[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 41 (Friday, March 19, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H1688-H1689]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING AFRICAN AMERICAN SCIENTISTS
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.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1133
Whereas from 1654 until 1865, slavery for life was legal
within the boundaries of much of the present United States;
Whereas slaveholders limited or prohibited education of
enslaved African-Americans because they believed it would
empower them;
Whereas African slaves, because they were not considered
citizens, could not register any invention with the U.S.
Patent Office;
Whereas any free person wanting to patent a scientific
invention could not acknowledge any contribution from a
slave;
Whereas there is a strong likelihood that scientific
innovation during the period of slavery may have been
undocumented or stolen;
Whereas after slavery had been abolished, the majority of
African-Americans lived in poverty and faced legal and social
discrimination;
Whereas Historically Black Colleges and Universities were
founded because few institutions of higher learning in the
United States admitted students of African-American descent;
Whereas Historically Black Colleges and Universities have
contributed and continue to contribute significantly to the
overall percentage of African-Americans who receive
undergraduate and graduate degrees in the fields of science,
including agriculture (51.6 percent), biology (42.2 percent),
computer science (35 percent), physical science (43 percent),
and social science (23.2 percent);
Whereas many African-Americans have overcome extraordinary
odds to advance scientific contributions to mankind;
Whereas the Nation's transportation system has been greatly
enhanced due to the contributions of Richard Spikes, who
invented the automatic gear shift technology, Joseph Gambol,
who invented the super charge system for internal combustion
engines, Garrett Morgan, who invented the automated traffic
signal, and Elbert Robinson, who invented the electric
railway trolley;
Whereas modern-day high-density cities and the United
States unique architectural development of high rise
buildings and modern-day skyscrapers were enhanced by
Alexander Mills, who invented key elevator technology;
Whereas health and medicine in the United States have been
advanced by Otis Boykin, who invented the pacemaker, Dr. Ben
Carson, who led a medical team who became the first to
separate conjoined twins successfully, Dr. Charles Drew, who
found the method to preserve and store blood which led to the
world's fist blood bank, and Dr. Daniel Williams, who
performed the first successful open heart surgery;
Whereas press and media have been strengthened by Will
Purvis, who invented the improved fountain pen, Lee Burridge,
who invented typewriting machine advancements, and W.A. Love,
who contributed to the advanced printing press;
Whereas home appliances have been improved by Frederick
Jones, who invented the portable air conditioner, Lewis
Latimer, who helped pioneer the electric light bulb, George
Sampson, who invented the clothes dryer, and John Standard,
who enhanced the refrigerator;
Whereas historically, African-Americans have faced
unprecedented inequities which have caused a disparity in the
number of undergraduate and advanced degrees in the sciences,
described as ``the achievement gap'';
Whereas many Members of Congress have proposed that this
gap can and will be eliminated through progressive policies
such as desegregation and Federal outreach and training
programs;
Whereas many studies suggest that the achievement gap of
African-Americans in the sciences has been lessening due in
part to the effectiveness of these policies and programs;
Whereas the United States has vast untapped potential
because African-Americans and other minorities remain
underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and
math (STEM) disciplines; and
Whereas society in the United States today would not be the
same without African-American innovations in the sciences:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes 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;
(2) honors and recognizes all African-American innovators
who have contributed to scientific education and research,
directly and indirectly, whose contributions have increased
economic empowerment in the United States; and
(3) encourages the Administration to invest in programs
that are proven effective to lessen the achievement gap of
African-Americans as well as other minority and disadvantaged
groups in the sciences and ultimately strengthen
competitiveness in the United States.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr.
Olson) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.
General Leave
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.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Texas?
There was no objection.
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,
[[Page H1689]]
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.
Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
H. Res. 1133 recognizes the African American contribution to U.S.
innovation and competitiveness. There is no doubt that the American
transportation system is better off thanks to the contributions of
African Americans like Richard Spikes, Joseph Gambol, Garrett Morgan,
and Elbert Robinson. Our cities' skyscrapers are accessible thanks to
the work of Alexander Mills. Modern medicine, particularly cardiology,
may not be as advanced if it were not for the work of Drs. Otis Boykin,
Daniel Williams, Charles Drew, and Ben Carson. And our work lives would
not be as simple had it not been for Will Purvis, Lee Burridge, and
W.A. Love, or our personal lives more comfortable had it not been for
Frederick Jones, Lewis Latimer, George Sampson, and John Standard. And
our children know that the sky is not the limit because of pioneering
astronauts like Fred Gregory, Mae Jemison, Bernard Harris, and Charlie
Bolden.
It is in part due to the contributions of these brilliant men and
women that we as a Nation need to continue encouraging all Americans,
male and female, from all socioeconomic, cultural and ethnic
backgrounds, to become interested in science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics disciplines so that our next generation of Americans
will know there are no barriers to innovation, and United States
competitiveness will continue to be unsurpassed.
I want to acknowledge and thank my good friend from Texas (Ms. Eddie
Bernice Johnson) for her tireless dedication and efforts on this issue.
I encourage my colleagues to support it.
Mr. Speaker, 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. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Let me rise and support the legislation
that has been offered by my friend and colleague from Texas, and a
senior member of the House Science Committee, to celebrate African
Americans who have overcome significant obstacles to enhance innovation
and competitiveness in the field of science in the United States.
Frankly, this debate is appropriate and timely, as we are discussing
the status of NASA and the opportunity to inspire and to ensure that
our scientists and physicians and those with inventiveness have the
opportunity to show those talents and to produce on behalf of the
American people.
As a 12-year member of the House Science Committee and the
Subcommittee on Aeronautics, I know the value of research and the
providing for a safe and secure place for the intelligence of America.
I want to cite as part of this legacy of African Americans Dr. Lovell
Jones, who heads the minority health center at M.D. Anderson, and has
made great strides in the research dealing with cancer in minority
populations.
Dr. Bernard Harris, an astronaut, who has led in establishing new
businesses around research and knowledge that he was able to expand on
as an astronaut in the NASA human space program.
The late Dr. Ron McNair, who was trained as a physicist, came from
South Carolina, whose beginnings were enormously humble, and yet he was
able to achieve greatness through his studies at MIT, and then
ultimately he came to become an astronaut, and of course we lost him in
the line of duty. But his research knowledge helped to expand horizons
of the space exploration program.
Dr. Mae Jemison, trained as a physician, the first African American
woman in space.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. I yield the gentlelady an
additional 1 minute.
{time} 1415
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.
Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. I urge passage of the bill, and I
yield back my time.
Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1133.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the
yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
____________________