Eddie Bernice Johnson: “I'm glad we're holding this hearing today on such an important topic.”

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great pleasure to pay tribute to the life and legacy of former Speaker of the House James "Jim" Wright, who passed away on Wednesday, May 6, at the age of 92.

For too long we have failed to prioritize, or even acknowledge, the vast contributions that the Black community and other minority groups have made towards scientific discovery and innovation.

Diversity fosters a wider range of ideas and approaches, leading to more innovative solutions and better problem-solving capabilities in the scientific community.

I don't agree that the blame game of Republicans or the prior Administration holds any significance to where we are.