Congresswoman Johnson offers amendments to Electronic Waste and Development Act and National Water Research and Development Initiative Act of 2009

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson today offered three amendments to two bills being marked up in the House Committee on Science and Technology.  Congresswoman Johnson offered two amendments to H.R. 1580, the Electronic Waste Research and Development Act, and one amendment to H.R. 1145, the National Water Research and Development Initiative Act of 2009.  All three amendments passed.

The Electronic Waste Research and Development Act seeks ways to address the growing volume of discarded electronic devices, also known as electronic waste.  It includes a provision that would give grants to universities to develop engineering curriculum to mitigate e-waste in materials design.  Congresswoman Johnson’s first amendment would direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to publicize its electronic waste research findings on its website. 

“Advances in science and technology have given us televisions, computers, cell phones and other products that have a positive impact on our daily lives,” Congresswoman Johnson said.  “Unfortunately, once products become obsolete, they become electronic waste.  By making electronic waste research findings available on a government website, we will enable individuals to learn how to address the electronic waste in their own lives in an informed and responsible way.”

Congresswoman Johnson’s second amendment to the Electronic Waste Research and Development Act would direct the Administrator of the EPA to reach out to minority-serving institutions to provide information about how to apply for grants and grant funding.

The National Water Research and Development Initiative Act of 2009 would direct the President to put in place an initiative to improve federal activities on water research.  Congresswoman Johnson’s amendment would direct the Committee formed to implement the initiative to provide guidance on outreach to minority-serving institutions and to encourage them to apply for funding opportunities.

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U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure and a senior member of the Science Committee. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas, which, includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Oak Lawn, Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, & South Oak Cliff; all of Balch Springs, DeSoto, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Ferris, Glenn Heights and Ovilla.