts of a natural disaster. In addition, increased warning times are only effective if people know how to respond. I am pleased that this legislation emphasizes and supports local community preparedness. Resiliency to natural disasters is an important part of strengthening the nation's economic security. I want to ensure that our coastal communities have the resources and tools they need to minimize the loss of life and property caused by a tsunami. Reauthorizing NOAA's tsunami activities is a key step in helping our communities continue to make progress. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlelady very much. I rise in support of President Obama's recent announcement that updates our diplomatic policy approach to Cuba. I am very pleased to see that our outdated approach to U.S.-Cuban relations will end and we will begin to normalize our relationship with Cuba. Not only does the Obama administration's announcement reestablish positive diplomatic ties with Cuba, it also helps to empower the Cuban people by updating travel restrictions, remittance policies, and quality of life. One of the most positive outcomes of the updated policy announcement is the lifting of many trade restrictions between the United States and Cuba. In my home State of Texas, the Texas Farm Bureau has long supported improved trade policies with Cuba because of the potential to export Texas farm products. This provision not only serves the U.S. economy positively, but it is also very meaningful to the Cuban policy, which has struggled tremendously in the past. While trade provisions and helping to improve the livelihood of Cuban people by allowing the Cuban economy to build are constructive measures, we must focus on additional viable resources Cuba could provide to the United States. For instance, with the opening of diplomatic ties, I sincerely hope that our State medical boards in the United States will consider the educational value that Cuban medical schools provide to future health professionals who wish to practice medicine in the United States. I have had students from my district attend medical school in Cuba. I am aware that Cuba has offered nurses and physicians around the world in needy countries where needed. The aforementioned examples are only a few of the many ways that opening our diplomatic relations with Cuba will be positive for our country, and I urge my colleagues to support the Obama administration's decision to update our relationship with our neighbor and future ally.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1353, the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014. I want to commend several Members on both sides of the aisle and both chambers who have worked on this bill for many years. I want to thank Representatives Lipinski and McCaul and Senators Rockefeller and Thune for their longstanding, bipartisan leadership on this critical topic of cybersecurity research and development. This bipartisan bill is overall a very good bill that contributes in essential ways to any comprehensive effort to keep our nation, our businesses, and our citizens safe from malicious cyber attacks. S. 1353 incorporates a number of pieces from H.R. 756, the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2013 that moved on a bipartisan basis through the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, and then was passed overwhelmingly on the House floor last April. While S. 1353 is a good bill and I will be supporting it, I want to talk about what is not in this bill but was in H.R. 756. I hope that as we continue to discuss actions our government can take to better secure our cyberspace, we keep these topics on the table. The first of these topics is human factors. The fact is that people, not software or hardware, remain the weakest link in our cybersecurity. Whether it's weak passwords, or falling victim to phishing, or using corrupted thumb drives, people unwittingly compromise their own security and that of large networks and companies every day. To truly secure our cyberspace, it is vital that we understand how and why people make the decisions they do, and how we might develop better policies and technologies to reduce risky behaviors. Unfortunately, a section contained in H.R. 756 to direct just this type of research was not incorporated into S. 1353. I hope we continue to make human factors a priority going forward. The second topic is workforce. The federal government and private sector alike is suffering from a lack of adequately trained cybersecurity professionals. Unfortunately, women and underrepresented minorities are still significantly underrepresented in computer and information sciences. We can't expect to fix the shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals with much less than half of our brain power. I wish S. 1353 included more language on how our agencies can help address this shortage. As I see it, our only option is to continue to make this a priority. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I want to address a concern that NIST had about some of the language in this bill. In one of the opening paragraphs of the bill, paragraph (e)(1), NIST is directed to prevent duplication of regulatory processes and prevent conflict of regulatory requirements. I just want to clarify two things. First, by definition, NIST's processes are non-regulatory. Second, NIST cannot be held responsible for regulatory actions or processes at other agencies. The language is ambiguous on this second point so I just wanted to make sure we are clear in our expectations for NIST. To address a second concern that NIST raised, I hope that limitation clause in paragraph (e)(2) does not prevent regulatory agencies from using information gained through the processes in this bill to fix duplicative or outdated regulations. With that Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. HONORING OUTGOING CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS CHAIRWOMAN, CONGRESSWOMAN

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I stand here this morning as a proud American and proud of this Republic which elected the first African American President 6 years ago, and reelected him 2 years ago by an overwhelming vote. I rise today to celebrate my outstanding colleague and dear friend, Representative Marcia Fudge, on the completion of her term as the 23rd chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. I have had the honor and privilege of working along with Representative Fudge on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee when she first was elected to the House of Representatives in 2008. Since that time, I have watched her thrive as a fearless leader on Capitol Hill, not only for her constituents of Ohio's 11th District, but for African Americans and other underrepresented citizens all over the country and internationally. As chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Representative Fudge is only the seventh woman to serve in this capacity, and she has been groundbreaking in her fight to tackle difficult issues facing underrepresented communities of color during her 2-year term as chair. Mr. Speaker, under Representative Fudge's leadership, the Congressional Black Caucus has continued to be the conscience of Congress, working tirelessly to steer good policy to the forefront. Over these past 2 years, Representative Fudge, in her role as chair, has faithfully represented the underrepresented voices as they pertain to job creation, education, health care, national security, and a host of other pressing issues. Her intricate policy knowledge, political savvy, and ability to build coalitions have been of tremendous value to the Congressional Black Caucus and to the Nation. I can speak on behalf of all of my colleagues--and you have just witnessed them here present in the Chamber--in saying that we will sorely miss her leadership, and we thank her for her service as chair. I am confident that Ms. Fudge will continue to serve selflessly and devote her time and talents to the CBC and its goals, and I look forward to continuing our important work together because it is far from being over.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the career of our distinguished colleague from West Virginia, the Honorable Nick Joe Rahall. Nick, the current Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and former Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, was first elected to Congress in 1976. Born in West Virginia, Nick tirelessly worked to improve the lives of his constituents and remained firmly committed to the economic development of his state. His dedication to our country's transportation and infrastructure systems led him to be a key architect of many transportation reauthorizations, including the Transportation equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA 21). Having served in this body since 1977, Nick understands the value of bipartisanship and being able to work with all members, regardless of their party. As such, Nick never let a party label stand in the way of good policy. Nick's friendship and professionalism will be greatly missed and I wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4926 and to honor the life of a truly remarkable man that we lost this year, Jim Oberstar. This legislation would designate the ``James L. Oberstar Memorial Highway'' and the ``James L. Oberstar National Scenic Byway'' in the State of Minnesota, but more importantly, it would honor the legacy of one of our most beloved former colleagues. Jim grew up appreciating the value of hard work and he innately understood the importance of cultivating strong relationships and tirelessly fighting for what was right. He left the House of Representatives and the nation quite frankly, in a better place than when he found it. He was the consummate public servant and has an incredible lasting legacy. In the 18 terms he served in Congress, he had a remarkable impact on the transportation industry in America and upon all of his colleagues. He was uniquely aware of the value of jobs, the economy, and the interconnectedness of goods and people throughout the country. In a profession not always known for brevity of remarks, his speeches, as we can all attest, were amongst the most lengthy. However, when delivering remarks, he spoke passionately and with great intellect, never failing to effectively convey his point to a wide variety of audiences. More importantly, he understood the value of bipartisanship in Washington and never let politics get in the way of good policy. While we mourn the loss of our dear friend, we celebrate his life and service to this nation. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. I am delighted to join you in saying some words about Ralph Hall, my friend. Mr. Speaker, it has been my honor and privilege to serve with my colleague and friend. We had some laughs just recently when I visited him about our history and working together in elective office. Our relationship goes back to when I was in the Texas house--and I left the Texas house in the seventies--talking about things that we remembered. I really regret that he is not here today, but he wanted to be, and he planned to be, but he is not going to make it today. As all of you have had the pleasure of serving with Ralph, we are missing out on several jokes and stories. Some of them were really funny, and some can't be said in some places, so I won't try to match him in storytelling. I am going to tell you a little story that happened when Ralph switched parties. I called him and called him and called him and called him, and I couldn't get through, nor did he return my calls until I finally said, ``Well, just tell him I still love him, and I don't care what party he is in.'' Thirty seconds later, he returned my call, and he said, ``I just couldn't take another bawling out from a woman.'' He said, ``I have gotten it from my sister. I got it from my wife.'' I said, ``But do you know what? Probably nobody understands more than I do because I have been watching your numbers.'' So it never interfered with our relationship. When he was chair of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, two of the years that he was chair, I was the ranking member. He never hesitated to reach across the aisle to try to reach consensus. Really, that is the kind of spirit we need now. I will miss him for that. I will miss him because of the history we both shared. Our districts used to come right next to each other. Now, there are a couple of people that come in between us, but it won't divide our friendship, and I look forward to our continued friendship for many years to come. Mr. Speaker, I have learned so much from him. I remember when I first came, he was the person who taught me how to make arrangements to go home every week with the airline that we use and also taught me how to find rooms and shortcuts of how to get where you need to go on this Hill, which is rather complicated when you first get here. He will be greatly missed. He has meant a lot, and he has done a lot. The space exploration program will be forever grateful to him. The Science, Space, and Technology Committee research and all it stands for will always have Ralph Hall as a part of its history. I appreciate the opportunity to have had a chance to work with him, to know him and his family, and to wish him well.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Thank you very much, Mr. Rush. I appreciate the fact that you are holding this hour. Mr. Speaker, I rise for the honor of the work of Mr. John Dingell who will retire this year as the longest-serving Member, with 59 years as a Michigan Representative. Since 1955, Congressman Dingell has represented the southeastern Michigan area and served on the Committee on Energy and Commerce and twice as chairman. When I learned that Mr. Dingell would retire at the end of this term, I was saddened to know that we would lose such a fine leader and advocate for social democracy; however, we must continue Mr. Dingell's fight for all Americans. He is well-known for his battles on behalf of civil rights, clean water, Medicare, and workers' rights. He is also the author of many pieces of legislation that enhance the protection of public health such as the Affordable Care Act. While he expanded public health and advocated for environmental conservationism, Mr. Dingell also combated corruption and waste via his chairmanship of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. He exerted strong, unwavering oversight of the executive branch through his committee, and his successes in Congress earned him the 2014 Presidential Medal of Freedom. Through his career in Congress, he was willing and able to work across the aisle to accomplish tasks that made Americans' lives better. A true advocate for the people, Mr. Dingell dedicated his life to ensuring that public health safety of the American people was always in the forefront. Whether authoring the Clean Air Act or the Patients' Bill of Rights, Mr. Dingell was unwavering in his questions to protect Americans. I urge my colleagues to recognize the accomplishments of Congressman John Dingell and join me in congratulating him on an outstanding career in public service.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 549--``yes;'' 550--``no;'' 551--``yes.'' Had I been present, I would have voted as listed. personal explanation

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the Ferguson Grand Jury's decision not to indict Officer Darren Wilson for the August 9th shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown is a grave injustice. This decision plays into the deeply painful narrative, held in the hearts of many African Americans, that the lives of young black men are not valued in this country. While this notion may seem hard to believe for some, it is a reality for many minorities, as we continually see our justice system betray us. Most disturbing about the death of Michael Brown is the chilling fact that he is not the first unarmed African American man to die at the hands of police officers who were not held accountable for their actions. When I think of Michael Brown, I think of Edward Garner, Anthony Baez, Amadou Diallo, Anthony Lee, and Oscar Grant. I think of the futures that could have been, and the pain and suffering brought to their families. How many more lives will we lose before deciding to bring about meaningful change? As the proud mother of a black man and grandmother to three grandsons, I cannot imagine the depth of the wound left in the hearts of Lesley McSpadden and Michael Brown Sr. As a Member of Congress who represents a predominantly minority community similar to Ferguson, I mourn for the societal ills faced by my constituents, the people of Ferguson and communities of color around the country. I share in their sense of hurt and anger. Our charge now is to harness that anger into constructive change, initiating dialogue with our community members, our elected officials, and our police departments, to ensure that there are no more senseless tragedies. We are never wrong for heralding the call for justice. However, it is time for us to evaluate our methods for sounding that call. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King once said: ``we must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.'' At a time when it may seem easy to retreat to our respective corners, we should instead seek understanding and acceptance from one another, by working together to secure a better future for our sons.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize St. Paul United Methodist Church in my home state of Texas. After enriching the Dallas community for more than a century, St. Paul United Methodist Church has been recognized as a Texas Historic Landmark. The historical recognition of this church and its congregation in the Dallas community is an honor long overdue. As a proud public servant of the thirtieth Congressional District of Texas, I am proud to see this tribute bestowed upon St. Paul United Methodist Church. With a rich history deeply rooted in education, dating back to the early periods of the Emancipation Proclamation, St. Paul served as one of only a few schools open to African American children during this turbulent time. For well over a century, St. Paul United Methodist Church has been a pillar in the faith community of Dallas, answering the call to serve District 30 constituents through fellowship, ministry, and safe haven. I am honored to represent St. Paul and its congregation in the U.S. House of Representatives. I deeply value this historic landmark, and I congratulate St. Paul United Methodist Church on this outstanding honor. In honor of its numerous years of service, ministry, and leadership, I encourage my fellow colleagues and state legislatures to recognize the value in the deeply enriching culture of historic landmarks such as St. Paul United Methodist Church. Through their tireless efforts to serve their surrounding communities, they will provide enrichment for years to come.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, this bill does not permit me to mince words. This bill is an insidious attack on EPA's ability to use the best science to protect public health, and its consideration on the House floor today is the culmination of one of the most anti-science and anti-health campaigns I have witnessed in my 22 years as a Member of Congress. The genesis of this legislation is the Republicans' longstanding obsession with two seminal scientific studies conducted by Harvard University and the American Cancer Society. These studies link air pollution with increased illnesses and death; moreover, those results were confirmed by multiple independent researchers and organizations including the National Research Council and the Health Effects Institute. The Republican majority has harassed EPA for more than 2 years in an attempt to get access to the raw data used in those studies, presumably in an attempt to cast doubt on the conclusion that air pollution is bad for the health of Americans and to prevent EPA from trying to keep the air we breath clean. The EPA told my Republican colleagues that since the studies involved the personal health information of hundreds of thousands of volunteers, the raw data was stringently protected from public disclosure; therefore, even if they were the legal custodian of this data, they could not lawfully hand over such sensitive information. Instead, in compliance with the law, EPA provided the Science Committee with all of the ``de-identified'' data within its possession, which ran to hundreds of pages of data rolled in like a grocery cart. This was not enough for my colleagues, and so they have decided to pursue this pernicious piece of legislation. Rather than explain the problems with this legislation myself, I will simply quote from a letter we received from the American Lung Association and the American Thoracic Society, two leading and trusted public health organizations. They state: The legislation will compel the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to either ignore the best science by prohibiting the Agency from considering peer-reviewed research that is based on confidential patient information or force EPA to publicly release confidential patient information, which would violate Federal law. This is an untenable outcome that would completely undermine the ability of the EPA to perform its responsibilities under the Clean Air Act and myriad other Federal laws. The legislation will not improve EPA's actions; rather, it will stifle public health protections. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle will wrongly claim that this legislation is consistent with the requirements of major scientific journals, the White House's policy to promote public access to federally-funded research, and recommendations from independent groups like the Administrative Conference of the United States. This is simply not true. All of those entities recognize the balance between making data public and protecting confidentiality and personal privacy. They do not paint scientists or the EPA into a corner and tell them that the only way their research can be used or considered is if all of that data is available in a form--let me quote from the bill--``that is sufficient for independent analysis and substantial reproduction.'' That phrase is critical to understanding the implications of H.R. 4012. According to a letter from the American Cancer Society to EPA, they ``are not aware of any way to create a de-identified version of the Cancer Prevention Study II data set sufficient to protect confidentiality of the participants while at the same time allowing a true replica of the studies.'' Because legitimate researchers like the American Cancer Society must publish their peer-reviewed results in a de-identified form, if this bill becomes law, the EPA will not be able to rely on those important studies to protect public health and the environment. I would like to quote Dr. Ellen Silbergeld from Johns Hopkins University, a witness at a hearing the Science Committee held on this bill. She states: If the EPA is unable to access the peer-reviewed literature because raw data are not available as proposed in the ``Secret Science'' bill, then we move to the dysfunctional situation where the EPA will be unable to sustain its decisions because these will be based on inadequate or incomplete science. This is not a position that I can support. Let me be clear: this bill is an attempt to constrain the EPA under the guise of promoting transparency. A diverse set of voices from the scientific, public health, legal, and environmental communities agree with me and have criticized this legislation. I have received letters from more than 50 organizations expressing their concern with H.R. 4012, including the American Lung Association, the American Thoracic Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, the Association of American Universities, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Environmental Defense Fund. Whatever views my fellow Members may have about specific EPA rules and regulations, I would hope that they will see this bill for what it is, a malicious assault on EPA's ability to protect public health. Limiting or prohibiting what science EPA uses as part of its rulemaking would be a consequence of this bill. The American people deserve better. I strongly urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), the ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. I yield an additional minute to the gentleman.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren), the second most senior member of the full committee on the Democratic side.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, before I yield to my next speaker, I would like to enter in the Record a series of letters from outside groups opposed to this legislation, including the American Lung Association, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, League of Conservation Voters, and many others. In addition, I would also like to place a Statement of Administration Policy threatening a veto of this bill into the Record. American Lung Association, American Thoracic Society, November 17, 2014. House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representative: We are writing to express our opposition to H.R. 4012 the Secret Science Reform Act of 2014. The American Lung Association is the oldest voluntary health organization in the United States. The Lung Association mission is to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. We achieve our mission through research, advocacy and education. The American Thoracic Society is a medical professional society dedicated to the prevention, detection, treatment and cure of pulmonary disease, critical care illness and sleep disordered breathing through research, education and advocacy. Science is the bedrock of sound regulatory decision making. The best science underscores everything our organizations do to improve health. We strongly believe in a transparent and open regulatory process. A vital element of research is patient confidentiality. Physicians and researchers have earned by trust of their patients by steadfastly maintaining patient confidentiality. Patient confidentiality is a clear legal obligation and a sacred vow. The legislation before the Congress will compel the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to either ignore the best science by prohibiting the agency from considering peer- reviewed research that is based on confidential patient information or force EPA to publicly release confidential patient information, which would violate federal law. This is an untenable outcome that would completely undermine ability the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to perform its responsibilities under the Clean Air Act and myriad other federal laws. The legislation will not improve EPA's actions, rather it will stifle public health protections. We note that the kind of information disclosure envisioned in this legislation exceeds that required by peer reviewed journals. We believe much of the intent of this legislation is already achieved through the current peer review process required by all academic journals. The vast majority of peer reviewed journals require manuscript authors to register any trial using human subjects with clinicaltrials.gov. This public registry collects key information on the study population, research goals and methods that allow outside reviewers and scientists to either challenge or attempt to reproduce study results. Additionally, the peer review process and publication of results invites the broader scientific community to debate study findings. Trial registry and manuscript publications are only part of the process by which scientific endeavors operate in a transparent environment. Private organizations, public charities, research universities, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Department of Veterans Affairs, corporations and many other entities conduct medical research. Many of these organizations compile large longitudinal data sets that track patients of a period of time. These data serve as the basis of many studies that permit epidemiologists to track disease and risk factor information for large patient populations. The published peer-reviewed information from such data often may inform regulatory decision making at the EPA and other federal agencies and inform future research. Not only do these data inform regulatory action, they help inform efforts to educate the public about the magnitude of a disease, risk factors and steps individuals can take to improve their health. In order for EPA to set the most appropriate standards it must be informed by the best information. Understanding the impact of air pollution on human health and the magnitude of harm caused by pollution at specific levels helps the agency meet its obligations under the Clean Air Act. Absent these data, it is unclear upon what basis the agency could make sound decisions. We urge the House of Representatives to reject H.R. 4012. Sincerely, Harold Wimmer, National President & CEO, American Lung Association. Stephen C. Crane, PhD, MPH, Executive Director, American Thoracic Society.