[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 144 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 144

  Honoring the life and accomplishments of Arva ``Marie'' Johnson, a 
pioneer in the United States Capitol Police Department when she became 
  the first African-American female to wear the uniform of the United 
                   States Capitol Police Department.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 8, 2007

 Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas (for herself, Ms. Carson, Mrs. Christensen, 
   Mr. Fattah, Mr. Hastings of Florida, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of 
 Texas, Mrs. Jones of Ohio, Ms. Kilpatrick, and Ms. Norton) submitted 
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on House 
                             Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Honoring the life and accomplishments of Arva ``Marie'' Johnson, a 
pioneer in the United States Capitol Police Department when she became 
  the first African-American female to wear the uniform of the United 
                   States Capitol Police Department.

Whereas Arva ``Marie'' Johnson was born on February 3, 1950, in Rocky Mount, 
        North Carolina, the daughter of the late Sidney and Mary Worley;
Whereas, upon graduation from Booker T. Washington High School in Rocky Mount, 
        North Carolina, Marie Johnson relocated to Washington, DC, where she met 
        and married her late husband James Johnson, with whom she had two 
        children, a son Michael Johnson, who serves in the United States Air 
        Force, and a daughter Crystal Johnson Powell, who works in the banking 
        industry;
Whereas, on October 15, 1974, Marie Johnson made history by becoming the first 
        woman to join the uniformed service of the United States Capitol Police 
        Department and the first African-American woman to join the United 
        States Capitol Police Department in a law enforcement capacity;
Whereas although Officer Johnson was also hired along with three white female 
        cohorts, she was the first female officer to dress in a United States 
        Capitol Police Department uniform while the others were assigned to 
        plainclothes duties;
Whereas Marie Johnson paved the way for gender diversity and equality on the 
        United States Capitol Police Department by enduring, overcoming, and 
        helping to eradicate unequal treatment;
Whereas, when Marie Johnson joined the United States Capitol Police Department, 
        there were no designated locker room facilities for women officers and 
        women's uniform apparel was unavailable, but throughout Marie Johnson 
        maintained her professionalism and good cheer, earning the respect and 
        friendship of her male counterparts;
Whereas Marie Johnson was an original member in the Black Police Association 
        which brought about significant changes in equality for African-
        Americans in the United States Capitol Police Department by lobbying 
        Members of Congress and promoting fair testing procedures and 
        performance standards to replace the favoritism and arbitrary testing 
        procedures which too often prevented African-Americans from being 
        promoted;
Whereas Marie Johnson's advocacy paved the way for more African-American 
        appointments as Officers and Sergeants on the United States Capitol 
        Police Department and the appointment of the first African-American 
        Inspector, Fentress A. Hickman, who was later appointed to Deputy Chief;
Whereas Marie Johnson was honored by the Black Police Association after 20 years 
        of service with a plaque commemorating her distinguished service;
Whereas Marie Johnson struggled as a working mother and at times employed 
        assistance from her colleagues when she was a young mother working the 
        night shift for the United States Capitol Police Department;
Whereas, in February 2007, Marie Johnson retired from active duty after 32 years 
        of faithful, honorable, and distinguished service to the United States 
        Capitol Police Department; and
Whereas Marie Johnson is the proud grandmother of a granddaughter, Mikayla 
        Powell, to whom she is as devoted as she was to her duties as the first 
        woman uniformed officer to the United States Capitol Police Department: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,  That the House of Representatives commends Arva 
``Marie'' Johnson for her distinguished career of service to the United 
States Capitol Police Department and the people of the United States.
                                 <all>