Eddie Johnson

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the 113th Congress will not only need to work to further strengthen our country's economic well-being; we will also need to find solutions to make sure that all Americans are treated fairly and equally. That's why it is critical that Congress pass the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization. Since its inception, this act has always been bipartisan. Last April, the Senate passed a strong bipartisan reauthorization bill. Unfortunately, the measure failed in the House, but it must pass in the 113th Congress. The safety and security of American women should never be politicized and never has been so in the past. It is my hope that we can put the politics of the last election aside and get down to the business of legislating sensible policy for the American people. We must reaffirm our commitment that women in the United States are offered all necessary legal protections.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my serious concerns about the recent acts of violence throughout the United States. The tragedy that struck the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, last month was a devastating loss for the families and friends of the students and educators who were killed. As the second deadliest school shooting in U.S. history, the Newtown tragedy has underscored the fundamental need to reevaluate our approach to gun violence and mental illness. Any strategy to reduce gun violence must be inclusive in its approach to finding a solution. Every viable consideration must be on the table as we look to enact comprehensive legislation at the federal level. With the total number of privately owned firearms in circulation estimated to be more than 270 million, we must take reasonable steps to ensure that these firearms do not fall into the wrong hands, while also protecting the Second Amendment rights of responsible gun owners. The topic of mental illness is one that is neglected, particularly in regard to its connection to gun violence. In 2009, approximately 11 million adults in the United States had a serious mental illness. Forty percent of those adults did not receive any type of treatment for that illness. We now know that each of the shooters in the most recent incidents suffered from mental illness. Addressing mental illness can be a critical component of a comprehensive approach to reducing violence in our schools and other public places. Mr. Speaker, we must take deliberate steps going forward to prevent another tragedy from occurring. There is absolutely no place for violence in our schools, and we are compelled to do everything within our power to avert future catastrophe. There is a large mental health component to this debate that needs greater consideration, and I hope that my colleagues will continue to take a holistic approach during this process.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, recently the Senate came together on a bipartisan basis to address our looming fiscal crisis. I appreciate the statesmanship of President Obama and Vice President Biden to make every effort to avoid the most harmful effects of the ``fiscal cliff.'' Last night's vote in the House was one of the hardest votes I have cast in my tenure in Congress. The agreement was not a perfect proposal, but it avoided serious damage to our national economy. One of my concerns about the measure is that it did not generate nearly enough revenue. I am afraid that the haste and the lack of detailed effort will ultimately translate to a series of tax hikes and spending cuts in future years that will negatively impact the middle class and the poor. I have serious reservations about any attempt to cut benefits in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. I am committed to evaluating the impact of the funding used to pay for the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR or ``doc fix''). I strongly oppose cuts to services for diabetes, end stage renal disease, and other illnesses disproportionately impacting my constituents. As a non-practicing registered nurse, I know how devastating these cuts would be for medical services in underserved communities. Another worthy program that is very important to my constituents is the Qualifying Individual (QI) program. The program allows Medicaid to pay the Medicare Part B premiums for low-income Medicare beneficiaries with incomes between 120 percent and 135 percent of poverty. Under current law, QI expired December 31, 2012. The agreement extends the QI program until December 31, 2013. Mr. Speaker, I have five major hospitals in my congressional district that not only serve my constituents, but the entire North Texas population. The measure states that qualifying low-volume hospitals receive add-on payments based on the number of Medicare discharges. To qualify, the hospital must have less than 1,600 Medicare discharges and be 15 miles or greater from the nearest like hospital. This provision extends the payment adjustment until December 31, 2013. The Medicare Dependent Hospital (MDH) program in the bill provides enhanced reimbursement to support rural health infrastructure and to support small rural hospitals for which Medicare patients make up a significant percentage of inpatient days or discharges. This greater dependence on Medicare may make these hospitals more financially vulnerable to prospective payment, and the MDH designation is designed to reduce this risk. This provision extends the MDH program until October 1, 2013. I am pleased to see that the Senate approved a one-year extension of unemployment insurance benefits, providing necessary support for those looking to return to work as the economy recovers. I am also pleased to learn that deep cuts for many important programs that support the most vulnerable and provide pathways to prosperity for millions of Americans, including Head Start and WIC, were delayed. I would have preferred to see a long term extensions to these critical provisions. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned before, I do not agree with many of the details of the compromise, but I cast my vote for the bill for the greater national interest. I will continue to mitigate any negative impact of cuts on communities of color and other vulnerable populations in the ongoing negotiations on sequestration and the debt ceiling. We must ultimately find a way not to fall into a deep economic crisis, and to further strengthen our middle class. I hope all of my colleagues as well as the Leadership continues to work on these issues and that it ultimately reflect solid bipartisan collaboration for the incoming 113th Congress.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to implore the House GOP leadership to address the looming fiscal cliff. We have only a few hours left, and we owe it to the American people to find a solution, pass legislation, and send it to the President for his signature tonight. There is too much at stake to let this critical situation devolve into the same politics as usual that we have seen throughout this Congress. The consequences of failure or inaction are dire. According to the Congressional Budget Office, going over the cliff would raise the unemployment rate from 7.9 to 9.1 percent in 2013. We would also see devastating cuts to programs that pay for education, food inspection, and air travel safety, nearing $55 billion. Madam Speaker, there is no more time, and the American people are depending on us for a solution to avoid this fiscal cliff.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I wonder if anybody is listening. The message from the American people is loud and clear: extend the middle class tax cuts now. Republican leadership is holding hostage tax cuts for 98 percent of Americans and 97 percent of small businesses to give more tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans. Democratic Members of Congress have commonsense solutions, and we can't wait around any longer as real proposals languish while the House GOP gets its act together. I, along with 181 of my colleagues, have signed the discharge petition to automatically bring to the House floor the Senate-passed middle class tax cuts which the President has said he will sign immediately. This could be an opportunity for us to work together, resolve some of our differences, and offer the American people the kind of Congress they want: working together.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Let me thank the ranking member and chairman of the Rules Committee. Today, I rise to discuss just one portion of the National Defense Authorization Act. It is a section of the conference report that supports our Nation's first responders, and I signed the conference report for that section only. In July of last year, I introduced legislation to reauthorize two programs--the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, the AFG Program, and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Program, the SAFER Program. These programs were created to help local fire departments across the country maintain and increase their capacity to do all that we ask them to do each day, including fighting fires, responding to medical emergencies, and providing safety and aid in the face of disasters, either natural or manmade. Maintaining the equipment, training, and personnel to safely and swiftly respond to calls for assistance is increasingly difficult. Fire departments around the country have been forced to lay off firefighters and to do without needed equipment and training. The fire grant programs have played an important role in helping local fire departments overcome some of these challenges, providing over $6 billion in assistance since the year 2000. These grants have been essential to maintaining public safety in many communities, and they're even more important in the face of our shrinking local budgets. Fire is a serious problem in the United States, killing over 3,000 people a year, which is a rate higher than in all other industrialized countries. Additionally, each year, nearly 20,000 people are injured, over 100 firefighters are killed in the line of duty, and $10 billion in property is lost due to fire.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Thank you very much. In my State of Texas, 2011 was an especially destructive year, with 4 million acres burned, over 5,500 homes and structures destroyed, and hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss just one portion of the National Defense Authorization Act--a section of the conference report that supports our nation's first responders. In July of last year, I introduced legislation to reauthorize two programs--the Assistance for Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program. These programs were created to help local fire departments across the country maintain and increase their capacity to do all that we ask of them each day, including fighting fires, responding to medical emergencies, and providing safety and aid in the face of disasters either natural or man-made. Maintaining the equipment, training, and personnel to safely and swiftly respond to calls for assistance is increasingly difficult. Fire departments around the country have been forced to lay off firefighters and to do without needed equipment and training. The fire grant programs have played an important role in helping local fire departments overcome some of these challenges, providing over $6 billion in assistance since 2000. These grants have been essential to maintaining public safety in many communities and they are even more important in the face of shrinking local budgets. Fire is a serious problem in the United States, killing over 3,000 people a year--a rate higher than all other industrialized countries. Additionally, each year nearly 20,000 people are injured, over 100 firefighters are killed in the line of duty, and $10 billion in property is lost due to fire. In my State of Texas, 2011 was an especially destructive year with 4 million acres burned, over 5,500 homes and structures destroyed, and hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. Statistics show that minorities and low-income Americans are disproportionately the victims of fires. In addition to providing the resources necessary to ensure our fire departments have the equipment and personnel they need, the United States Fire Administration, which is also reauthorized in the conference report, supports fire prevention and safety activities, promotes the professional development of the fire and emergency response community, and conducts research, testing, and evaluation to help reduce fire deaths, injuries, and loss. We need to ensure that our firefighters and emergency medical personnel have the tools that they need to protect us. Reauthorization of the fire grant programs and the United States Fire Administration will do just that. The good news is that, even in these times of increasing partisanship, these common sense provisions have once again garnered widespread support. I am pleased that the bipartisan co-chairs of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus have joined me in supporting the reauthorization of these critical programs. As the Ranking Member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, which has jurisdiction over these programs, I hope the rest of my colleagues will join us in supporting these provisions.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor our colleague, the Honorable Emanuel Cleaver III. Congressman Cleaver has served with distinction during the 112th Congress as the 20th chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). During his tenure as CBC chair, Chairman Cleaver focused on bringing critical issues before the United States that are of importance to Black America such as voter protection, job creation, inequity in unemployment, the debt-ceiling and many other pressing issues facing our country. As a co-chair of the CBC Technology and Infrastructure taskforce I have worked closely with Chairman Cleaver to advocate for the needs of community colleges, increased workforce training, initiatives to broaden participation in STEM and inadequate, outdated, and underfunded transportation systems. Chairman Cleaver deserves to be commended for highlighting African- American inequity in unemployment and spearheading the Congressional Black Caucus Jobs tour this past summer. The jobs tour was a nationwide initiative that helped pair thousands of unemployed African Americans with employers and brought the issue to the forefront of the national discussion. As past chair of the CBC I know that the work of the Caucus truly serves as a voice for the voiceless and its 43 Members serve as the conscience of the United States Congress. It has been an honor to be a friend and colleague of Chairman Cleaver during our years in Congress. He continues to inspire and encourage us all through his milestone of service to our Nation throughout his tenure as a United States Congressman. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Chairman Cleaver for his many accomplishments during his tenure as Chairman of the CBC.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of former Congressman Jack Brooks, the renowned Member of Congress from Beaumont, Texas. Congressman Brooks served the American people in the U.S. Congress for 42 years of his life. He was 89 years of age when he passed away last night. Congressman Brooks was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1952. Almost immediately, Congressman Brooks turned his attention to increasing government transparency and efficiency, and this devotion became a guiding principle of his career. Congressman Brooks was pivotal in the passing of legislation that established the independent Offices of Inspector General, which oversee federal agencies in an effort to prevent fraud and waste. Congressman Brooks also crafted the standard by which the government must award federal contracts in an openly competitive process. By the end of his career, he was attributed with saving the American taxpayer billions of dollars by curbing government excess, and streamlining operations within the Executive and Legislative branches of the U.S. Government. Congressman Brooks was also a renowned leader of social justice. Defying most of his colleagues in the Texas delegation, Congressman Brooks saw a greater future for America through equality, and helped draft the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. As a true public servant devoted to the pursuit of the greater good, Congressman Brooks earned the support of labor unions, minorities, and pro-choice activists in a region that otherwise lacked the unified support for such progressive views at the time. Mr. Speaker, Congressman Brooks was a leader among leaders, and was well regarded for his uncompromising character and integrity. As a fierce advocate for the American people, Congressman Brooks has left a lasting legacy and the indelible mark of progress in U.S. history. A true statesman, he set the bar to which all Members of Congress should aspire. I wish to extend my appreciation for his contributions to this body and to his country.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the School for the Talented and Gifted and the School for Science and Engineering at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center for receiving the distinct honor of being recognized as an ``Intel School of Distinction.'' Intel Schools of Distinction honors U.S. schools that have demonstrated excellence in math and science education. I am pleased that Intel recognized Townview Magnet School for Engineering and Science School as an institution that provides an innovative learning environment and programs that meet or exceed national math and science benchmarks. By this recognition, Intel is emphasizing investments in science and math. In order for our country to compete in the 21st century, we as a country need to make sustained robust investments to encourage our children to embrace science and math. These are the jobs and careers of the future. Located in my district, Townview Magnet is one of the most diverse schools in Texas, with minorities representing over half of the student population. Townview is home to some of the Nation's best and brightest students. Newsweek Magazine has consistently rated Townview's Science and Engineering Magnet as one of the top high schools in the Nation. Townview serves as a model for other institutions of learning across the country and offer insight into the ways we can improve education. This latest honor exemplifies the values of a good educational environment, as many of the students attending Townview will have opportunities to be the future leaders of this country. This honor will also serve as an inspiration to the faculty, staff and students of Townview Magnet School to maintain a high level of work. I commend the faculty and students for achieving this honor, and lend my support to the future success of Townview. Mr. Speaker, the students, teachers, principals and parents of Townview Science and Engineering Magnet should all be very proud for achieving this great honor.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Today, I would like to emphasize the important role that Federal investments in research and development, or R&D; and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM, education play in stimulating growth, creating new industries and jobs, and delivering long-term benefits to our citizens. As a member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and now as ranking member, I have had the privilege of hearing countless witnesses from industry, academia, and government over the past several years testify that investments in R&D are essential to keeping America competitive in a challenging international marketplace. In fact, according to a paper by the National Bureau of Economic Research, changes in technology are the only source of permanent increases in productivity. If we are to reverse the trend of the last 20 years, where our country's technology edge in the world has diminished, we must make the investments necessary today. The statistics speak for themselves. It is estimated that more than 50 percent of our economic growth since World War II can be attributed to development and adoption of new technologies. The path is simple: research and education lead to innovation. Innovation leads to economic development and good-paying jobs and the revenue to pay for more research. As private firms underinvest in research and development because the returns are too far off in the future, there is a clear and necessary role of government to help our Nation keep pace with the rest of the world. More than 50 years ago, when DARPA was first created, no one had any idea that the research that they would fund would be responsible for the creation of the Internet or the proliferation of GPS technology, but it did. Those inventions started with Federal dollars, as did countless other game-changing technologies. It is clear that Federal investments in R&D bring significant returns for decades to come. In 1987, MIT Professor Robert Solow was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics for his work proving that improved technology and improved education in the workforce was clearly and chiefly responsible for long-term growth, much more than increases in labor or capital. The current best estimate for the return on academic research alone is 28 percent. Federal efforts are underway now to more vigorously and rigorously quantify the return on Federal investments in R&D. Today we find ourselves at a crossroads. The United States remains a leader in science, technology, and innovation but no longer the unchallenged leader. While our own world-class innovation infrastructure is under stress, our competitors in other countries, even as they institute austerity measures in other parts of their budgets, are seizing the opportunity to make strategic investments in long-term basic research and build and leverage public-private partnerships to support the shorter term R&D that will help create jobs now and long into the future. As we struggle with our own deficits, we too can make the strategic choice to continue to invest in our future--both in our human capital and physical infrastructure--or we can make the strategic choice to permanently cede our leadership, to fail our current generation of young people and to put our economy in a state of stagnation for years to come. STEM education is another critical component to the Nation's economic competitiveness. Yet according to the Program for International Student Assessment, the U.S. currently ranks 17th in science and 25th in math out of 34 countries. Though our best STEM students have no trouble competing with their international peers, on average, our K-12 students continue to lag far behind their international peers in math and science aptitude. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2009 science assessment, 34 percent of the fourth- graders, 30 percent of the eighth-graders, and 21 percent of the 12th- graders performed at or above the proficient level in science. When eighth-graders were tested again in 2011, they achieved a modest 2- point gain in the percentage of students demonstrating proficiency. When the results are broken down by demographic groups, we see a 6-7 point gender gap that begins somewhere between the 4th and 8th grade and persists through 12th grade. Even more troubling, there are huge and persistent gaps across racial/ethnic groups. Among African American students, in 2009 only 11 percent of fourth-graders, 8 percent of eighth-graders, and 4 percent of twelfth-graders performed at or above the proficient level in science. The number for Hispanic students--14, 12 and 8 percent, respectively--are only slightly better. The one small sign of improvement is a 4 point gain for Hispanic 8th graders from 2009 to 2011. But how as a nation and as parents and grandparents can we tolerate any of these numbers for any of our students? We must also do better at the college level. Even among those minority students who have access to high-performing schools or who otherwise succeed against the odds and enter college intending to major in a STEM degree, fewer than 20 percent finish within five years, compared to a 33 percent 5-year completion rate for White students and 42 percent for Asian students. We've been talking about ``A Nation at Risk'' since the report by that name came out nearly 30 years ago, but in that time we've made little to no improvement. Some suggest we may even have gone backwards. As long as our nation overall was still number one, it was easier for our leaders to let year after year pass without taking the hard steps to take on an enormous set of challenges in a large and diverse country where, rightly so, education is controlled at the local level. However, the world is changing, the demand for STEM skills is steadily increasing, and our nation's leadership is being challenged. At the same time, our demographics are shifting in profound ways, making the racial/ethnic gaps that much more consequential for our future. By the year 2050, minorities are predicted to represent 55 percent of the national college population. I am heartened by many of the initiatives going on now at both the federal and state levels, including the Obama Administration's Race to the Top, Initiative and the state-drive common core standards in math and science. Nevertheless, we have a long way to go to ensure that the U.S. continues to produce the world's best scientists, mathematicians, and engineers and to make sure that every student is prepared for the highly technical, high-paying jobs of the future. According to 2008 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the professional information technology (IT) workforce was projected to add a little under a million new jobs between 2008 an 2018. This represents more than twice the rate of overall workforce growth over that same period. Many high-tech companies cite the availability of a skilled STEM workforce as the number one reason for determining where they locate their facilities. Producing students with the STEM skills needed to fill the jobs of the future is necessary to maintaining our nation's innovation capacity and creating new high-skill, high-paying jobs at home. We need to take a step back and refrain from making short-sighted, ill-advised cuts to our R&D and education investments in pursuit of illusory budgetary benefits. While we debate turning the lights off on groundbreaking research projects, shuttering world-class research facilities, stopping emerging industries in their tracks, and losing many of our best and brightest scientists from the STEM pipeline for good, our competitors in China, India, and elsewhere are surging ahead in their investments in R&D, STEM education, and emerging industries. I urge all of us, as we undertake our very difficult task of trying to set us on a more sustainable fiscal path, to do whatever it takes to prioritize steady growth of our investments in science, technology, and STEM education. It is when our economy is hurting the most that we should be redoubling our efforts to innovate our way into a brighter future of new jobs, new technologies, and untold societal benefits.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman very much. I rise today to honor Congressman Ralph Hall, who is the dean of our Texas congressional delegation, and a lifelong public servant from the State of Texas. I don't know that I have a better friend in this body than Ralph Hall, and our relationship goes all the way back to the Texas Legislature. When I first went to the Texas House back in 1972, he was a part of the senate. And I still have a little penny that is encircled in a little silver band that says, Ralph Hall of Rockwall. And I've always kept it as something special because he is a very special person to me. When he switched parties in 2004, and I've said this before, I tried to call him several times and I didn't get a response. So I finally said, just, I want to leave this message; tell him I still love him. In 30 seconds, he called me back. And I really meant that. I meant it then; I mean it now, because party has never been anything that separated friendship, and he's a perfect example of that. His sense of humor has been so useful on the committee that often it's used to make witnesses more comfortable or to break some of the partisan bickering. But whatever, he's unique in this body. If we had more Ralph Halls, we wouldn't have the rating that we have today. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Congressman Ralph Hall, Dean of the Texas Congressional delegation and a life-long public servant from my State of Texas. Ralph Hall is often quoted, saying ``I'd rather be respected at home than liked in Washington.'' I do both. I have tremendous respect for him as my Chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology and he is a true friend back home in North Texas. Ralph Hall in many ways has been able to transcend the extreme partisan climate which exists in Washington today with his keen political acumen and candid sense of humor. Through our shared experiences in the Texas legislature and on the Science Committee, I have learned that Ralph enjoys a good joke and that I should not try to match him in storytelling. Ralph uses humor to diffuse tensions in a room. I have seen him use it to do everything from stopping partisan bickering to easing a witness's nerves. It's a real skill and I have truly appreciated it over the years. You may recall back in January of 2004 after serving 12 terms as a Democrat, Ralph Hall decided to run as a Republican. I was the first Democrat to call Ralph when he switched parties. As soon as I heard this news I attempted to call him at his office, however I was unable to get in touch. After a few more attempts, I left a message saying, ``just tell him that I still love him.'' He called me right back, and said he was so happy to hear my message because his wife was mad at him. Some said she actually had him sleeping on the couch. He knew several of his Democratic friends would be upset with him. Our districts are practically right next to each other and we had been friends for years. I wanted him to know that I certainly didn't agree with the switch, but that we would always be friends, and I meant it. It has been an honor to be his friend and colleague all of these years. Ralph Hall continues to inspire and encourage us all through his milestone of service to our Nation. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Ralph Hall for his many accomplishments as an exceptional politician, civic leader, businessman and shining example of the American dream.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the life of Mrs. Nancy Penn Penson, a longtime lover of the arts and an acclaimed tennis player. Mrs. Penson, a Dallas native, passed away on Sunday, October 21, 2012 at the age of 88. Mrs. Penson is survived by her husband Lieutenant John G. Penson, three daughters, Annie Vreeland, Suki Jarzemsky, and Read Gendler, and five grandchildren. Mrs. Penson was highly respected and well known throughout the Dallas community. She graduated with a Degree in Classics from Wellesley College in 1945. Her love for the arts was ignited at an early age when her mother would take her to the symphony. Mrs. Penson held numerous leadership positions such as co-founder of the Dallas Tennis Association, President of the Junior League, and board member of the Dallas Bach Society, the New Dallas Conservatory, and the Southern Methodist University Meadows School of Arts. In addition to her passion for the arts and her many philanthropic efforts, Mrs. Penson was an accomplished tennis player. She was nationally ranked #1 in Senior Women's Tennis and was inducted into the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame in 2002. Mr. Speaker, I am saddened to lose such an integral member of the Dallas community. Her selfless contributions to arts and charity groups have touched the lives of many. While the Dallas community will certainly miss Mrs. Penson, her memory will live on in the hearts and minds of those whose lives she has touched over the years.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of former First Lady, Mrs. Claudia Alta ``Lady Bird'' Johnson. Mrs. Johnson, wife of President Lyndon Baines Johnson, was known for her prominent role in public service, and for her lifelong efforts to beautify public places across the country. As First Lady, Mrs. Johnson promoted the conservation and beautification of our public lands. She believed that by making these civic improvements, we could help pay tribute to our great country. One of Mrs. Johnson's greatest rehabilitation efforts took place right here in Washington, DC, where she oversaw the planting of thousands of flowers throughout our Nation's capital. Driving from her home in Texas to Washington, DC, Mrs. Johnson expressed concern with the uninviting appearance of our Nation's Interstate highways. Ultimately, President Johnson signed the ``Highway Beautification Act'' into law in 1965, enhancing the scenic views of our highways and byways. In 1999, when Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt presented Mrs. Johnson with the Native Plant Conservation Initiative Lifetime Achievement Award, he noted that the First Lady had been a shadow Secretary of the Interior for much of her life. Today, we continue to enjoy the benefits of the First Lady's efforts to beautify our roads and highways. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate the centennial of Mrs. Johnson's birth, we hold in great regard the value of these national improvements by preserving the beauty of our lands--through constant revitalization and conservation. We have Mrs. Johnson's unifying grace to thank for her contributions to the American landscape, and I am pleased to recognize these lasting contributions by the former First Lady from Texas.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Craig Anthony Washington, an accomplished attorney and elected official from Houston, Texas. Mr. Washington is being inducted into the State Bar of Texas Legal Legends Project this month for his exemplary contributions to the legal profession and the pursuit of equal justice under the law. The Texas Legal Legends Project recognizes exceptional lawyers who have worked to uphold the integrity of the courts, and to honor those who have exceeded their professional obligations to ensure fair and thorough advocacy. Mr. Washington has been tireless in his efforts to defend those without a voice in our legal system by challenging discriminatory practices. Craig Washington was born in Longview, Texas. He grew up in Houston and, after high school, enrolled in Prairie View A&M University at the age of 16 with the high hopes of becoming a dentist. Mr. Washington had charisma and determination even at a young age, and he managed to convince the dean into accepting him into the law school program with future plans to transfer into dentistry. Instead, his passion for law dominated his academic career. Four years later, he would graduate with honors and become the assistant dean and an assistant professor of law at his alma mater. Mr. Washington's tenure as a legislator, first in the Texas House, the Texas Senate, and then in the U.S. House of Representatives, was distinguished by this same unwavering devotion to the underserved and his constituents. He was known and respected for his expert knowledge of criminal law throughout his public service in the Texas House, Texas Senate and in the U.S. Congress. As a lawmaker, he proved to be a commanding orator and political strategist, and no legislation regarding the criminal justice system was passed without his review and expert analysis. Mr. Speaker, it is rare to find an individual who is both passionate about affecting positive social change and improving the lives of so many. He is a tremendous criminal defense lawyer as well as an American analytical genius, and I stand today on this floor where he stood many years ago to salute Mr. Washington. I am proud to call him my friend.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 4158, to confirm full ownership rights for certain United States astronauts to artifacts from the astronauts' space missions, and I thank the leadership of Mr. Hall and all of the cosponsors. This is a necessary bill which will protect our iconic early astronauts from needless harassment. This bill will ensure that any U.S. astronaut who participated in the historic Mercury, Gemini, or the Apollo programs will be able to keep the space artifacts which are still in their possession from those missions. At the time of these missions, it was accepted practice that astronauts could keep expendable equipment like checklists and hygiene kits as mementos of their missions. However, this was an informal policy, and those astronauts lacked paperwork establishing ownership over these items. This bill will protect those astronauts from any claims made by the Federal Government regarding any of these artifacts. Further, the bill protects our national interest by ensuring that any lunar rocks or other lunar material remain property of the United States. While I do support this bill and its passage today, I would be remiss if I didn't express my concern about a possible omission. This bill does not cover any of the shuttle-era astronauts. The first American woman in space and the first African American in space were both exclusively shuttle-era astronauts, and there were many other notable astronauts during this era. I think these astronauts are no less national heroes than the Apollo- era astronauts and also no less deserving of that protection. Now, I understand this is a more difficult issue since NASA has not been able to identify when its own internal policies changed regarding astronaut artifacts. But I do think we need to figure that out and then address those astronauts' situation as soon as possible. I do want to thank Mr. Hall for his leadership and for working with all of us on 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, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I think we can all agree that federal agencies need to be wise and judicious in their use of travel funds, and that past abuses, while very much the exception, were a wake-up call for us to exercise stricter oversight of taxpayer dollars. The Administration itself, through the Office of Management and Budget, OMB, has also sought to curb these abuses by instituting new travel caps and new reporting requirements on all agency travel and I applaud them for taking this seriously. On the face of it, OMB's directives seem reasonable to most of us, although there is room for debate even here. The scientific community, which includes tens of thousands of federal scientists at agencies such as the Department of Energy and NASA, depend on face-to-face interaction through conferences and workshops to foster innovation and launch new scientific directions. The community, therefore, is rightfully concerned about the unintended consequences of these restrictions stifling innovation and stunting economic growth by preventing federal scientists from participating fully in scientific exchanges with their fellow scientists and engineers from across the country and the world. So I hope OMB follows closely the impact of their own rules as they are implemented. Today, however, I speak to the shockingly onerous requirements in H.R. 4631. While OMB's new directives have a $100,000 trigger for reporting on any given conference, in this bill, there is no trigger for the excessive laundry list of reporting requirements. And to be sure we understand each other, a conference is defined in this bill as ``a meeting, retreat, seminar, symposium, or event to which an employee travels 25 miles or more to attend, that is held for consultation, education, discussion, or training; and is not held entirely at a Government facility.'' Imagine, then, the very real and very common situation in which a USGS scientist in Reston travels by personal vehicle to a meeting about earthquakes with other agency and non- federal scientists at a non-governmental site such as the American Geophysical Union headquarters in DC. That USGS scientist is entitled to reimbursement for fuel mileage for that trip. Are we really going to pay that scientist and other agency staff to do a complete cost-benefit analysis and meet all of the other reporting requirements in this bill over a $30 expense? It seems to me that the additional bureaucratic resources necessary to meet this requirement will require far more than a $30 reimbursement for gas. Colleagues, I cannot imagine a more inefficient, bureaucratic, wasteful system than the one set up in this bill. If the goal is to make it so hard for any agency scientist to travel anywhere, anytime, for any purpose, then mission accomplished. But let us not underestimate the consequences this will have on the free and open exchange of scientific and technical knowledge and understanding between federal and non-federal scientists and for the innovation and economic benefits that follow. Nor let us underestimate the consequences this has for the ability of science agencies such as the National Science Foundation to conduct proper oversight of the several billion dollars in grants it awards to university scientists and engineers, because this bill also applies to program managers. I urge my colleagues on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to address these concerns as the bill moves forward.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 3245, which reauthorizes the EB-5 Regional Center Program. S. 3245 is the type of commonsense legislation we need to put Americans back to work and rebuild our Nation's fragile economy. The EB-5 program, which creates jobs at no cost to taxpayers, has already created more than 25,000 jobs, and is projected to create more than 100,000 jobs per year once the program is fully implemented. With unemployment rates just above eight percent, we cannot afford to pass on this opportunity to innovate and invest in America. It takes a coordinated effort by both government and the private sector to create jobs and rein in high unemployment rates. I am proud to report that the City of Dallas serves as a shining example that the E-B program works. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and the Civitas Capital Group, the City of Dallas Regional Center has attracted more than $120 million in capital from foreign investors, which has funded projects such as affordable assisted-living facilities and building renovation initiatives. The Democratic Members of Congress have consistently demonstrated their commitment to creating job opportunities here at home. I am encouraged to see that my Republican colleagues have put partisan politics aside and have joined Democrats in our efforts to put Americans back to work. Reauthorization of the EB-5 program is just one step we can take to bolster our economy, and I hope to see increased bipartisan efforts to keep job-creating investments in the United States.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Thank you very much, Mr. Lipinski, for reserving this hour. And thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me to speak in honor of a very cherished colleague and a dear friend in the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressman Jerry Costello, after 24 years of dedicated service, is retiring, and that is a very tall order for me to accept because I have served with him on both of his major committees from the time I came to Congress 20 years ago; and he appears to be, starting this term, a part of a vanishing breed of people who came here to work across the aisles. When I think of Jimmy Duncan, when I think of Mr. Young of Alaska, when I think of Ray LaHood, I think of the camaraderie that we have shared on the committees working together to get things done. And I look up and many of them are leaving. It's so unfortunate that we're losing such a stellar example of the commitment needed to be an effective public servant. He began his public service at an early age, working in law enforcement while attending college. He has built his career on bipartisanship and dependability and has always kept the needs of his constituents and the American people foremost in his mind and close to his heart. Congressman Costello is a devoted family man who treasures his wife, Georgia, and their three children and eight grandchildren. And I have shared with Georgia and Lynn, Jimmy Duncan's wife, trips around the world where we became almost like family. His companion has given the Congressman a unique perspective, making him much more effective as a Member of Congress. I remember one time we went on a trip, and at the last minute, Georgia couldn't go and we ended up being seatmates all the way. And he said at the end, I enjoyed you being my seatmate, but you'll never be Georgia. And he was right. I've had the distinct pleasure of working closely with Congressman Costello on both the House Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Science, Space and Technology. As a matter of fact, I would not be ranking member had he chosen to use his seniority to become the ranking member of Science, Space and Technology. He's an effective legislator and has shown an unwavering commitment to furthering scientific research and building our Nation's infrastructure. Having served both as chairman and ranking member on the Aviation Subcommittee with Congressman Petri from Wisconsin, just like two brothers, they have been guests in my district where we did work together on a very bipartisan basis to improve the safety and innovation of the aviation industry. Mr. Speaker, the bonds that we form with our fellow colleagues in Congress are unlike anything else. You become closer in friendship, and you begin to see people as individuals. This last 2 years, however, has not been the example that I lived with 18 years before that. Congressman Costello and I developed, over the years, a very special relationship. The House of Representatives is losing a distinguished colleague and one of those from the old guard that we call the bipartisan focus on business people. I have immense respect for Congressman Costello, and I will miss him dearly. I wish him well, and I wish his family the best in future endeavors. And I do hope that this is not the last of a vanishing breed of the persons who came here to work to get things done and not be so partisan. I really will miss the camaraderie that we shared with Jimmy Duncan, Don Young, Ray LaHood--all the people who can see beyond partisanship.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a cherished colleague and dear friend in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Jerry Costello. After more than twenty- three years of dedicated public service, Congressman Costello will be retiring from the U.S. Congress. Congressman Costello is a true statesman, and he will be sorely missed. Congressman Costello is a stellar example of the commitment needed to be an effective public servant. He began his public service at an early age, working in law enforcement while attending college. He has built his career on bipartisanship and dependability, and has always kept the needs of his constituents and the American people foremost in his mind and close to his heart. Congressman Costello is a devoted family man, who treasures his wife, Georgia, their three children, and eight grandchildren. His compassion has given Congressman Costello a unique perspective, making him that much more effective as a Member of Congress. I have had the distinct pleasure of working closely with Congressman Costello on both the House Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Science, Space, and Technology. He is an effective legislator, and has shown an unwavering commitment to furthering scientific research and building our Nation's infrastructure. Having served both as Chairman and Ranking Member on the Aviation Subcommittee, Congressman Costello continues to work with his colleagues on a bipartisan basis to improve the safety and innovation of the aviation industry. Mr. Speaker, the bonds that we form with our fellow colleagues in Congress are unlike anything else, and the friendship Congressman Costello and I have developed over the years is very special to me. The House of Representatives is losing a distinguished colleague, and the constituents of the 12th District of Illinois are losing a loyal advocate. I have immense respect for Congressman Costello. I will miss him dearly, and I wish him and his family all the best in their future endeavors.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Jason Roberts, a White House ``Champion of Change'' from Oak Cliff, Texas. This week, the White House honored Mr. Roberts and other leaders from across the U.S. for their ground-breaking initiatives to enhance their communities. Mr. Roberts' leadership has been exemplary in his initiatives to improve local areas, and revitalize communities in South Dallas. As founder of the Oak Cliff Transit Authority, a nonprofit organization dedicated to reclaiming Oak Cliff's past distinction, Mr. Roberts worked to revive and modernize the Dallas streetcar system. Through hard work and ingenuity, Mr. Roberts led the city's effort to obtain a $23 million TIGER grant from the Federal Transit Administration for their revitalization efforts. Mr. Roberts' ``Better Blocks'' project reclaims blighted areas, converting vacant properties into temporary walk-friendly districts, complete with pop-up businesses, bike lanes, cafe seating, and landscaping. Mr. Roberts' efforts have been so successful in South Dallas that over 20 U.S. cities have taken steps to enhance neighborhoods in the same fashion based on his work. Mr. Roberts' ``Better Blocks'' project has even gained international recognition, and has since been featured in the New York Times, TED Talks, and on NPR. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to honor the hard work and vision that Mr. Jason Roberts continues to bring to South Dallas. His hard work and vision have allowed him to not only envision a better Dallas, but to also act on that vision. I look forward to seeing what future advances that Mr. Roberts will spearhead next, and I stand ready to support these efforts at every turn.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the civic and cultural contributions of Mr. Phil Whitfield, a fellow Texan who currently serves as curator for the art collection featured at Cowboys Stadium. Since growing up in Oak Cliff, Texas, Mr. Whitfield's loyalty to the Dallas Cowboys was inherent, and remains steadfast to this day. He grew up cheering on the Cowboys when their games were at the Cotton Bowl. In 1993, Mr. Whitfield began working as a security guard at Texas Stadium, which served as the home field of the Dallas Cowboys from 1971 to 2008. Mr. Whitfield remained in this position until he was hired to work at the new Cowboys Stadium to oversee the stadium's extensive art collection. Cowboys Stadium currently features 19 pieces of contemporary art, and Mr. Whitfield works with each artist to create beautiful installations. His passion and appreciation for art comes second only to his devotion to the Cowboys. Mr. Whitfield devotes considerable time and effort to each individual work of art and its respective creator. Today, Cowboys Stadium boasts artistic diversity which millions of fans have long since enjoyed. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize Mr. Whitfield's contributions to Texas' beloved Cowboys Stadium. Cowboys fans from all over appreciate how the stadium's collection is being highlighted and maintained by a loyal fan such as Mr. Phil Whitfield.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Chair, I rise in reluctant opposition to the amendment offered by the gentleman from Illinois, Mr. Manzullo. I say reluctant, because although I am opposed to this particular amendment, I very much support the idea of ensuring that our agencies in the Federal government utilize the best available science when engaged in their activities. On its face, that would appear to be the subject of this amendment. However, the language in this amendment goes further than that, and its broad reach troubles me for several reasons. Under this amendment, all Federal agencies would have to adopt guidelines on scientific integrity and have those guidelines approved by the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, ``OSTP''. Agencies could not make policy decisions unless the OSTP Director has approved their guidelines. In addition, subsection (d) of the amendment states that any policy decisions an agency makes which do not comply with the approved guidelines ``shall be deemed to be arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, and otherwise not in accordance with law.'' I am very concerned that the language in this amendment could give rise to a new cause of action against Federal agencies in their regulatory process. A longstanding principle of regulatory law is that agencies must show that their regulatory actions are not ``arbitrary and capricious'' or courts will overturn those actions. This amendment creates a new and separate cause of action against regulatory agencies who veer from their guidelines in the formulation of a regulation. This is an unnecessary addition to the legal weaponry available to challenge agency regulations since the current law already provides that agencies are prohibited from making ``arbitrary and capricious'' regulatory decisions. I do not understand why we would purposely increase our courts' load of regulatory litigation for no discernible substantive benefit. Furthermore, the amendment does not limit these restrictions to regulatory actions. All ``policy decisions,'' specifically including ``agency guidance,'' are subject to this requirement. ``Agency guidance'' could include the posting of information on an agency website or the issuance of disaster warnings. It is troubling that we would potentially be creating a new legal cause of action against agencies for putting agency guidance on their websites. It's even more troubling that we would prohibit agencies from making disaster warnings until those agencies' scientific integrity guidelines are approved by the Director of OSTP. Clearly, these new impositions on the Federal agencies are not without cost. However, what is the real benefit here? Early on, the Obama administration issued an order to all Federal agencies to adopt scientific integrity policies. OSTP oversaw this process, and Federal agencies now have scientific integrity policies in place. What additional benefit does this amendment provide over what the administration has already completed? Moreover, the Federal government already has well established procedures in place to ensure Federal regulations are only issued after careful review of the scientific evidence. It's hard to imagine this amendment provides any benefits to this process that would outweigh the dangers and costs I just identified. Finally, I want to express my discomfort with placing the OSTP and the President's science advisor in a regulatory oversight role. The President of the United States needs sound scientific advice from a trusted and competent advisor. OSTP was created to provide that advice to the President. This is an office that has typically maintained bipartisan support over the years. I would hate for that support to erode because we've placed inappropriate responsibilities on that office. I would also note that OSTP's annual budget is relatively modest and the office is already stretched thin carrying out its current duties. This amendment provides no funding for the newly mandated duties, and it is unclear how OSTP is supposed to fund these new responsibilities. I do think it is important that the Federal government use the best available science when it does its work. Unfortunately, for the reasons I've outlined, I don't think this amendment is the way to achieve that goal, and I must oppose the amendment.