Rep. Johnson helps secure HBCU funds in NDAA

Congressman helps boost in research funding for Historically Black Colleges & Universities and Minority Institutions by $5M

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) announced today that he secured $5 million to increase funding for science research at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs).

The Committee “marked up,” or amended and approved, the FY14 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Wednesday. In an 18-hour marathon session, the committee considered hundreds of amendments to the legislation.

One of Rep. Johnson's key amendments increased science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) funding for HBCU’s by $5 million. It was included in the base bill. Rep. Johnson voted in favor of the FY2014 NDAA. It comes on top of $10 million that Congressman Johnson helped secure for HBCU’s in last year’s authorization.

“Some of the most important and sophisticated scientific work in U.S. universities today is taking place at HBCUs,” said Johnson. “We must do all we can to foster and tap into that innovation and expertise, while cultivating a minority workforce that excels at science, technology, engineering, and math.”

Other Johnson amendments included in the base bill:

-- Cultural understanding – Rep. Johnson successfully got report language in the bill in support of socio-cultural understanding at tactical, operational and strategic levels;
-- Civilians Harmed in Conflict – Rep. Johnson got report language in the bill to ensure that the DoD utilizes their authority to compensate civilians harmed in conflict, and that the years of delay and lessons learned in Iraq and Afghanistan are not lost.

Other Rep. Johnson amendments that passed include:

-- Requires the Secretary of Defense to make all unclassified DoD reports to Congress public online;
-- Requires a report on planned nuclear weapons reductions pursuant to New START treaty;
-- Directs DOD to ensure that sufficient priority is given to services specifically for autistic children of military families living in rural or underserved communities using mobile diagnosis capabilities (with Rep. Austin Scott);
-- Encourages DoD to move towards ending the use of live animals in combat trauma training for medics.

Other Rep. Johnson amendments offered and withdrawn for procedural reasons:

-- Requires that nothing in the bill can be construed as an authorization for the use of Military Force in Iran;
-- No funds in the bill can be used to set up a permanent military presence in Afghanistan;
-- Requires DoD to study alternatives to the current location of the 5th Fleet.

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