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Crime Prevention
Congresswoman
Johnson is committed to aggressively working in Washington, D.C,
as well as, in our community to reduce crime throughout the Greater
Dallas Fort-Worth area. She is working to establish an anti-crime
coalition by bringing together police-community partnerships such
as Weed & Seed, local activists, businesses, educational resources,
religious leaders, parents and students.
The Congresswoman
successfully passed an amendment to the Gang Prevention and Effective
Deterrence Act, which would create national and regional gang activity
databases. These databases allow law enforcement to track the movement
of gangs and members throughout the country, coordinate police response
to gang violence, and enhance officer safety.
The Congresswoman
has also originally co-sponsored the Hate Crimes Prevention Act,
which would permit federal law enforcement authorities in specific
circumstances to investigate and prosecute violent crimes motivated
by the race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender,
or disability of the victim.
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The
Economy
The economy
and employment base of our district and state can be improved by
creating incentives to attract new industries that generate good
jobs and protect current jobs from unfair trade practices and corporate
corruption. Congresswoman Johnson believes in putting Texans back
to work. She also believes in an economy that grows as individual
opportunity grows. Fiscal responsibility and debt reduction is the
way to create prosperity for America. With careful planning we can
lower long-term interest rates for home mortgages, autos, and student
loans. Fiscal responsibility and debt reduction will also lower
borrowing costs for businesses, fueling private sector investments
and economic growth. Johnson believes strongly that we need to stop
mortgaging our children's future.
Congresswoman
Johnson is fighting to reverse policies that favor wealthy corporate
interests at the expense of America's workers. She wants to reverse
the growing trend of companies outsourcing American jobs to foreign
countries by ending tax breaks for companies that outsource jobs
and cutting taxes for small businesses and domestic manufacturers
that create jobs here at home.
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Education
Congresswoman
Johnson believes that United States Congress must support high quality
education to remain competitive in the world. As a mother and grandmother
of three, she understands that nothing is more important than the
education we provide our children. While there is no substitute
for local control of our schools, she believes the federal government
has a key role in modernizing our schools, reducing class size,
and empowering our teachers. The importance of quality education
for our country’s future requires a sustained national effort.
With your approval, she will continue to work hard to provide an
equal high quality education for all children, regardless of race,
ethnicity, financial status, or location.
Congresswoman
Johnson recently testified in front of the New Science Board Commission
about the implications of an inadequate educational infrastructure
in math and science. She helped secure $978 million for science
and math education thru the National Science Foundation.
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Energy
Independence
Congresswoman
Johnson firmly believes that we need to reduce pollution by developing
alternative energy sources. As residents of an energy state, Johnson
feels we should work to achieve independence from foreign energy
sources by 2020.
As a Senior
Member of the Science Committee, Congresswoman Johnson is working
hard to increase attention on long term revolutionary technologies
such as hydrogen energy, fusion energy, methane hydrates, cellulosic
ethanol, microbial production of biofuels, clean coal, carbon sequestration,
and the next generation of nuclear plants.
The Congresswoman
cosponsored a legislative package, which creates an Advanced Research
Project Agency for Energy (ARPA-E), modeled on the successful DARP-A
program at the Department of Defense. Congresswoman Johnson and
a panel of experts at National Academy of Sciences believe that
ARPA-E is the first step towards innovative U.S. energy Independence.
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The
Environment
Congresswoman
Johnson knows that we need to protect the environment and guarantee
clean air and water. She also knows firsthand that North Texas residents
are very concerned about the environment. Not only does a healthy
environment enhance the quality of our daily lives, but also our
local natural resources are critical in supporting tourism, a key
element of our local economy. Eddie Bernice Johnson has worked hard
to find common ground between environmentalists and industry because
she understands that this is critical to our local business community.
Johnson believes we must leave our children a safe and protected
environment.
Eddie Bernice
Johnson has led the battle in the House of Representatives against
environmentally unsound industries that proposed waiting until 2012
to begin the process of cleaning up the unhealthy air that plagues
the DFW area. She is recognized by numerous national organizations
for her efforts to defend clean air and protect environmental standards
for all Americans.
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Healthcare
As a registered
nurse, Congresswoman Johnson realizes that our current health care
system needs major surgery. Congress must finally tackle health
care problems that have languished for too long – important
issues such as the 40 million Americans that remain uninsured, seniors
without access to prescription drugs, and a long overdue Patient’s
Bill of Rights. Congresswoman Johnson will continue to work tirelessly
in the fight to preserve the Social Security benefits North Texans
have earned. Johnson is vigorously opposed to any plan that will
result in a reduction in Social Security benefits. She believes
that Social Security is a promise that must be protected not just
for our retirees, but also for widows, orphans and people with disabilities.
One of the Congresswoman’s
most passionate fights has been the expansion of healthcare for
children. She introduced the SMART Healthcare Act (Student Medical
Access Raises Test scores). The bill promotes the well being and
educational achievement thru a school based healthcare imitative.
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Homeland
Security
As the senior
ranking Texan on the Transportation Committee, the Congresswoman
held the first town hall hearings in the DFW region on Homeland
Security, addressing the needs of first responders. The Congresswoman
examined how the federal government could better assist state and
local governments with the consequences of chemical, biological,
and nuclear disasters, and domestic terrorism.
Congresswoman
Johnson’s Homeland Security activities include Transportation
Security, Critical Infrastructure, Federal Civil Service, Agricultural
and Biological Terrorism, Government Management, and Emergency Preparedness
and Response. The Congresswoman understands the need to protect
the Texas and American transportation infrastructure from terrorist
attacks, and has worked hard to ensure that adequate resources are
made available to the states. Congresswoman Johnson has also fought
for better coordination and communication between law enforcement
and emergency management.
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Immigration
Reform
Congresswoman
Johnson knows that America is and always will be a home for those
willing to invest the fruits of their labor into a life filled with
promise for themselves and their families. However, the overriding
issue is not that we are a Nation of immigrants, but that we are
primarily a Nation of laws.
Our current
immigration system is broken and we have to find practical but fair
solutions. Illegal and legal immigration are two very distinct issues.
Illegal immigration is a significant national problem and we need
to discuss all the avenues available to address the people who cross
our borders unlawfully.
Legal immigrants
are overwhelmingly law-abiding and hardworking people who contribute
to our economy and our society. Congresswoman Johnson believes that
we should deal with the real problem of illegal immigration without
retreating from America's historic commitment to legal immigration.
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International
Relations and Human Rights
Congresswoman
Johnson is nationally and internationally recognized as a leader
in democracy, good governance, and human rights. She was one of
the first members of Congress to visit Iraq and meet with the U.S.
Armed Forces personnel stationed in Baghdad.
Congresswoman
Johnson has led the way in Congress to protect the lives and rights
of women and children during war, conflict and its aftermath. She
has introduced three resolutions on the role of women in war and
post conflict situations. Her resolutions seek to ensure economic
rights and empowerment as important steps toward equal rights all
over the globe. She has held national and international peace discussion
forums to promote the productive exchange of ideas and experiences
among women of all ethnic and national communities. The Congresswoman
believes that the children of the world deserve to inherit a culture
of peace; a lengthy process, where the results are not visible overnight,
but long overdue.
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Small
Business
Congresswoman
Johnson recently received a 100% score from the U.S. Women's Chamber
of Commerce, the American Small Business League, Latino American
Management Association, National Procurement Council, Small Business
Majority, and Business Professional Women/USA.
"Small
businesses are critical economic stimulants that contribute to a
strong economy by creating jobs for many Americans. It is vital
that we, as a representative body, give credence to the urgency
felt by many small business owners and support them not only with
rhetoric but also by casting votes that approve legislation specifically
aimed at closing business ownership gaps among minorities, accessing
affordable capital for small business owners, and ensuring assistance
to businesses impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita," said
Congresswoman Johnson.
Johnson's voting
record reflects her commitment to restore funding to support family
farms, micro-entrepreneurs, and businesses in low income areas;
assure that small business owners affected by the hurricanes, receive
quick and effective support; protect small business owners in future
disasters; assist the growth of minority high tech companies and
ensure small business participation in the federal marketplace;
remove obstacles to small business competitiveness in federal contracting;
lower the cost of SBA lending programs; and supported entrepreneurship
as a viable alternative for laid off employees.
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Transportation
and Infrastructure
The development
of an efficient and integrated transportation (multimodal, intermodal,
pedestrian, and bicycle) system is critical in order to maintain
the region’s quality of life and economic vitality. As a 14-year
member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee,
Congresswoman Johnson has fought hard to ensure that North Texas’
transportation is responsive to all residents. The DFW Metropolitan
Area is the largest regional economy in Texas, representing roughly
25 percent of the states economy. By the year 2025, the region is
expected to attract nearly three million new residents and over
2 million new jobs. Securing adequate transportation funding to
ensure that the North Texas region will be able to sustain its economic
growth is a top priority for Congresswoman Johnson. She has authored
and cosponsored major policy measures and secured millions of federal
dollars to ensure North Texas receives its fair share of transportation
funding.
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