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JOURNAL
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March 1, 2017
Rep. Johnson responds to President Trump’s First Address to Congress
Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) released the following responses following the President’s speech:
tion for pre-existing conditions, and free preventive care. The Affordable Care Act did not just provide health insurance for millions of Americans, it reformed payment systems, introduced innovative care delivery reforms, and much more. To suggest that the system is “collapsing� is off base.� “My hope is that we will find a way to work with Republicans in a bipartisan manner to come up with real policy solutions to repair the Affordable Care Act and continue to provide healthcare for all Americans. However we will not idly stand by and allow Republicans to dismantle the health and economic security of hard-working Americans. �
On Immigration: “A border wall will not achieve the goal that President Trump seeks to accomplish and I disagree with its premise to keep all immigrants out of our country. Furthermore, building President Donald Trump On Transportation: a 2,000 mile long “During his camwall along our southern border is not only a knee jerk reaction paign, President Trump had to our issues with immigration, touted his intentions to init is fiscally irresponsible. Refus- troduce a $1 trillion plan that ing entry to people who seek would invest in our nation’s insafety from danger and vio- frastructure. Five weeks into his lence is anHowever we will not idly presidency, we have ti-American and uncon- stand by and allow Republi- yet to see s c i o n a b l e . cans to dismantle the health a concrete plan to that Comprehensive im- and economic security of end. This suggests m i g r a t i o n hard-working Americans. � that any reform, not tax plan to co n s t r u c ting yet another barrier, is the emerge from this Administrabest solution to resolve this is- tion would most likely rely heavily on tax credits for private ensue. � tities, versus the federal direct spending that is so desperately On the Affordable Care Act: “Tonight President Trump needed. This approach is entireonce again called on Repub- ly off-mark.� “Nearly one in four bridges in licans in Congress to repeal the Affordable Care Act, while the United States is structurally providing no real plans for a re- deficient or functionally obsoplacement. Thus far, the Trump lete, 65 percent of our Nation’s Administration has only re- roads are in less than good conleased an Executive Order that dition, our rail and bus transit was without substance regard- systems are facing a $90 billion ing healthcare, and a proposed backlog, and dozens of our busrule that is nothing more than a iest ports are congested beyond delay tactic for their repeal and reason. This is simply unacceptable.� replace process.� “Our nation needs a real, com“Over the past six years, nearly 30 million Americans have prehensive transportation infragained reliable coverage and structure plan that combines seen an end to many of the direct federal spending with unfair practices of the pre-Af- public private partnerships; not fordable Care Act insurance tax breaks for private investors industry including the end of for projects that would already lifetime limits, no discrimina- be constructed anyways.� White House Photo
VOL XVI ISSUE 16
Garland NAACP celebrates Black History Month By Gwendolyn Hubbard Daniels
The NAACP Garland unit held its 17th Annual Winter Ball on February 10, at the Hyatt Place on George Bush Freeway in Garland, Texas. Recognizing the Doorkeepers of God’s House was the 2017 theme and usher ministries from community churches were honored. President Ricky McNeal delivered a heartfelt welcome followed by an introduction of the entire guest list – presented in the Garland NAACP muNew Mt. Hebron Baptist Church - Rev. Willie J. Davis, Pastor and Denise Hamilton, Usher President
See NAACP, page 8
DNC elects Maryland’s Tom Perez as Chair amid intense Party Leadership Campaign By Zenitha Prince Senior AFRO Correspondent
Former Labor Secretary Tom Perez defeated Congressional Black Caucus member Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., on Feb. 25 to become the next chairman of the Democratic National Party after a tense race that mirrored dynamics of the 2016 presidential primary. Perez prevailed on the second ballot with 235 votes after falling just short of the 218 votes needed for a majority on the first ballot. Ellison obtained 200 votes. “It is an unmitigated pleasure and privilege to take this gavel. And I recognize that I have a lot of work to do. I recognize that I have a lot of learning to do. And I would simply ask that everyone across America – whether you’re Democrat or Republican, unaffiliated‌ another party – to simply listen to our message; come with an open mind because the values of inclusion and opportunity, we share those values,â€? said Perez in his victory speech which was captured on video by TheHill. com. He added, “And when we lead together, that is how we succeed.â€? President Obama congrat-
Tom Perez Democratic National Party Chair
ulated his former cabinet member on his victory. “I know that Tom Perez will unite us under that banner of opportunity, and lay the groundwork for a new generation of Democratic leadership for this big, bold, inclusive, dynamic America we love so much,� Obama said in a statement. The former civil rights attorney, who served in the Justice Department under former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, faces a daunting task: leading the Democratic Party in regaining and gaining ground in towns, cities and states across the country, as well as in Washington, where Republicans control both houses of Congress and the White House. The Marylander also will
Hon. Keith Ellison DNC Deputy Chair
have a tough job of re-knitting a party fractured during the contentious White House contest between former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Many left-of-center Democrats who supported Sanders remain convinced the Democratic primary— under the aegis of then-DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.)—was rigged in favor of Clinton. Like his former Obama administration colleague, Perez was mostly supported by the “establishment� of the Democratic Party, gaining endorsements from former vice president Joe Biden and Holder. Likewise, Ellison—the first Muslim elected to Congress and a respected grassroots
organizer—was backed by the progressive wing of the party, which also supported Sanders. Sanders congratulated Perez but urged him to be more open in his approach to leadership. “At a time when Republicans control the White House, the U.S. House, U.S. Senate and two-thirds of all statehouses, it is imperative that Tom understands that the same-old, sameold is not working and that we must open the doors of the party to working people and young people in a way that has never been done,â€? Sanders said in a statement. Both candidates also stressed unity in their remarks during the election, and Perez made Ellison his deputy chair in his first act as chairman. “Unity is essential. We have to walk out here unified, not just between the candidates but the groups that support all the candidates,â€? Ellison said. Added Perez, “We are one family and I know we will leave here united today‌. no matter who wins I know we’ll cross the finish line together because a united Democratic Party is not only
African American Museum kicks off Women’s History Month with Distinguished Lecture Series
The African American Museum will host a lecture series during its annual Women’s History Month celebration beginning Saturday, March 4. Each lecture will feature a dynamic woman who is making great strides in her field. All events are free, open to the public and held at the African American Museum, 3536 Grand Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75215. Lectures begin at 2 p.m. “The African American Museum is honored to host this series of distinguished lectures,� explains Dr. Harry Robinson, President and CEO of the museum. “Each of our speakers is a trailblazer in her respective field and is making a difference in the communities in which she serves.�
Dr. Gwendolyn Boyd, the 22nd
National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and former president of Alabama State University will headline the Thelma Daniels Distinguished Lecture, Saturday, March 4. Thelma Daniels was a higher-education administrator who co-founded the Dickie Foster Biennial Texas Black Women’s Conference. She was also one of the early African American Museum organizers, and held positions at Bishop College, El Centro College and Prairie View A&M University. Dr. Boyd was the first female president of Alabama State University and served on President Barack Obama’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African-Americans. Dr. Boyd, an ordained itinerant elder in the AME Church, was awarded the Doctor of Ministry and Master’s degrees from Howard University, as well as a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Yale University. Boyd is an alumnus of Alabama State University. She has also chaired the Johns Hopkins University Diversity Leadership Council Dr. Kimberly D. Hill, Assistant Professor of History at the University of Texas at Dallas is the speaker for the Mable White Lecture Series Saturday, March 11. The White Lecture
spotlights women’s religious and/or business issues. Mabel White was a founding Museum board member and community volunteer and church leader extraordinaire with South Dallas as her base. Dr. Hill, a member of Phi Beta Kappa, has a PhD in History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has a robust list of works published focusing on African American women in religion, including “Anti-Slavery Work by the African American Women of the Presbyterian Congo Mission.� The Estella Doty Young Lecture provides a platform for emerging female leaders with emphasis on leadership, education and/or religion. Mrs. Doty was an educator/administrator in the Dallas Independent School District and an outstanding church leader in the community.
Tia Simmons, Executive Principal at Duncanville High School, is the speaker for the Doty Young Lecture Series Saturday, March 18. Simmons is the first African American female executive principal in the 81-year history of Duncanville High School. She began her career in education in the Cypress-Fairbanks ISO as a special educator. She served as an assistant principal at Klein High School in Klein ISD. She later became the first African American associate principal for curriculum and in-
struction for Klein High School and served there for eight years. In 2014, after over 150 years of educating the Spring, Texas community, Spring ISD selected Tia as the first African American principal at Spring High School.
GARLAND JOURNAL
The Honorable Margaret Jones Johnson will speak at the Bessie Lassiter Distinguished Lecture In Women’s Health, Saturday, April 22. Judge Johnson serves in Dallas County Probate Court Three. This lecture is devoted to women in health and women’s healthcare issues. Bessie Lassiter, a registered nurse, was the wife of Dr. Wright L. Lassiter, Jr., who with his two children, endowed the lecture. For more information about the events or sponsorship opportunities, call the museum at 214-565-9026 or visit www.aamdallas.org. The African American Museum was founded in 1974 as a part of the Special Collections at Bishop College, a Historically Black College that closed in 1988. The Museum has operated independently since 1979.