Hank Johnson

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7259) to allow acceleration certificates awarded under the Patents for Humanity Program to be transferable.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Georgia (Mrs. McBath), the sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 7259 is a straightforward but important bill that will encourage additional innovations that address humanitarian challenges. I urge my colleagues to support the bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act because Black lives matter. Police killed George Floyd over a counterfeit $20 bill as if his life didn't matter. Police in Atlanta, Georgia, killed Rayshard Brooks for running away as if his life didn't matter. Breonna Taylor, Kathryn Johnston, Tamir Rice, Walter Scott, Philando Castile, Eric Garner, and a long list of others, each killed by police and robbed of their constitutional right to due process. None of these notorious killings moved Congress to act. It took regular folks of all races, creeds, and colors taking to the streets in every part of this country, even in the face of a global pandemic, to tell the world that we have had enough of police killing Black folks. Our people need to know that we hear them. And Congress knows that on the one hand, President Trump's cronies, like Roger Stone and Michael Flynn, can lie to Federal investigators only to receive a get-out-of- jail free card from the President's protector, Attorney General William Barr. But on the other hand, regular Black folks, like George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks--accosted for broken-taillight types of offenses--get executed by the police acting as judge, jury, and executioner. The only way that Congress can prove to the American people that we believe that Black lives matter is for all of us--Republicans and Democrats alike--to take legislative action, to stop police from brutalizing and killing Black people--not tomorrow, not next year. Now. Madam Speaker, in the name of Michael Brown and the citizens of Ferguson, Missouri, let's demilitarize police departments. In the name of Breonna Taylor and Kathryn Johnston, let's ban no- knock warrants. In the name of George Floyd and Eric Garner, let's ban chokeholds and make it easier for police departments to fire bad cops. In the name of Tamir Rice, let's enact a national registry of bad cops. Madam Speaker, for the people of the United States demanding action, let's pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act now.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, ``I Can't Breathe'' is a poem I delivered on this floor 6 years ago when Eric Garner got choked out by the police. Today, I am here for George Floyd, another Black man who died facedown on the hot pavement, suffocated to death by a police officer as he begged for his life for 8 minutes. Black folks in America in 2020 are caught between being suffocated to death by the COVID-19 coronavirus or being choked to death by rogue, uncaring, and unconcerned police officers. Black folks in America are caught up in three pandemics, when you add the reality that our businesses are getting choked out of PPP. Black people bear an unparalleled burden in this country. When just 12 percent of Black and Latino business owners who applied for PPP report receiving what they asked for, something is wrong. When we make up 13 percent of the population but 60 percent of COVID deaths, something wrong. When we have armed vigilantes and rogue police officers killing us on the streets, something is terribly wrong. The American Dream should not be a nightmare for any of her people. It is time to bring an end to open season on Black people in America. We can't breathe.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, today indigenous environmental activist, Berta Caceres, would have been 49 years old, but on March 2, 2016, she was viciously murdered in her own home by a coordinated effort between greedy corporate and government thugs. She died defending the land of the Lenca indigenous people. Berta, along with countless other Honduran activists, was the victim of a government wracked with corruption and impunity. Drug traffickers have littered the highest ranks of Honduras' Government, and its military remains weaponized against its own people, all of whom are targets of victimization by this government, which is aided by U.S. security assistance. We turn away our brothers and sisters at the border, but we abet the very crimes they are fleeing. Berta Caceras' legacy should serve to remind us of this, and enough is enough.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, one hundred years ago, Missouri Republican Congressman Leonidas Deyer introduced an anti- lynching bill in the 65th Congress. The legislation eventually died in the Senate in 1918. In the one hundred years since that failure, there have been over two hundred unsuccessful attempts to prohibit lynching in the United States through legislative redress. Those one hundred years saw the advent of the civil rights movement and Jim Crow, but it also was marred by undercurrents of racism and random acts of violence. As the Representative of the Fourth Congressional District of Georgia and a senior member of the House Judiciary, this legislation, which would finally make the act of lynching a hate crime, has particular significance to me and my constituents. Our district is home to Stone Mountain which is commonly known as the symbolic birthplace of the modem Klu Klux Klan. Since 1915, the Klu Klux Klan has met at Stone Mountain and as recently as 2018, white supremacist organizations sought to rally atop the mountain with Confederate flags. Over the years, many civil rights battles have been won in our district, but our fight for equality is not over. Lynching is a vestige of slavery and America's views on race and racism in this country. It has long been a practice used to keep enslaved Africans, and later, free Black men, women, and children living in terror. The practice has irrevocably damaged the American psyche. It is time to formally distance our country from these heinous acts and raise the crime to the consideration of a hate crime. In doing so, we declare to ourselves and the rest of the world that we will not tolerate bigotry in the United States and that those who would harm others because of the color of their skin will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Rep. Bobby Rush's Emmett Till Antilynching Act will finally be considered by the Full House. This bill honors Emmett Till, a 14-year- old African American boy lynched in Mississippi in 1955. As we progress towards a more perfect union by recognizing lynching for what it is--a hate crime, we reflect on how this heinous practice has been wielded to oppress minorities throughout American history. My good friend Rep. Rush brings this legislation to the House floor citing the riots that took place in Charlottesville in 2017 and during the deadly El Paso shooting in 2019. The lynching of black and brown people in our country is truly, as he says, prevalent in American society today. Its face may have evolved, but the crime of hate that it represents is indisputable. The Senate passed a resolution in 2005 that apologized to victims of lynching crimes; however, lynching still is not classified as a federal hate crime. We honor, today, the herculean efforts from American heroes like my fellow Georgia Congressman John Lewis, who worked to mobilize our country against these violent acts. We have waited too long to raise this crime to the level of a federal hate crime, and we cannot delay any longer. Only when we reckon with our troubled history and the epidemic of hate crimes against black and brown people in the United States can we begin to construct a more perfect union. I'm proud to lend my support and my vote to this important legislation.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I want to recognize the life and accomplishments of Anne Cox Chambers, who passed away on Friday, January 31, 2020, at the age of 100. Mrs. Anne Cox Chambers was a member of the namesake Atlanta-based media company, Cox Enterprises--an instrumental medium for news reporting, talk shows, music, and sports in Georgia and across the country. She took on a leadership role in Cox as a member of the Cox Board of Directors and as the chairwoman of Atlanta Newspapers. She took her knowledge and expertise from those roles to pave new roads for women in Georgia: She became Atlanta's first female bank director when she joined the board of Fulton National Bank, and she was the first woman to serve as a director of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. During her life, she chose to give back every way she could, becoming a philanthropist for causes close to her heart. Mrs. Chambers supported institutions that many Atlanta citizens enjoy today, like the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Atlanta Botanical Garden, the Atlanta Speech School, the High Museum of Art, and the Atlanta Humane Society. Her support for the latter culminated in the honor of its annual award bearing her name, the Anne Cox Chambers Humane Heroine award. Anne embodied what it meant to be a public servant. Under President Jimmy Carter, she was appointed Ambassador to Belgium. Her work led to a stronger relationship between the United States, Georgia, and Belgium. Belgium's King Baudouin I recognized her contributions by presenting her with the Order of the Crown, one of Belgium's highest honors. While Mrs. Chambers may be gone, her legacy will not be forgotten. Her love and service for Georgia and her country were inspirational and her leadership as a woman paved the way for other women who will come after her. She set an example for us all of what it means to be someone who gives more to others than she takes in return. I want to offer my deepest condolences to the extended family and friends of Anne Cox Chambers during this time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, today, I rise in recognition of National Gun Violence Survivors Week. Last month, with the leadership of my House colleagues and Senator Elizabeth Warren, I was proud to introduce the Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety Act, the most comprehensive piece of gun reform legislation this Chamber has ever seen. We will mandate universal background checks, which will help keep guns out of the hands of those who should not have them. We will crack down on gun trafficking. And we will hold the gun industry accountable for putting profits over the safety of the American people. I promise today to fight so that not one more American is burdened with living as a gun violence survivor because of irresponsible, outdated, and morally bankrupt Federal gun policies.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I was not among those who supported impeachment before Ukraine, but I have called for impeachment today because our President is, as we speak, abusing his power and placing himself above the law. President Trump's attempt to sabotage the 2020 election is a clear and present danger on our democracy. We the people know this, and more Americans support impeachment today than at any time since Richard Nixon's final weeks in office. We know that it is wrong to enlist the help of foreigners in interfering in our elections. We know it is wrong to cheat, and we know what is at stake. It is not just that our elections were attacked; our elections are under attack right now. The very day the Judiciary Committee voted out Articles of Impeachment, President Trump welcomed Rudy Giuliani back to the White House. President Trump is still at it. He is doubling down. He doesn't think he can win an election fair and square, so he is trying to cheat. To ignore these crimes is not just giving the President a pass; it is giving him a green light. Those who vote against impeachment are not just endorsing President Trump's past actions but his future ones as well. If you think I exaggerate in warning that our elections can be undermined, I would urge my colleagues to come down to Georgia and find a Black man or woman of a certain age. They will tell you that the danger is real. And they will tell you of brave Americans--patriots-- willing to risk far more than a political career who marched, struggled, and sometimes died so that we could have fair and free elections. We are not asked to possess even a fraction of their courage. We are simply called upon today to do what is right. I am proud to vote ``yes'' on impeachment.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply saddened by the passing of Representative Elijah Cummings--my colleague, friend, and a true fighter for social justice. While Representative Cummings may no longer be with us, he leaves behind a remarkable legacy of service, leadership and humility. Notably, he served Maryland's 7th Congressional District for 23 years and was a strong force in his role as Chairman of the Oversight Committee. He is the realization of the American Dream. Born to sharecroppers, young Elijah Cummings declared he would become a lawyer at 11-years old. Despite social and economic challenges before him, he would go on to achieve that dream and more. Representative Cummings became the first African-American Speaker Pro Tempore of the Maryland State House of Delegates and then continued his work in this House. He was a dedicated public servant, devoted husband, and loving father. Representative Cummings was a maverick among us all, and I will deeply miss his wise counsel and presence. May we all aspire to be a portion of the leader he was for America.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1123) to amend title 28, United States Code, to modify the composition of the eastern judicial district of Arkansas, and for other purposes.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 1123, which would amend current law to reduce the number of operating divisions in the Eastern District of Arkansas from five to three. This legislation, introduced by Congressman Rick Crawford from Arkansas, has the support of every member of the Arkansas congressional delegation. The bill was prompted by the closure in 2017 of the only Federal courthouses in two of the divisions. The three new divisions created by H.R. 1123 would align with the three remaining courthouses in that district. The new divisional lines are based on caseload history and travel times to the remaining courthouses. As chairman of the Judiciary Committee's subcommittee with jurisdiction over the courts, it is a priority of mine to ensure that people across this Nation have ready access to the Federal judiciary. In the context of a bill such as that under consideration here today, I mean that in a very literal sense, ensuring that jurisdictional lines are appropriately drawn so that those residing in their bounds are not unduly burdened by travel time to a courthouse. But this must be balanced against closing courthouses where resources are not being used efficiently. I am satisfied that such a balance has been achieved here, given the support this bill has gotten from the Judicial Conference, the Judicial Council of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, and the chief judge of the Eastern District of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this legislation and urge my colleagues to support it as well, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time so that I can close.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1123 is a straightforward bill that better aligns the divisions of the Eastern District of Arkansas with the current operations of that district, and so I urge my colleagues to support the bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett) and the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Horsford) for coanchoring this hour. Elijah Cummings epitomized the virtues of honesty, dignity, decency, grace, and responsibility. He was committed to his family, to whom I offer my deepest condolences, and he was committed to his community. And Elijah was committed to being true to the oath that he took to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. He did so as chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform where he carried out the responsibilities of that office with great ability. Elijah Cummings wielded the gavel with the ability of a giant, but he was a quiet, unassuming, and a kindhearted man, and unafraid to sometimes walk alone. Walking alone, Elijah saw more than many will ever see. That is why Elijah will continue to be our North Star. His light shines on in the dark night of his passing; his spirit and his example will live on in our hearts, to guide us as we live, true to the oath we endeavor to uphold. Shine on, Elijah Cummings, shine on.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, on October 17, I was recorded as a yes vote on Congresswoman Wagner's Amendment to H.R. 1815. To clarify, here is the correct information with respect to that vote: Roll Call Vote Number 563: No

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the expansion of the Alcantara Launch Center in Brazil. This agreement between the Trump and Bolsonaro administrations threatens to displace hundreds of Afro-Brazilian quilombo families from their land, further disparaging an already marginalized community. Brazil's Constitution provides explicit protections for quilombo lands, and Trump and Bolsonaro are blatantly disregarding these protections with this land grab. Previous expansions of this military base have displaced over 300 families. The expansion of that base on quilombo land will displace some additional 800 quilombo families from their constitutionally protected ancestral land. I appreciate America's longstanding relationship with Brazil; however, I cannot support policies that dehumanize native people and bring harm to vulnerable communities in Brazil. Madam Speaker, I oppose this agreement, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Chair, it is strange, because my friends on the other side of the aisle are not interested in working on anything together. They are only interested in giving tax cuts to the top 1 percent and the big corporations, and they are interested in privatizing everything. And a privatized justice system is the ultimate injustice, and that is what forced arbitration is all about. The FAIR Act would restore justice to millions of Americans. We are a country of justice and fair play. When people cheat, we take pride in holding them accountable before a jury in a court of law; but forced arbitration clauses hidden in the fine print deprive victims of their day in court before a jury of their peers. Using forced arbitration, corporations force victims into secret proceedings where the deck is stacked against them. Predictably, the end result is the corporation wins, and the victim is deprived of justice. And because the proceeding is secret, the public never learns what happened. We won't know which corporation tolerates a climate and a culture of sexual harassment of its employees or which corporation fraudulently overcharges its customers or which nursing home has a sordid history of mistreating its patients. For too long, people have been tricked by complicated legal jargon hidden in take-it-or-leave-it contracts. People like Diana, from my home State of Georgia. Diana, after 5 years at Kay Jewelers, learned she was making less than her more recently hired, less experienced male colleagues; but because of her forced arbitration clause she was tricked into signing, she couldn't get the backpay that she deserved. She is one of millions of victims who have been denied justice because they unwittingly signed away their right to take a wrongdoer to court. It is not fair and it is not right. If you believe in consumer rights, then you should support the FAIR Act.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Chair, if you believe in consumer rights, then you should support the FAIR Act; and if you believe in justice and the rule of law, then you should vote to pass the FAIR Act. Madam Chair, I want to thank my colleagues who have worked so hard to support this bill--Congressman Cartwright, Congressman Cicilline, Congressman Raskin, Congresswoman Jayapal, and, last but not least, Chairman Nadler--for their work in getting this bill to the brink of passage today.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Raise the Wage Act. For the last 10 years, the minimum wage has remained stagnant as the cost of living has skyrocketed across the country. Low-income families and minimum wage workers have carried the brunt of this burden. Working Americans deserve sustainable living wages, and we should not accept an economy where parents working full-time jobs cannot support their families. A vital part of the American promise is the right to a decent livable wage. This legislation will empower our workforce, strengthen the economy, and support families across the United States of America. I look forward to voting in favor of this important legislation, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, with respect to the remarks made this weekend about the squad ``going back to where they came from,'' it reminded me of some lyrics by Neil Diamond. Far, We've been traveling far, Without a home, But not without a star. Free, Only want to be free, We huddle close, Hang on to a dream. On the boats and on the planes, They're coming to America. Never looking back again, They're coming to America. And it ends with: They're coming to America. They're coming to America. They're coming to America. They're coming to America. Today, today, today, today, today. My country `tis of thee, Today, Sweet land of liberty, Today, Of thee I sing, Today, Of thee I sing, Today. That is the America that we know, and we are all here contributing to what makes America America, and I thank the body for listening.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of a U.S.-backed coup that, even now, hangs as a cudgel over the people of Honduras. Ten years later, Hondurans still face an erosion of human rights amid unimagined violence, an unaccountable government, lack of opportunity, and increasingly militarized internal security forces. Just last week, in response to civilian protests, President Hernandez deployed the armed forces to quell his critics, a response that not only is recent, but reoccurring. When you hear horrific accounts of violence and lawlessness in Honduras, it is no wonder so many seek a better life in America. Ten years after the coup, we must own up to our role in the upheaval in Honduras and come to the aid of the people of Honduras.