[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 153 (Thursday, September 13, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1249]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      INTRODUCTION OF HIDDEN FIGURES CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ACT

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                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 13, 2018

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I am joined by 
my good friend from Oklahoma, Representative Frank Lucas, in 
introducing the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act. The 
contributions of women mathematicians and engineers to the warfighting 
effort during World War II and the nation's space program have for too 
long gone unrecognized. While hundreds of women helped bring about one 
of the nation's crowning technological achievements, landing the first 
man on the moon, their names are largely lost to history.
  From the 1930s to the 1970s, women at NASA and its precursor 
organization, NACA, submitted their work anonymously, were paid less 
than their male peers, and had few opportunities for career 
advancement. In addition, women of color working in the West Area 
Computing Unit were initially subjected to the indignity of segregated 
bathrooms, dining facilities, and water fountains.
  The popular book by Margot Lee Shetterly, entitled Hidden Figures, 
and the subsequent film adaptation, have finally helped bring their 
incredible and inspiring stories to light. Despite the numerous 
challenges they faced, women like Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, 
Dorothy Vaughan, and Christine Darden persevered. Their accomplishments 
will, I hope, inspire young girls to consider careers in STEM fields. 
The positive attention being paid to their individual stories and the 
stories of the hundreds of women working alongside them is well 
deserved and long overdue.
  This bill will bestow Congress's highest civilian honor in 
appreciation of the achievements of Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, 
Dorothy Vaughan, Christine Darden, and all the women mathematicians and 
engineers at NACA and NASA who devoted their talents in service to the 
nation during this important time in our history.
  I want to thank Senator Coons for his leadership in championing the 
effort to honor these women in the Senate with his legislation, S. 
3321. Our bill builds on Senator Coons' bill by extending the honor to 
the hundreds of lesser-known women who worked alongside the four women 
made famous by the Hidden Figures book and movie.
  While I am grateful that this book and movie have shone a light on 
these women and their experiences, I think it's important to 
acknowledge that the term Hidden Figures is a bit misleading. These 
women and their talents were never hidden from us. As is far too often 
the case when women--and especially women of color--are involved, we as 
a society chose to overlook them.
  I urge my colleagues to join us in rectifying this oversight and help 
us give these women the recognition they deserve.

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