Eddie Johnson

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. I thank my committee chairman. I rise in very strong support of H.R. 4715, the Clean Estuaries Act of 2010. Estuaries are the bodies of water that receive both freshwater from rivers and saltwater from the sea. The mix of water makes a unique environment that is extremely productive in terms of its ecosystem values. Estuaries are rich in plant life, coastal habitat, and living species. The ecological productivity of these regions translates directly into important economic productivity. Government studies have found that estuaries provide habitat for 75 percent of the U.S. commercial and 80 to 90 percent of the recreational fishing catches. Perhaps the central problem in the protection and restoration of estuaries is that they ultimately lie downstream from all. Everything that enters the smallest stream, tributary, or headwater in a watershed eventually runs into its respective estuary, impacting, in some way, all the biological elements of that system and all of the commerce that revolves around that estuary. To address estuary impairments properly, we cannot look to the Federal Government alone. Indeed, we cannot necessarily look to the Federal Government as the lead. Instead, proper watershed management and estuary protection must be a process that involves all levels of government and all manner of stakeholders. Today's legislation, the Clean Estuaries Act of 2010, provides the resources and means to do just that. As the chair of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, the subcommittee charged with primary jurisdiction for protective water quality, I am pleased to support this bill. This legislation increases the authorization for appropriations, allows for increased and improved Federal coordination, increases accountability, and includes some necessary programmatic changes. The increase in authorized appropriation levels will not only provide more resources to localities and organizations on the ground, it will also enable more communities and estuaries to be involved in this important national program. I am well aware of the effectiveness and popularity of these nonregulatory, community-based programs. We should be seeking to encourage the use of these types of programs in order to address problems in a grassroots fashion. In this sense, by making cleaner estuaries, we hope to achieve healthier communities and stronger economies through collaborative processes. I ask all Members of this Chamber to join me in supporting communities and estuaries through the passage of this bill.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the manager's amendment offered by the Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Mr. Oberstar. This amendment makes a few technical changes to the underlying legislation and to the existing National Estuaries Program. First, the amendment clarifies that the increased accountability called for in the bill includes a review of the implementation of existing comprehensive conservation and management plans, and not just of the plans, themselves. Second, the amendment ensures that the public is provided with additional information on the relationship between air quality, water quality, and land use, and their potential impacts on the overall health of local estuaries. Oftentimes, locally developed solutions are the most cost-effective and long-lasting way to improve the environment. This has been the basis of success for many of the existing national estuary programs. Following this model, the manager's amendment includes language to encourage public education on the interconnectivity of local air, water, and land resources. With more information, the average citizen can be more aware of how his or her actions affect the environment around them, and how small changes in an individual's everyday life can have substantial positive impacts on the local environment. Third, the manager's amendment addresses one of the legacies of the initial authorization for the National Estuaries Program by deleting the outdated, statutory priority list of estuaries. All but one of the estuaries on the existing list already have recognized estuary program offices. The intent of this change is not to eliminate any of the existing 28 estuary programs, but to clarify that estuaries are not simply entitled to remain in the program. If an estuary program continues to meet its obligations under the Clean Water Act, and the enhanced accountability called for in this legislation, they will continue to remain in the program. However, the intent of this legislation is also to ensure that individual program offices are reaching their goals of improving water quality and the overall ecological health of the estuary. The final change proposed by this amendment is to eliminate the eligibility of individuals for grant assistance under this program. According to EPA, no individual has ever received a grant under this program, so this is unused authority. Mr. Chair, I support the amendment and urge my colleagues to support the amendment.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Maine (Ms. Pingree) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar). This amendment makes two important changes to the underlying bill that should benefit the overall effectiveness of the National Estuary Program. First, the amendment requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct an assessment of best practices for improving water quality, natural resources, and sustainable uses of the estuary as part of the Agency's periodic evaluation of the National Estuary Program. Following this assessment, the Administrator would be required to disseminate information on these best practices to other estuary management conferences convened under section 320, as well as to the public. I support this provision because it will provide a good, centralized resource on successful, locally produced practices for improving the overall health of estuarine areas. This clearinghouse should provide valuable information to other management conferences and the general public on what practices are being successfully implemented in the field so that each management conference does not have to ``reinvent the wheel'' each time they are looking for creative ideas to benefit their local environment. While what works in one area of the country may not necessarily work in another, I would suspect that simply sharing success stories on management practices will have an overall benefit to local restoration efforts. The second change proposed by this amendment is to require the Administrator to identify potential redundant reporting requirements for grant recipients, and to propose a plan for reducing such redundancy. It would seem common sense that where efficiencies in reporting requirements can be achieved in such a way that reduces the overall burden on grant recipients, but does not impact the overall operation of the program or its accountability to taxpayers, such an effort should be undertaken. I support this amendment, and urge its adoption.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the amendment from the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kagen). This amendment requires a monitoring effort on the part of National Estuary Program partners. A coordinated monitoring program is very important to ensure the success of these programs. Monitoring is a key piece of any restoration plan. This amendment will help to increase efficiencies, save money and reduce duplicative activities by requiring the partners to coordinate their monitoring activities. Also, requiring monitoring by the partners will mean that the management conference, and the appropriate Federal, State and local agencies will be able to measure the accomplishments of the management conference. Without monitoring, the management conference will not be able to determine if the plan has succeeded or failed at improving water quality and the habitat of the estuary. I commend our Committee colleague for offering this amendment, and urge its approval.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the amendment from the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Schauer). This amendment would define the term ``estuary'' for the purposes of this bill to include Great Lakes waters, including those near shore waters and connections that are similar to traditional estuaries. Currently, coastal estuaries are the only estuaries that are eligible to apply for competitive grants under the National Estuary Program. The amendment offered by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Schauer) would authorize interested management conferences in Great Lakes waters to apply for competitive grants under the National Estuary Program. I support the amendment.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the amendment from the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore). This amendment would add a new focus area to the existing list of research programs the Environmental Protection Agency administrator can implement under the National Estuary Program. In the existing statutory language for the National Estuary Program, there is a list of research programs the administrator is authorized to coordinate and implement with other Federal agencies. This amendment would allow for a research program related to nonnative species. Nonnative or invasive species continue to be a threat to many of our waterbodies, including estuaries. Adding a new research focus that looks at the potential impacts of nonnative species and the pathways for introduction in estuaries would be very helpful in better understanding the potential impacts of these species to the water quality, natural resource benefits, and sustainable uses of the estuary. The programs that experience threats from nonnative species in their estuaries could incorporate any information obtained from this research into their plans in the future. I support the amendment.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the amendment from the gentlewoman from New Hampshire (Ms. Shea- Porter). This amendment would require that individual comprehensive conservation and management plans evaluate the impacts of changes in sea level as they apply to the surrounding estuarine region. Changes in sea level are likely in the future and it is without question that our coasts are vulnerable to the impacts of these changes. For example, water quality and habitat in the estuaries would be affected by changes in sea level. In addition, those wildlife and fish that make the estuaries their home could be affected by these changes. And last, public infrastructure along the coasts and in estuaries will likely be affected by changes in sea level. In particular, roads, bridges and water-related infrastructure could be potentially harmed, inundated, or rendered ineffective by changes in sea level. Therefore, it is important that the management plans assess the potential impacts caused by sea level rise and include potential responses to these threats. Again, I support the amendment and applaud the gentlewoman for offering it.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the amendment from the Gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Kratovil). This amendment is essentially a reminder to the new programs of the National Estuary Program that collaborative processes should be used when developing the management plan. Many of the estuary programs are currently using collaborative processes to develop their plans and this amendment encourages these processes to continue in the future. The gentleman's amendment ensures that all relevant stakeholders in an estuary be given an equal voice. This concept is fundamental for developing a broad-base of support for restoration efforts, and for increasing the overall likelihood of success. The amendment would also require the use of a neutral party to resolve conflicts that arise during the development of a plan. The use of neutral parties can be an effective way to resolve differences other, more engaged stakeholders may encounter when developing a management plan. Finally, this amendment requires the inclusion of up-to-date information in the plans. As the management plans are updated, they should include the most recent information possible so that they are useful in helping achieve the long-term goals of improving the water quality and habitat in the estuaries. I commend the gentleman for offering this amendment, and urge its adoption.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1237 to honor Wilma Pearl Mankiller, the first female Chief of the Cherokee Nation, who passed away on April 6, 2010. Wilma Mankiller was a remarkable human being and served as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation from 1985 to 1995. While Cherokee culture has traditionally embraced the concept of both male and female leadership, this custom had fallen out of practice in recent years. At the time she became Chief, the hierarchical system of the Cherokee Nation had become male dominated, and Mankiller faced numerous gender barriers in becoming and serving as Chief. During her tenure, she would go to great lengths to resurrect the balance of male and female leadership in the Cherokee Nation, and additionally, she worked to reinvigorate the Nation through community projects and programs. Throughout our daily lives, we rarely stop to reflect on the remarkable accomplishments of women across the country and world. I am emboldened by people like Wilma Mankiller who worked diligently for others and tore down gender barriers in the process. Today young girls know that they too can grow up to become Indian Chiefs and it is because of the work and life of Wilma Mankiller that this is true. Madam Speaker, Wilma Mankiller was a great leader and extraordinary advocate for the Cherokee Nation. I ask my fellow colleagues to join me today in honoring her memory and celebrating her distinguished life and work.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of National Libraries Week. The foundation of our learning and literacy is based in books and the written word. Our Nation's libraries offer access to books, newspapers, magazines, the Internet and other informational materials. There is no other place where any individual who owns a library card can go in and access materials free of charge that promotes learning, discovery, opportunity, and self improvement. It is our libraries and librarians that provide this to millions of Americans each year. While our libraries hold the materials, it is our librarians that often hold the key. Librarians are the caring and accessible individuals who lead us on that adventure to knowledge. Lady Bird Johnson once said, ``Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the town library. The only entrance requirement is interest.'' Libraries reach across barriers of age, ethnicity, and income to offer a world of learning, discovery and access to millions of Americans each year. For those who are trapped in the digital divide, libraries are on the front line in providing computer and Internet access free of charge and the resources on how to properly use that technology. I am especially proud of our many Dallas Public and School Libraries. In addition to standard library services they offer events to benefit the community, including everything from classes of song and reading for infants and their parents to tax preparation for senior citizens. They are truly committed to the people of Dallas, their well-being, and their access to learning, and I commend their service. I am a proud supporter of National Libraries Week and thank all of those individuals who serve inquisitive minds both young and old in our nation's libraries.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to honor and remember my dear friend and women's rights crusader, Liz Carpenter, who passed away recently at the age of 89. When I think about Liz Carpenter, I cannot help but be reminded of her colorful personality and her remarkable fortitude. At a time when women were just beginning to tear down gender barriers, she was working tirelessly to prove that she was capable, even overly-capable, of the jobs that were assigned to her. Her tireless spirit eventually paid off, and it is impossible to remember her without remembering her countless accomplishments for women and all Americans. A sixth-generation Texas, Mrs. Carpenter was born in Salado, Texas. She went on to study at the University of Texas, and in 1942, shortly after graduating, she moved to Washington, D.C. where she found a job working at an independent news bureau. Her early years were spent working in journalism, and after marrying her husband, Leslie Carpenter, they opened the Carpenter News Service. Together they gathered news in Washington, D.C. and grew their business until they had 18 newspaper clients across the South and Southwest. With her husband, she had two children. In 1960, Mrs. Carpenter joined Lyndon B. Johnson's vice presidential campaign, and after the assassination of President Kennedy, she penned the 58 words that President Johnson spoke shortly after receiving the oath of office. She remained with President Johnson until 1969 when he decided against seeking a second term as President. She remained in Washington until 1976 at which time she moved to Austin where she lectured on journalism at the University of Texas and was involved with the Lyndon B. Johnson Library. In 1981, after the death of her brother, she took in his three children and raised them to adulthood. Additionally, she was the author of four books. A strong supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment, Ms. Carpenter actively worked to see the rights of women enshrined in the Constitution. She was a passionate feminist and was a co-founder of the National Women's Political Caucus. Madam Speaker, only 30 short days ago, I visited with Liz Carpenter. She was alert and well and still had as her number one interest the status of women. She suggested a state wide meeting on women, and was primarily concerned about the education of younger women. At the time, she encouraged me to continue the fight for more and better opportunities for all women across the country. Madam Speaker, I am saddened by the loss of Ms. Carpenter, but I am grateful for her work, longevity, and strength. We will miss her vibrant personality, and I am heartened to know the world is a better place because of her. I ask my fellow colleagues to join me today in honoring her memory and celebrating her life.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4849, the Small Business and Infrastructure Jobs Tax Act. Specifically, I am pleased one of the provisions of this bill is the text of H.R. 537, The Sustainable Water Infrastructure Investment Act, of which I am a cosponsor. This provision will help our local communities by removing the federally mandated State Volume Cap on Private Activity Bonds for water and wastewater projects. Lifting this cap will allow additional private investment through the use of tax exempt bonds to address our critical water infrastructure needs. Other infrastructure projects, such as airports, intercity high-speed rail, and solid waste disposal sites are already exempt from these bond caps. Removing state volume caps on Private Activity Bonds for water and wastewater facilities is expected to reduce the cost of water projects, increase the number of water projects that communities initiate, improve our Nation's water infrastructure, and encourage public-private partnerships. I am proud to support this bill that will enhance our water infrastructure, create local jobs, and encourage private capital investment in our communities.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Mr. James Harden ``Pat'' Daugherty who was a member of the 92nd Infantry Division of the United States Army in World War II. Veterans are some of our country's greatest treasures, and I commend Mr. Daugherty on his service. It is important for us to remember the sacrifices that members of our armed services make and have made to ensure our freedom and our prosperity. It is with heartfelt thanks that I recognize Mr. Daugherty today, and I encourage my fellow colleagues to join me in doing so. Additionally, I would be remiss if I did not recognize the collective efforts of Mr. Daugherty's division, the 92nd Infantry. This group was more commonly known as the Buffalo Soldiers and was the only African American infantry division to see combat in Europe during World War II. Their efforts helped to desegregate the military, and they proved that African-Americans were valorous and dedicated members of the United States military. Madam Speaker, America is a stronger and nobler country because of veterans like Pat Daugherty and his compatriots in the 92nd Infantry Division. I ask my fellow colleagues to join me in recognizing the service and accomplishments of Mr. Daugherty and the Buffalo Soldiers with which he served.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to claim time in support of the Reconciliation Bill and the Senate amendments to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Health care in the United States has degraded in accessibility and quality to the extent that we are a nation in crisis. Change is needed to truly make progress toward a healthier America, and the time for change is now. We are the closest in 60 years of legislative efforts to provide access to health care for all Americans. We must pass this legislation for the people. It is time to place compassion and dignity over corporate greed. My experiences as a legislator--and as a nurse--have provided a unique vantage point from which to discuss this issue. I have seen first-hand the state of affairs of our health care system. We cannot sustain the current system as premiums rise, prescription prices soar, and medical bankruptcies increase as services decline. Texas leads the Nation in uninsured, including the highest rate of uninsured children, and I am here today to stand up for my constituents who desperately seek access to care. Thousands of families are crushed by the growing cost of health care. This legislation reins in health care costs for families and businesses and reduces the deficit. We have come to a point where we must choose consumers over insurance companies. Insurance companies have held the public hostage for many years, controlling and rationing care. It is time to give citizens the right to control their own health care. I stand in strong support of the legislation and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1133) recognizing the extraordinary number of African-Americans who have overcome significant obstacles to enhance innovation and competitiveness in the field of science in the United States.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous materials on H. Res. 1133, the resolution under consideration.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. To honor the extraordinary number of African Americans who have enhanced our country through scientific innovation, I offer this resolution to celebrate their accomplishments. This resolution also recognizes the significant barriers African Americans have broken to enhance science and increase American competitiveness. February is normally the month where the accomplishments of African Americans are celebrated. It was our original intent to do just that and be on the floor last month. However, I am pleased to see this resolution on the floor today in March, knowing we all enjoy the contributions of African American scientific contributions every day of the year. As we go throughout our daily routines, Americans rely on technologies, procedures, and improvements fashioned by African American innovators over the centuries. In any field, whether it is transportation, architecture, transportation, medicine, or home appliances, African Americans have innovated, improved, and enhanced our technology. In 2010 it is unthinkable that a person of any race, origin, or culture in this country would be denied an education because of the color of their skin. For centuries, African Americans who developed procedures, inventions, and technologies we rely upon each day had to overcome significant obstacles to advance our Nation. From 1654 until 1865, slavery for life was legal within the boundaries of much of the present United States. At that time, many slaves were prohibited from obtaining an education. In response, many historically black colleges and universities were founded. These universities contribute significantly to the overall percentage of African Americans who receive undergraduate and graduate degrees in the fields of science today. We honor and celebrate the effectiveness of these vital institutions. We acknowledge that slaves, because they were not considered citizens, could not register any invention with the U.S. Patent Office. Due to this, there is a strong likelihood that during the period of slavery many discoveries have been undocumented or stolen. After President Lincoln abolished slavery in 1865, many African American scientists continued to face poverty, legal and social discrimination over 100 years later. Our past is our prologue, and we must recognize and celebrate our history in order to achieve our full potential as a Nation. As Martin Luther King once said, ``Many of the ugly pages of American history have been obscured and forgotten. A society is always eager to cover misdeeds with a cloak of forgetfulness, but no society can fully repress an ugly past when the ravages persist into the present.'' Today our Nation has a vast untapped potential as African Americans and other minorities remain disproportionately underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and math, the STEM disciplines. Many of these students suffer from inadequate schools, residential segregation, gender and racial bias from the classroom, and, perhaps even the most, nonprepared teachers. In order to become more energy independent, create new jobs and new exports, and develop the next great technology, we must invest robustly in scientific education and innovation. Looking towards our future, the fraction of college age population ages represented by minorities is expected to grow to 55 percent in 2050. The proportion of STEM bachelor's degrees earned by minorities is much lower than the representation of minorities within the U.S. population. In order to keep the United States competitive in future years, we have a lot of work to do. We honor African Americans who have overcome significant obstacles to enhance innovation and competitiveness in the field of science in the United States. We also encourage investment in programs which lessen the achievement gap of African Americans as well as other minorities and disadvantaged groups in the sciences and ultimately strengthen competitiveness in the United States. The lights are on, the stage is set, the camera is rolling, and we are the actors. The actions we take today are ultimately what will determine our future. I thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady from Texas, Ms. Sheila Jackson Lee.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. I yield the gentlelady an additional 1 minute. Dr. Mae Jemison trained as a physician now is in the business of producing and training new astronauts by her summer programs and year- long programs and camps emphasizing math and science, her work that she has offered to do with the North Forest Independent School District on science, technology, engineering, and math. And Dr. Joshua Hill, my friend, the late Dr. Joshua Hill, of Texas Southern University, was the first person to begin to talk about solar energy. And of course Prairie View A&M where a host of agricultural scientists have looked at new ways to produce food. To the Speaker I will say that this legislation is timely. There are many scientists who are on the verge coming from the minority community and coming from the African American community. Look what they can do, and let us give them the further opportunity to be able to help America and to help the world. Let us continue our support for NASA as many of these first develop their scientific prowess utilizing their skills as astronauts in America's human space program.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. I urge passage of the bill, and I yield back 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 move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1027) recognizing the 50th anniversary of the historic dive to the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, the deepest point in the world's oceans, on January 23, 1960, and its importance to marine research, ocean science, a better understanding of the planet, and the future of human exploration.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on House Resolution 1027, the resolution now under consideration.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1027 recognizing the 50th anniversary of the historic dive to the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, the deepest point in the world's oceans, on January 23, 1960, and its importance to marine research, ocean science, a better understanding of the planet, and the future of human exploration. Today we recognize the achievements of Captain Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard, who piloted the U.S. Navy's Trieste to reach the deepest point of the world's oceans. They remain the only two humans to ever achieve this historic feat. Exploration of the ocean floor has led to and will continue to lead to important breakthroughs in marine science. However, shockingly, only 5 percent of the ocean floor has been explored. We must continue to encourage research and exploration of the world's oceans and must make education of the next generation of ocean explorers a priority. The Mariana Trench is truly one of the world's great ocean classrooms, and I hope that as we remember this remarkable achievement, we also remain committed to returning to the ocean floor in the future. I am once again pleased to recognize the achievements of Captain Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard, and I would like to thank Mr. Sablan for his work on this resolution. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands, Congressman Sablan.