Date: 2003-02-12
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I. commend my colleague. Mr. CUMMINGS for reserving this special order to celebrate Black History Month. a commemoration that dates back to 1926 when Black Americans celebrated Negro History Week. Mr. Speaker. it is my hope that the citizens of the United States. especially young AfricanAmericans. recognize how weve grown and developed since then. And also realize and appreciate the Important coniibutions of their forebears and contemporaries to the development of this nation and American society. I am proud to stand before you today to salute two outstanding citizens from my childhood home to Waco and congressional district of Dallas. James Andrew Harris was born on March 26. 1932 in Waco. Texas. As a graduate of HoustonTillotson College in Austin with a chemistry degree. Mr. Harris worked in the Nuclear Chemistry Division of the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory at the University of California. There he was part of the team that discovered and identified elements 104Rutherfordium and 105Dubnium on the Periodic Table of Elements. Dr. Otis Boykin was born in 1920 and raised in Dallas. His mother was a homemaker and his father a carpenter. Dr. Otis attended Fisk University and the Illinois Institute of Technology. Unfortunately. his parents could not afford his tuition and he dropped out of college after two years. Thereafter. Dr. 3oykin built electrical devices used today in all guided missiles and IBM computers. He also developed a control unit for an artificial heart simulator (pacemaker) that helps millions of cardiovascular patients. Otis Boykin will be remembered as one of the greatest inventors of the twentieth century. Mr. Speaker. today I am worried that given the current educational settings of our country. future Otis Boykins and James Andrew Harrises will not have the opportunity to pursue their dreams or realize their talents. I want to focus briefly on what is going to happen in my State of Texas. It Is reported that at least $2.7 billion must be cut from Texas public education over the next two years to balance the state budget without a major increase in taxes or fees. The University of Texas at Austin will hire fewer prolessors. forcing students to scramble for the classes they want. At Texas Womens University. fewer police officers may patrol the campus. Some intercollegiate sports may disappear from Collin County Community College. Tuition will probably rise at Dallas County Community Colleges. Universities. medical schools. community colleges and the Texas Higher Education Coordidating Board collectively must slash $343.8 million in the middle of the school year. Mr. Speaker. one University of North Texas official summarized the current situation very clearly: "The monster came through our door. and now hes sitting on our lap." I am further concerned as I read new stories. such as a Washington Post article which recently indicated that Oregon is on the verge of cutting as many as 24 days from its school year. The United States ranks 18th among the industrial nations in school year length. How can we expect American schoolchildren to learn in 180 days as much as Korean children learn in 220? They cannot! Just a couple of weeks ago we listened to President Bushs wellwritten. welldelivered State of the Union address. Yes. it was nice to hear words about diversity. higher education. making college more affordable. and leaving no child behind. But words are cheap! What has been done to increase the diversity of our populations in higher education? What Is being done to make higher education more affordable? And how will we ensure that no child is really left behind in our elementary and secondary public school education system? Mr. Speaker we should invest in the education of underprivileged young people here at home. It will improve not only our educational system. but our society as a whole. So many Otis Boykins and James Andrew Harrises will have the opportunity to revolutionize technology that affects peoples everyday lives. Again. thank you to Congressman CUMMINGS for organizing tonights special orders.