Eddie Johnson

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the United States. President Barack Obama has issued a proclamation recognizing August 30--September 5, 2009 as National HBCU Week, and I am very proud to honor these institutions today. Historically Black Colleges and Universities are defined as accredited colleges and universities founded prior to 1964 with the intent of serving the African-American community. These institutions have existed for more than 140 years, and there are more than 100 across the United States. Of the nine HBCUs in my home state of Texas, three are public institutions and six are private. HBCUs have had a very long history and date back to the period directly following the Civil War. Originally HBCUs were the only institutions of higher education that accepted African-Americans. After the Civil Rights Movement prompted an end to white-only admissions policies, HBCUs continued to act as an important educational resource for African-Americans and other students who chose not to attend predominately white institutions. There are a number of notable figures who have graduated from HBCUs, and I would like to pay tribute to some of them today. Alice Walker of Spelman University and Langston Hughes of Lincoln University are American literary giants who attended HBCUs. Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall went to Howard University and former Congresswoman Barbara Jordan attended Texas Southern University. Additionally, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a graduate of Morehouse University. Truly, our country would be at a great loss without these heroes. I commend the educators, students, alumni and staff that have worked tirelessly to make Historically Black Colleges and Universities what they are today. I ask my fellow colleagues to join me in recognizing the role these institutions have played in educating generations of Americans of all races and ethnic backgrounds.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, reforming health insurance must be our focus for now. The vast majority of Americans already have health insurance. The question is, what does our health care reform bill mean to them? Just three things. It means an insurance company can no longer decide to deny any coverage or jack up your rates because of preexisting conditions. It means it will be against the law for insurance companies to drop your coverage when you get sick or water it down when you need it most. It also means insurance companies will no longer be able to place some arbitrary cap on the amount of coverage that you receive each year. Mr. Speaker, it is time for the insurance companies to come to the table, spend the millions on corrective measures instead of spending millions to pass out these mistruths and falsehoods, and try to work this problem out. The American people deserve everyone working together to get decent health care reform for the people of this Nation, and they don't deserve all the misinformation that's going around out there.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 447 to congratulate the American Council of Engineering Companies for its dedicated service to America's engineering industry and to celebrate its 100th anniversary this year. As a strong supporter of the engineering industry and someone who recognizes the vital work that engineers and related professionals perform, I believe it is of the utmost importance to honor the American Council of Engineering Companies for its role in supporting the engineering industry. With more than 5,500 firms throughout the country, this Council has grown from a small group of engineers to an incredibly influential federation of 51 state and regional councils that represent a large cross-section of America's engineering industry. Through its help, America has some of the best engineering structures in the world that allow us to drink fresh water, travel efficiently, and lead an all-around healthier and happier lifestyle. I ask my fellow colleagues to join me today and support H. Res. 447 to honor the American Council of Engineering Companies for their 100 years of service. Truly, we have all benefitted immensely from the council's efforts and dedication to improving the lives of every American citizen, and I extend my deepest thanks and appreciation for their hard work.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, eight years after the attacks of September 11, 2001, we remember one of the bloodiest days in our nation's history with heavy hearts and tragic regret. I am once again reminded of the heroes that selfishly gave their lives so that others could make it to safety, and today we mourn their passing. We remember, too, the victims who were so sadly ripped from our lives by one of the most senseless acts of violence our country has even seen. Today, I share in the grief of a country and extend my deepest condolences to the friends and family of those that passed on that solemn day. As I think back to that painful morning, I remember how a sunny Tuesday unfolded into a series of events that has shaped our national conscious and affected us in ways that we had no longer thought possible. We were reminded that there is still hate in the world. We were reminded that there still exists the possibility of great tragedy in our country. And we were reminded that we were vulnerable to the problems that exist beyond our shores. However, on that grim day, we saw an America that stood proudly and bravely and an America that came together under difficult circumstances. We must not forget that liberty, justice, and fairness are some of our greatest ideals, and we must continue to strive towards these goals, even in the face of tragic situations. I would like to remember, too, a constituent of mine who lost his life in the attacks. Michael E. Tinley happened to be working in the World Trade Center on that morning, and I offer my deepest condolences to his friends and family. Truly, I mourn with you. Today, I join my fellow colleagues in honoring the victims who died on September 11, 2001. We remember these events with great sadness but new resolve, and as we continue our work, we will never forget the loss that we felt that day.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to salute the Sixth Floor Museum at Delaney Plaza for being accepted into the prestigious Museum Assessment Program. The Sixth Floor Museum is located on the sixth and seventh floors of the Texas School Book Depository, the warehouse from which Lee Harvey Oswald assassinated President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. The Sixth Floor Museum at Delaney Plaza opened in 1989 to commemorate the life and detail the events surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my deep sadness and regret for the passing of Senator Edward Kennedy. The world has lost a tremendous leader and an exceptional spirit. Senator Kennedy's voice was a unique source of inspiration on the Senate floor, and he will be greatly missed for his public service and work to improve the lives of the less fortunate. Senator Kennedy was arguably one of the most influential Senators in United States history. He was an exceptionally accomplished legislator who authored roughly 2,500 pieces of legislation over the course of his 46-year-long career in the United States Senate. More than 300 of Senator Kennedy's bills went on to become law, and he had a rare ability to reach across party lines in the interest of passing important pieces of legislation. He was always well versed on policy issues and highly prepared for committee hearings and floor debates. As the Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Senator Kennedy courageously led the push to reform our nation's failing health care system. He strongly believed that all Americans deserved to have access to affordable health care options and supported a number of initiatives, including America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009. Senator Kennedy also helped enact the State Children's Health Insurance Program, the Medicare prescription drug benefit, the Ryan White Care Act and the Family Medical Leave Act. Although health care was Senator Kennedy's passion, he was also committed to combating discrimination. Even when it was politically unpopular, Senator Kennedy believed in an America where ethnic minorities and women were treated equally. He supported Title IX, which outlawed discrimination on the basis of sex in institutions of higher education and the renewal of the Voting Rights Act, which banned racially discriminatory voting requirements. My prayers go out to the Kennedy family in this time of profound grief. I ask my fellow colleagues to join me in remembering the life of a true American hero who dedicated his life to improving the lives of others.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it's interesting what I'm listening to. This sounds like 15 years ago when President Clinton tried to reform the health care system. This time we must do it. The increase just for small businesses to cover their employees has gone up 129 percent since the year 2000. Workers pay more. Small business workers pay an average of 18 percent more in premiums. How far does this have to go before we have the common sense to change it? If anybody disagrees with the bill, read it. That's the first thing we must do. Read the bill. I have read the bill. It's a good bill. It's so unfortunate that the influence on this House is coming from insurance companies who have been in control of health care for the last 30 years. We must change that. They've given out $100 million around here. We must change it. The people need this health care reform right now.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2093) to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act relating to beach monitoring, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 2093.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act of 2009 increases the authorization of appropriations for the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act, more commonly known as the BEACH Act bill, through 2014. First signed into law in October 2000, the BEACH Act provides funding to States, to local governments and to tribes for the creation of coastal water assessment and for public notification programs that monitor our recreational waters. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2093, the Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act of 2009, increases the authorization of appropriations for the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act, more commonly known as the BEACH Act, through 2014. First signed into law in October 2000, the BEACH Act provides funding to states, local governments, and tribes for the creation of coastal water assessment and public notification programs that monitor our recreational waters. Over the past nine years, my Subcommittee, the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, has held hearings on reauthorization of the BEACH Act and has received recommendations for statutory changes that would strengthen State coastal water quality monitoring and public notification programs. I applaud the sponsor of this legislation, Mr. Pallone, and our colleagues on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Mr. Bishop and Mr. Hall, for introducing this important legislation. H.R. 2093, the Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act, will increase the annual authorization for State and local monitoring and notification programs to $40 million annually. In addition, this legislation expands the eligible uses for grants under this program to better understand ongoing sources of contamination to the nation's beaches. For example, H.R. 2093 allows States to utilize a portion of their BEACH grant funding to develop and implement pollution source identification and tracking programs for coastal recreation waters. These programs will enable interested States to locate the likely sources of coastal water contamination. This information will be critical to states to demonstrate ongoing sources of pollution to the nation's beaches. With definitive information on the causes of coastal water contamination, States can take appropriate action to eliminate these ongoing sources, and ensure that the nation's coastal areas are safe for swimming and other recreational activities. Mr. Speaker, last Congress, the House considered similar legislation to reauthorize and strengthen the BEACH Act. That version, H.R. 2537, was approved by the House on a voice vote in April 2008. Unfortunately, the 110th Congress adjourned before further consideration could be taken on that bill. H.R. 2093 is modeled on the bill that passed the House in the last Congress. However, one significant change is the adoption of a statutory deadline for the development of rapid testing methods for measuring the quality of coastal recreation waters. The development of a rapid testing method will provide a significant safeguard against swimming-related illnesses by ensuring that the public is notified of potentially harmful waters within a few hours, rather than days, as under the current system. H.R. 2093 adopts a statutory deadline of October 15, 2012 for the development of rapid testing methods, and requires states to implement such methods within one year of their validation by EPA. This provision should enhance the protection of public health, and hopefully prevent families from coming into contact with harmful pollutants at their favorite beaches. The bill also defines the term ``rapid testing method'' to mean ``a method of testing the water quality of a coastal recreation water for which results are available as soon as practicable and not more than 6 hours after the commencement of the rapid testing method in the laboratory.'' Mr. Speaker, as made clear in the Committee Report to accompany this legislation, the intent of this definition is to compress the time period for testing water quality to provide real-time information on the condition of coastal recreation waters. The Committee received information on testing technologies that are currently available which can produce accurate results in two to three hours. The intent of this legislation is to require that EPA validate a rapid testing methodology that can achieve accurate results as quickly as possible within the confines of existing technologies. In addition, H.R. 2093 requires the administrator to periodically review the state of water quality testing technologies, and to validate new rapid testing methods that can shorten the time necessary to produce results on the condition of such waters, with a goal of 2-hour testing by 2017. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2093 also enhances existing public notification requirements, including making beach warnings and closures available on the Internet. The bill also clarifies that the public must be notified within 2 hours after the appropriate State or local authority receives the results of a coastal water quality sample. However, because many States utilize a system where two contaminated samples must be identified before a beach is closed, H.R. 2093 requires that beach closures or advisories must be made within 2 hours of the receipt of any water quality sample that exceeds public health limits, and that a warning sign be posted immediately, thereafter. Again, precaution against potential public health impacts needs to be the focus of this program. Finally, the bill requires EPA to conduct annual compliance reviews of state and local BEACH programs. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this legislation that will make significant improvements to EPA's BEACH program. Much of our efforts are to provide additional safeguards for our families to ensure they do not come into contact with potentially harmful pollutants and contaminants along the nation's coastlines. I believe that this legislation accomplishes what we have tried to do. 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 full committee chairman, Mr. Oberstar.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone).

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I now yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Bishop).

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the sponsor of this legislation, Mr. Pallone, and our colleagues on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Mr. Bishop and Mr. Hall, for introducing this important legislation. Further, I appreciate and respect the fact that Mr. Oberstar, Mr. Mica and Mr. Boozman helped with this as well, so I urge its adoption. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Cheryl Yvonne Wallace Boyd whose passing on Monday, July 13, 2009 at the age of 53 is a loss for the community of Dallas, Texas. Ms. Boyd began her career in public service as counsel on the Senate Commerce Committee, and worked over fifteen years with the Environmental Protection Agency where she served in various positions with the utmost distinction. Ms. Boyd was a public servant in the truest sense, and for those who knew and worked beside her, she was described as nothing short of an extraordinary woman who was devoted, charitable, kind and a tireless advocate. Beyond her talents in government, Ms. Boyd was a fixture in the Dallas community. She was an active member in the Junior League of Dallas, an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Ms. Boyd was also very involved in one of the nation's oldest and largest volunteer service organizations, The Links, Incorporated. As a member of the Dallas chapter she was part of an extraordinary group of women committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry. Ms. Boyd's legacy of service and giving is an example for all those who wish to serve their communities. Although she has passed, her legacy of service and devotion to community will continue to benefit the City of Dallas for years to come.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chair, I want to thank the leadership of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee for their work on this bill. Our Nation's transportation system is at a crossroads. Now is not the time to scale back funding efforts to address our country's deteriorating infrastructure, worsening traffic congestion, poor air quality, energy use, and investments in high speed rail. These issues are all interrelated and will impact our economy, global competitiveness, and sustainability. The appropriations bill before us today is a good one; however, it represents a mere down payment towards addressing the critical infrastructure needs of this country. In my state, these needs are readily apparent. The State of Texas has one of the most extensive surface transportation networks in the world. Texas has more than ten thousand miles of railtrack; more than three hundred thousand miles of roadway; and more than fifty-thousand bridges--more than any other state in the nation. Financing challenges, coupled with exploding population and trade growth, are creating a perfect storm that is pushing Texas' transportation network to its breaking point. In the absence of increased funding and innovative policies, the weight of these particular challenges will adversely impact the quality of life for my constituents and citizens throughout the state. It is imperative that we as a body focus our attention on investing in a truly national transportation system in order to address the impending infrastructure crisis. Our ports are not able to handle the volume of freight entering the United States, railroads and highways are overwhelmed with freight and delayed by bottlenecks, and intermodal facilities need to be improved to facilitate greater efficiency. With projected increases in imports over the next several decades, we have but a small window to make infrastructure improvements to ensure America is able to sustain its global competitiveness. As I close, I would like to thank the subcommittee for including funding in the bill for Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and the Interstate-30 Bridge Project in my congressional district. This funding will help advance these noteworthy projects and improve mobility for my constituents. I also want to thank the subcommittee for their inclusion of high speed rail funding. Relative to other developed nations, the United States ranks dead last with regards to developed high speed rail corridors. The demand in Texas for high speed rail is great, and the funding included in the bill will greatly aid high speed rail efforts in my state. Just last week, the Texas Department of Transportation announced project requests to the U.S. Department of Transportation totaling $1.9 billion dollars under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The high speed rail funding reflected in the bill is warranted and it is my intent to oppose the amendment offered by the gentleman from Iowa, Mr. Latham, aimed at reducing funding for this account. I support H.R. 3288.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring renewed attention to the ongoing situation on the island of Cyprus. On May 23, 2008, the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat, and the Greek Cypriot leader, Demetris Christofias, reaffirmed their commitment to a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality as defined by relevant Security Council resolutions. This will include a federal government with a single international personality as well as a Turkish Cypriot constituent state and a Greek Cypriot constituent state, both of equal status. If the process to reach a settlement is derailed, I'm concerned that it will take years to resuscitate negotiations. The issues facing the two communities are difficult, but they are not insurmountable. Five years ago, the inhabitants of the island participated in a referendum put forward by the United Nations under Secretary General Kofi Annan. The Annan Plan, to which it is often referred, foresaw a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation based on political equality. Unfortunately, it was overwhelmingly rejected by Greek Cypriots in 2004 despite vast support by Turkish Cypriots. The Annan Plan was the product of intense negotiations conducted under the auspices of the United Nations Secretary General between the Turkish Cypriots, Greek Cypriots, Turkey, and Greece. It was the first plan since the conflict began to be submitted for public approval. In addition, it struck a fair compromise between the two sides on the island and was supported by both the United States and the European Union. Had it been accepted, it would have brought about a resolution to this longstanding separation of the island and contributed to political stability in this region of the world. I was hoping the outcome would meet the fundamental interests of the parties, including economic and political security for all Cypriots, and put an end to the island's division. However, with the rejection of the Annan Plan by the Greek Cypriots, I must ask my fellow colleagues to join me in continuing to work with good faith and determination to build a brighter future for all the people of Cyprus. The international community should keep the promises made in 2004 to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots, given their support for a negotiated settlement. Madam Speaker, the leaders on both sides of this conflict will require a strong political will to overcome the difficult issues that the process to reconciliation necessitates. The United States should do all it can to support this process and avoid any steps which would undermine the leaders of the various parties.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 607 to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Mission which put the first humans on the moon. On July 20, 1969, mankind took the greatest step in exploration the world had ever known when Neil Armstrong stepped off the ladder of the lunar spacecraft and onto the dusty, cold surface of the moon. So much more than a few steps, the first walk on the moon symbolized the hopes and dreams of our nation during the difficult period of the Cold War, and together, Americans watched as a new chapter began in the history of our nation and the world. The first moon landing is especially relevant today as we continue to unlock the many scientific mysteries of our planet and our universe. When we look back on the achievements of yesterday, it is important to remember the significance of setting goals for the future and researching for the achievements of tomorrow. Truly, we have benefitted immensely from the technological advancements that were developed forty years ago, and it is my hope that we will build on this tradition of research and scientific knowledge. Today, on the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing, we remember this event and the sense of curiosity and awe the world felt when history was made and Neil Armstrong took that famous first ``small step for a man,'' and ``giant leap for mankind.'' I urge my colleagues to join me in commemorating the first moon landing, and to support initiatives such as the Science, Technology, Education, and Mathematics (STEM) initiatives so that the future may hold the promise seen that mid-July night, when a small step became the greatest mankind has ever known.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Let me thank our congresswoman from Ohio, Congresswoman Fudge, for organizing this Special Order on health care. Over the years, the degree of accessibility and quality of health care in the United States has faltered. We are a Nation in crisis. Many Americans who are uninsured and unable to pay their hospital bills are deprived of the care and attention needed to ensure their well-being. Fundamental change is necessary to truly make progress toward a healthy America. We must rescue our health care from the insurance companies and the pharmaceutical companies. My experiences as a State and Federal legislator and a nurse have provided a unique vantage point from which to discuss this issue. During my 15 years as a professional nurse and that of a chief psychiatric nurse at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Dallas, Texas, I witnessed the diminishing state of our health care firsthand. Our system of health care is especially weak when it comes to mental health, for example. Individuals with mental illness do not receive sufficient coverage from insurers. While some are uninsured and unemployed, others may make too much to qualify for Medicaid. The limited options that our health care system offers mental health patients results in their inability to obtain appropriate treatment. Some years ago in the State of Texas, there was a lawsuit, and the ruling came down that said patients had a right to treatment. Many of the patients that were in State institutions were discharged because we did not have the staff to treat them. Guess what happened to them? They became homeless and many went to prison. They become victims of our flawed health care system, become unable to gain employment, and at times really have no other place to go but to the sidewalks and the streets and the doorways. People with mental illness are amongst those least served by local and national health care systems. Individuals and families across the country are being affected by the faults in our care system. Thousands of families are crushed by the growing cost of health care. Today, Americans are spending more on health care than housing or food, and they sometimes must choose between paying their health premiums or their rent or even their prescription medications. With our ailing economy, Americans should not be forced to make that choice, and now is the time for reform. We must not allow these millions of dollars that are going to lobbyists to distort this plan win this time. We can reform our health care system by improving and expanding our current systems of Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP, making them available and affordable to all Americans. I don't think we ought to have a total Federal or a government plan, but we ought to have a choice because the insurance companies have no one to compete with now and they can charge what they want and limit what patients can get. They are dictating to doctors what they should order. That needs to end. We need to guarantee and provide quality and affordable health care to all. We need to ensure that care is patient-centered and accessible, setting higher benchmarks for quality and efficiency. We need to enforce rules that make sure our insurance companies put health care over profit. They've had their day. Americans should be able to keep the health care that they have but also have the option of a public plan that does not leave anyone at the mercy of fate in order to stay healthy and avoid bankruptcy. We can take the best of our current models and lessons learned and use them to reform our health system. Forty-six million uninsured Americans--including 5.7 million in Texas--are in great need of health care coverage. Many of our uninsured in Texas are working people. We need to act now to reduce health care costs as well as health care disparities to ensure the well-being and the healthiness of all Americans. This country we call the leading Nation and the richest country does less to make sure that the people here, the citizens, are healthy. We must change this now. We must not allow the millions of dollars going to lobbyists to distort this and defeat it this time. Thank you.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, it is with great honor and pleasure that I stand before you today to recognize a very special constituent and friend of mine. He is both a mentor and an outstanding lawyer with a brilliant legal mind, and I am privileged to recognize and acknowledge the achievements of Les Weisbrod. I have known him since 1971, and I can truly say that he is a dedicated, distinguished, and committed citizen. The name Weisbrod has long been associated with excellence, and his life and work reflect his parents' highest standards of hard work, honesty, courtesy, and responsibility. On July 30, 2009, Mr. Weisbrod will finish his term as President of the American Association for Justice. As the largest trial bar in the world, this association aims to promote a fair and effective justice system and has benefitted enormously from Mr. Weisbrod's leadership and expertise. He has served as President-Elect, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Parliamentarian of the American Association for Justice, in addition to leading many of this association's litigation groups through his quarter-century of membership. Regarded as one of the most effective medical malpractice and personal injury attorneys in the country, Mr. Weisbrod has obtained more medical malpractice punitive damage jury verdicts for his clients than any other attorney in the United States. In 2003, he obtained a verdict which has been reported by the National Law Journal as one of the 100 most important verdicts of that year, and he was named one of the best lawyers in Dallas for 2003-2005 in Dallas' ``D'' Magazine and a ``Texas Super Lawyer'' for 2003-2004 in Texas Monthly. Our communities and our country rely on the contributions of individuals like Mr. Weisbrod who rise above and beyond the call of duty to make a difference in the lives of others, both personally and professionally. He has demonstrated an unfaltering and tireless commitment to the betterment of Dallas County, the State of Texas, and the entire Nation. I am fortunate to know and to have worked with Mr. Weisbrod for the past 38 years, and I am so pleased to call him a dear friend. Madam Speaker, in closing, I would like to give a final salute to Les Weisbrod who has fought to ensure justice and fairness in our legal system. I wish him continued health, happiness, and peace throughout his professional and personal journey. His outstanding service on behalf of others truly makes a remarkable difference and serves as an outstanding example to us all.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Leonard Briscoe who passed away on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at the age of 69. Mr. Briscoe was a trailblazer in the African American community in North Texas. In 1971, he was elected to the Fort Worth City Council, making him the second African American to serve in this position. A few short years later, in 1976, he was elected to the Texas State House of Representatives where he served during the 65th Legislature and chaired the Select Committee on Minority Business Enterprise. As a businessman, advocate, and engaged citizen, Mr. Briscoe was acutely aware of the needs of the minority communities in North Texas. In a period of political turmoil, he encouraged other African Americans to become involved in the political process and was a leading advocate for affirmative action. He understood the dire consequences of inadequate housing for low-income families, and served as Chairman of the Fort Worth Community Development Council. Through this chairmanship, he helped to develop the city's first housing program funded by the Housing of Urban Development Department under the Community Development Act of 1974. After leaving the Texas State House of Representatives, Mr. Briscoe continued his work to ensure that low-income people and minorities had access to respectable and affordable housing. His business built over twenty housing developments in the Southern part of the country with the help of over $13 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Because of this, the Department named him ``Entrepreneur of the Year'' in 1984. I ask my fellow colleagues to join me today in remembering the life and work of Leonard Briscoe, a community organizer, activist, and entrepreneur, who helped so many people across North Texas and the country.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember the events that took place 14 years ago in Srebrenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina July 11, 2009 marks the 14th anniversary of the Srebrenica Massacre in the eastern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The acts of violence that took place resulted in the deaths of several thousand Bosniaks and the displacement of even more Bosniak families from their homes. It is particularly startling to know that roughly five hundred of the victims were under the age of 18 years old, and several dozen were women and children. This tragic event is regarded as one of the worst cases of ethnic cleansing in the past fifty years, and today, I continue to offer my deepest condolences to the victims of these crimes and to those victims' families. I remain hopeful, however, that Bosniaks and the various ethnic communities within Bosnia and Herzegovina are on a path to recovery and reconciliation. Over the past fourteen years, Bosniaks have dedicated themselves to rehabilitation, slowly readapting and assimilating into their new lives. Great strides have been made to ensure that a lasting peace endures in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and I believe that through continued work and determination, this will be achieved. I ask my fellow colleagues to join me today to remember the victims of this terrible massacre and to resolve anew to work towards a stable and permanent peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, let me thank the chairman of the committee and the ranking member for their work. I rise today in support of a provision in the manager's amendment to increase the amount of funds available for human rights and democratic initiatives of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Specifically, the Democracy Fund in this appropriations bill will be, in large, helping countless people across the globe. I'd like to thank my colleagues, the Honorable Nita Lowey and the Honorable Kay Granger for accepting my amendment; and I commend them for their hard work on this bill. This really is an important bill. At this moment in history, I cannot help but be reminded of particular problems we are facing internationally. Although we have developed and maintained a high standard of living in our own country, we must remember that so many people across the globe cannot think about democracy because, frankly, they're so busy trying to survive, and they don't share the same luxuries and comforts that we take for granted in the United States. Basic human rights are a pillar of our democracy, and we seek to live in a stable and peaceful world. I work with women from around the world, trying to help build a culture of peace in this world. So this really is a very important part of it for me. The Democracy Fund does just this. It gives countless people a way to identify with a country of democracy. I ask my fellow colleagues to join me in supporting the manager's amendment, which seeks to expand and encourage democratic and human rights initiatives globally.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 135, recognizing the contributions of enslaved African Americans in building the United States Capitol. This resolution will commission the Architect of the Capitol to create and place a historical marker in the Capitol Visitor Center made from the original government owned sandstone rocks that were quarried by slave labor, and removed from the Capitol building during a previous renovation. Slavery played an important role in the foundation of this country, and slave labor was used extensively in the creation of many of the buildings that are home to our government. While we cannot rectify the sins of the past, nor thank slave laborers for their sacrifice, the contributions of these men and women should not go unnoticed. It is important this plaque be prominently displayed for the thousands of visitors that come into the CVC. In order for these visitors to know the complete history of our Nation's Capitol, they must be aware of the contributions of these laborers. I would like to thank Representative John Lewis for introducing this resolution and acknowledging this frequently overlooked part of our Capitol's story. The contributions made by these workers are a part of our history and our legacy, and this recognition will help future generations better understand the sacrifices of those who came before them.