[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.

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