IV 

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 


jcorcoran on PROD1PC62 with BILLS
2 

•HRES 144 IH 

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 arbiVerDate Aug 31 2005 03:01 Feb 09, 2007 Jkt 059196 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR144.IH HR144

jcorcoran on PROD1PC62 with BILLS
3 

•HRES 144 IH 

trary 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 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives com2 mends Arva ‘‘Marie’’ Johnson for her distinguished career 

3 of service to the United States Capitol Police Department 

4 and the people of the United States. 

Æ 


jcorcoran on PROD1PC62 with BILLS