Hank Johnson#Comments on Guam tipping over

Johnson grew up in Washington, D.C. His father worked for the Bureau of Prisons and was the director of classifications and paroles. Up to that time, he was the highest ranking African-American in the bureau.{{cite news | last = Jacobs | first = Sonji |author2=Mae Gentry |author3=Ernie Suggs | title = Hank Johnson aims to energize McKinney's foes | newspaper = Atlanta Journal-Constitution | date = 2006-07-20 |url=http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/dekalb/stories/0720metfourth.html | access-date = 2006-08-04 }} {{dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

Johnson received his B.A. degree from Clark College (now Clark Atlanta University) in 1976, is a member of Kappa Alpha Alpha chapter of Omega Psi Phi, Decatur, Georgia, and received his J.D. degree from Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston in 1979; he practiced law in Decatur, Georgia, for more than 25 years.

From 1989 to 2001, Johnson served as an associate judge of the DeKalb County magistrate's court.{{cite news |last=Land |first=Greg |title=Johnson latest DeKalb lawyer in national eye, Criminal defense lawyer and ex-magistrate judge faces incumbent McKinney in runoff |publisher=Daily Report |date=2006-07-31 |url=http://www.dailyreportonline.com/Editorial/News/new_singleEdit.asp?individual_SQL=7%2F31%2F2006%4010902%5FPublic%5F%2Ehtm |access-date=2006-08-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926234442/http://www.dailyreportonline.com/Editorial/News/new_singleEdit.asp?individual_SQL=7%2F31%2F2006%4010902_Public_.htm |archive-date=September 26, 2007 }} He was elected to the DeKalb County Commission in 2000 and served from 2001 to 2006.

{{Main|2006 Georgia's 4th congressional district election}}

In 2006, Johnson challenged Representative Cynthia McKinney in the Democratic primary for the 4th district—the real contest in this heavily Democratic, black-majority district. He forced McKinney into a runoff by holding her under 50% in the July 18 primary: McKinney got 47.1% of the vote; Johnson 44.4%, and a third candidate 8.5%.{{cite news |title=Georgia Election Results: Official Results of the July 18, 2006 Primary Election |work=Brian P. Kemp, Georgia Secretary of State |publisher=Sos.georgia.gov |date=16 July 2006 |url=http://www.sos.state.ga.us/elections/election_results/2006_0718/0001410.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722015749/http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/election_results/2006_0718/0001410.htm |archive-date=22 July 2012 |access-date=8 August 2006 |url-status=dead }}

In the August 8 runoff, although there were about 8,000 more voters, McKinney got about the same number of votes as in the July primary. Johnson won with 41,178 votes (59%) to McKinney's 28,832 (41%).{{cite news | title = Democrat U.S. House District 4 | publisher = WSBTV Action News 2 Atlanta | date = 2006-08-08 |url=http://www.wsbtv.com/politics/9640750/detail.html | access-date = 2006-08-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060813100756/http://www.wsbtv.com/politics/9640750/detail.html |archive-date=August 13, 2006}}

On October 6, 2006, Congressional Quarterly's "On Their Way", which features promising candidates soon to arrive in Washington, featured Johnson.{{cite news| title = On Their Way: Johnson Hopes to be More Effective Than McKinney| publisher = Congressional Quarterly| date = 2006-10-06|url=http://www.cqpolitics.com/2006/10/on_their_way_johnson_hopes_to.html| access-date = 20 October 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061027162438/http://www.cqpolitics.com/2006/10/on_their_way_johnson_hopes_to.html|archive-date=October 27, 2006}}

In November, Johnson defeated the Republican nominee, Catherine Davis, with 76% of the vote—one of the largest percentages for a Democrat in a contested election, and the largest in the district's history. But he had effectively assured himself of a seat in Congress by winning the primary: with a Cook Partisan Voting Index of D+22, the 4th was the second-most Democratic district in Georgia (only the neighboring 5th, covering most of Atlanta, was more Democratic).

Johnson made aggressive use of the internet to court supporters and attract national attention to his primary challenge to McKinney. The National Journal wrote that of all Congressional candidates nationwide in 2006, "Johnson had the most unique blog strategy by far."{{cite magazine | last = Glover | first = Danny | title = The Online Curse Of Incumbency | magazine = National Journal | date = 15 August 2006|url=http://beltwayblogroll.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/08/the_online_curs_1.php | access-date = 2008-04-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060830093455/http://beltwayblogroll.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/08/the_online_curs_1.php|archive-date=August 30, 2006 }} The National Journal ranked Johnson's use of the internet to defeat McKinney—and the broader trend of challengers using the blogosphere to challenge entrenched incumbents—as the third most significant blog-related story of 2006.{{cite magazine | last = Glover | first = Danny | title = Blog Power: The Top 10 Blog Stories Of 2006 | magazine = National Journal | date = 12 January 2007|url=http://beltwayblogroll.nationaljournal.com/archives/2007/01/blog_power_the.php | access-date = 2008-04-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102022654/http://beltwayblogroll.nationaljournal.com/archives/2007/01/blog_power_the.php|archive-date=January 2, 2008 }} Johnson was the first Congressional candidate invited to blog{{citation needed|date=July 2012}} for The Hill's Congress Blog, typically reserved for members of Congress.{{cite news | last = Johnson | first = Hank | title = The beauty of politics in a democracy | work = The Hill's Congress Blog | publisher = The National Journal | date = 2006-07-24 |url=http://blog.thehill.com/2006/07/24/the-beauty-of-politics-in-a-democracy/ | access-date = 2006-08-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060818215804/http://blog.thehill.com/2006/07/24/the-beauty-of-politics-in-a-democracy/|archive-date=August 18, 2006}} "I'm tremendously excited about the opportunity to use this unique medium to strengthen democracy by increasing open interaction between constituents and candidates," Johnson wrote. "I hope to provide you with an inside view of this {{Sic|?|hide=y|hotly|-}}contested, high stakes runoff."

{{See also|2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Georgia#District 4}}

Johnson was unopposed for reelection in 2008, winning 99.9% of the vote against write-in candidates Loren Christopher Collins, Faye Coffield and Jacob Perasso.

On July 30, 2007, Johnson was the first Democratic congressman in Georgia to publicly endorse Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary.{{cite news |first=Jim |last=Galloway |title=Hank Johnson pitches his tent with the Obama camp |date=30 July 2007 |url=http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/shared-blogs/ajc/politicalinsider/entries/2007/07/30/hank_johnson_pitches_his_tent.html |work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |publisher=Political Insider: blogs.ajc.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629084618/http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/shared-blogs/ajc/politicalinsider/entries/2007/07/30/hank_johnson_pitches_his_tent.html |archive-date=29 June 2011 |access-date=29 June 2009 |url-status=dead }}

{{See also|2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Georgia#District 4}}

Johnson was reelected over the Republican nominee, business owner Liz Carter, receiving 131,760 of 176,467 votes, or 74.67%. Carter, who is white, made headlines during the campaign by maintaining that she had been initially barred from appearing at a candidate forum hosted by Newsmakers Journal due to her race, an assertion the forum's organizers denied.{{cite web |last=Stirgus |first=Eric |title=Was candidate excluded because of her race? |url=http://www.politifact.com/georgia/article/2010/jun/10/was-candidate-excluded-because-her-race/ |work=PolitiFactGeorgia |publisher=politifact.com |access-date=7 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721071825/http://www.politifact.com/georgia/article/2010/jun/10/was-candidate-excluded-because-her-race/ |archive-date=21 July 2012 |date=10 June 2010 |url-status=dead }}

On November 4, 2012, Johnson won an uncontested general election.

On November 4, 2014, Johnson won an uncontested general election.

On November 8, 2016, Johnson won reelection over Republican Victor Armendariz.

On November 6, 2018, Johnson won reelection over Republican Joe Profit.

On November 3, 2020, Johnson won reelection over Republican Johsie Ezammudeen.

On November 8, 2022, Johnson won reelection over Republican Jonathan Chavez.

On November 5, 2024, Johnson won reelection over Republican Eugene Yu.{{Cite web |title=US House of Representatives – District 4 |url=https://results.sos.ga.gov/results/public/Georgia/elections/2024NovGen/ballot-items/01000000-d884-2e72-e484-08dcda4b9be1 |access-date=January 19, 2025 |website=results.sos.ga.gov}}

On November 18, 2008, the Democratic Caucus elected Johnson Regional Whip for the Eighth Region (GA, FL, MS, AL, U.S. Virgin Islands).{{cite web|date=18 November 2008|title=Johnson (GA04) | Press Release | Rep. Hank Johnson Elected Regional Whip for GA, FL, MS, AL, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico|url=http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ga04_johnson/2008_11_19_regional_whip.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629195434/http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ga04_johnson/2008_11_19_regional_whip.html|archive-date=29 June 2011|access-date=2010-07-12|publisher=House.gov}}

On January 25, 2007, Johnson responded to U.S. President George W. Bush's State of the Union address by criticizing the war in Iraq, saying, "This war has proven to be one of the gravest missteps in the recent history of our country. It is time for President Bush to face the music and respond to the urgent demands of a frustrated country."{{cite news| title = Bush speech gets mixed reaction from Georgia lawmakers| agency = Associated Press| date = 2007-01-23|url=http://www.accessnorthga.com/news/ap_newfullstory.asp?ID=86434| access-date = 2007-01-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927202422/http://www.accessnorthga.com/news/ap_newfullstory.asp?ID=86434|archive-date=September 27, 2007}}

On February 8, 2007, Johnson introduced his first bill: a resolution requesting that the Secretary of Defense Robert Gates take U.S. troops off of street patrol duty in Iraq. "There is no military solution for the civil war in Iraq", Johnson said. "It is time for Iraqi troops, who have been trained, to assume responsibility for patrolling their own streets. Clearly, deploying our troops this way has only escalated the number of U.S. casualties, and this must stop".{{cite news|title=Johnson wants Iraqis to start street patrol |publisher=Gwinnett Daily Post |date=2007-02-11 |url=http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=32&url_article_id=24666&url_subchannel_id=&change_well_id=2 |access-date=2007-02-11 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070218045922/http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=32&url_article_id=24666&url_subchannel_id=&change_well_id=2 |archive-date=2007-02-18 |url-status=dead }} According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Johnson's resolution was "interesting in that it goes beyond broad directives and proposes something very specific".{{cite news |last=Political Insider |title=An Iraq resolution without the wiggle room |newspaper=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |agency=Ajc.com |date=2 February 2007 |url=http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/shared-blogs/ajc/politicalinsider/entries/2007/02/08/an_iraq_resolution_without_the.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629084549/http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/shared-blogs/ajc/politicalinsider/entries/2007/02/08/an_iraq_resolution_without_the.html |archive-date=29 June 2011 |access-date=11 February 2007 |url-status=dead }}

On March 23, 2007, Johnson voted to pass H.R. 1591{{cite news |last=The U.S. Congress Votes Database |title=110th Congress, 1st session, House vote 186 |newspaper=The Washington Post |agency=Washingtonpost.com |date=23 March 2007 |url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/110/house/1/votes/186/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527135042/http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/110/house/1/votes/186/ |archive-date=27 May 2012 |access-date=23 March 2007 |url-status=dead }} and attracted attention by blogging about his decision to vote for it.{{cite news|title=Exit Strategy: Why I Supported the Iraq Accountability Act |publisher=Hank Johnson |date=2007-03-23 |url=http://hankjohnson.house.gov/htbin/blog_inc?BLOG,ga04_johnson,blog,999,All,Item%20not%20found,ID=070323_0347,TEMPLATE=postingdetail.shtml |access-date=2007-03-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070327095755/http://hankjohnson.house.gov/htbin/blog_inc?BLOG,ga04_johnson,blog,999,All,Item+not+found,ID=070323_0347,TEMPLATE=postingdetail.shtml |archive-date=2007-03-27 |url-status=dead }} H.R. 1591 passed the House on March 23, 2007, and the Senate on April 26, but Bush, citing{{cite web|title=House Document 110-31 – Veto Message On H.R. 1591|url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/search/pagedetails.action?granuleId=CDOC-110hdoc31&packageId=CDOC-110hdoc31&bread=true|work=U.S. Government Printing Office|publisher=GPO.gov|access-date=7 July 2012|author=President George W. Bush|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116213523/https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/search/pagedetails.action?granuleId=CDOC-110hdoc31&packageId=CDOC-110hdoc31&bread=true|archive-date=16 January 2016|url-status=dead}} the Iraqi withdrawal timeline among the many particulars as being unacceptable, vetoed the bill on May 1; Congress tried to override the veto the next day but was unable to garner the votes.{{cite web |title=H.R. 1591 (110th): U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 |url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/110/hr1591/text |work=GovTrack |publisher=Govtrack.us |access-date=7 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724210438/http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/110/hr1591/text |archive-date=24 July 2012 |url-status=dead }} On May 24, 2007, Johnson voted to cut funding for the Iraq War unless provisions included binding requirements upon the Iraqi government.{{cite news|last=Knowlton|first=Brian|title=Bush praises Democrats' compromise on Iraq funding|newspaper=The New York Times|agency=NYTimes.com|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/24/world/americas/24iht-prexy.4.5857558.html?_r=1|date=24 May 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220610004902/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/24/world/americas/24iht-prexy.4.5857558.html?_r=2|archive-date=2022-06-10|access-date=2007-05-30|url-status=dead}} On May 25, 2007, a compromise bill, the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007, was enacted.

Johnson has been a critic of Israel's occupation policies and has not altered his stance despite criticism.Drew Gerber,[http://forward.com/news/breaking-news/345982/georgia-congressman-hank-johnson-compares-west-bank-settlers-to-termites/ Georgia Congressman Hank Johnson Compares West Bank Settlers to ‘Termites’] The Forward 25 July 2016.

On July 25, 2016, in a speech in Philadelphia before the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, Johnson said that the Israel occupation of the West Bank had created highways to which Palestinians are denied access, and which cut off Palestinian neighborhoods from each other; that walls and Israeli checkpoints restrict Palestinian freedom of movement; that Jewish people take homes when Palestinian residents miss spending a night there, and fly an Israeli flag, while Palestinians are not permitted to fly their own. He was also purported to have said Palestinian homes were stolen or destroyed. He added that "there is a steady [stream], almost like termites" and that "settlement activity has marched forwards with impunity".[https://time.com/4423931/hank-johnson-israel-termite-apology/ "There Is No Excuse for Anti-Semitic Smears" By Rabbi David Wolpe July 26, 2016 Time]

The Anti-Defamation League cited the words as "offensive and unhelpful", as well as tweeting "demonization, dehumanization of settlers doesn't advance peace".{{cite news |last1=Stoil |first1=Rebecca Shimoni |title=Georgia Democrat compares Israeli settlers to burrowing termites |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/georgia-democrat-compares-settlements-to-burrowing-termites/ |work=www.timesofisrael.com |date=26 July 2016}} Dov Wilker of the American Jewish Committee was reported as saying Johnson had compared Jewish Israelis to "vermin" and was using a centuries-old anti-Semitic trope.Lea Speyer, [https://www.algemeiner.com/2016/07/25/major-jewish-group-says-georgia-lawmakers-comparison-of-settlers-to-termites-shows-he-has-problem-with-jews-video/# 'Major Jewish Group Says Georgia Lawmaker’s Comparison of Settlers to Termites Shows He Has Problem With Jews (VIDEO),'], The Algemeiner 26 July 2016. Rabbi David Wolpe called it an anti-Semitic smear and questioned Johnson's apology, writing, "'I am sorry I said something stupid and anti-Semitic'—that would have been a fitting apology".{{cite magazine|last1=Wolpe|first1=David|title=Rabbi Wolpe: There Is No Excuse for Anti-Semitic Smears|url=https://time.com/4423931/hank-johnson-israel-termite-apology/|access-date=27 July 2016|magazine=Time}}

Johnson apologized on Twitter for his "poor choice of words" but added that Israeli settlements were undermining the two-state solution. In a statement his office made to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, he clarified that his termite metaphor referred to the corrosive process of settlement policies, "not the people".[https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-johnson-clarifies-remarks-israeli-settlement-enterprise 'Rep. Johnson clarifies and apologizes for remarks on Israeli settlement enterprise,'] Office of Hank Johnson, Press release 26 July 2016.Jessica Chasmar, [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jul/26/hank-johnson-apologizes-for-comparing-west-bank-se/ Rep. Hank Johnson apologizes for comparing West Bank settlements to ‘termites’] Washington Times 26 July 2016.{{cite news|last1=Sommer|first1=Allison Kaplan|title=Democratic Congressman Apologizes for Comparing West Bank Settlements to Termites|url=http://www.haaretz.com/world-news/u-s-election-2016/.premium-1.733304|website=Haaretz|access-date=26 July 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Hallerman|first1=Tamar|title=Georgia GOP calls for Hank Johnson to resign after he likens Israel's settlement policy to 'termites'|url=http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2016/07/26/georgia-gop-calls-for-hank-johnson-to-resign-after-he-likens-israels-settlement-policy-to-termites/|access-date=27 July 2016|publisher=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=26 July 2016}} J Street responded to Johnson's clarification by stating there should be no place for slurs, but, in their view, Johnson was speaking of the settlement enterprise, not of individuals. Media coverage, they added, should focus on opposition to settlement growth rather than on the misrepresentations by an irresponsible media outlet.[http://jstreet.org/blog/post/j-street-welcomes-rep-johnson-clarification-of-remarks-_1 ‘J Street Welcomes Rep. Johnson Clarification of Remarks,’] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801013541/http://jstreet.org/blog/post/j-street-welcomes-rep-johnson-clarification-of-remarks-_1 |date=2016-08-01 }} J Street 26 July 2016.

Wilker held several meetings with Johnson to foster greater understanding and communication. In 2018, Johnson accepted his invitation to attend a vigil at Shearith Israel in the aftermath of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting for a national initiative called #ShowUpForShabbat.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ajc.org/news/wilker-responds-to-pittsburgh-tragedy|title = Wilker Responds to Pittsburgh Tragedy | AJC|date = 19 November 2018}} In 2019, Johnson appeared at the American Jewish Committee's National Board of Governors Institute "Conversations With Congress" where the group told Johnson: "we were obviously grateful when you apologized for a previous comment a few years back that was unintentionally anti-Semitic and how you handled it so well with the Atlanta Jewish community, how can we better educate members of Congress and others about these problematic tropes."

Johnson has supported legislation aimed at strengthening the U.S. civil justice system. In March 2016, he and Representative John Conyers introduced legislation to protect consumers access to civil courts, the Restoring Statutory Rights Act. The legislation would "ensure that the state, federal, and constitutional rights of Americans are enforceable" and that consumers are not forced into secretive private arbitration hearings.[http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20200510192846/http://hankjohnson.house.gov/press-release/johnson-conyers-introduce-legislation-protect-women]'s-rights-end-forced-arbitration

Johnson voted against the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) bailout bill in November 2008. He voted for the Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the stimulus package supported by Democrats in Congress and President Obama.

In 2007, Johnson's H.Con.Res.80, a resolution calling for peaceful resolution to the Ugandan civil war between the Government of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army, unanimously passed the House and Senate. His first successful piece of legislation, it was jointly introduced in the Senate by Senators Russ Feingold and Sam Brownback.

In 2009, Johnson demanded censure of Representative Joe Wilson after Wilson shouted "you lie" during Obama's speech to a joint session of the 111th United States Congress on September 9, 2009, about his plan for health care reform; Johnson argued that the comment had an unseen racial undertone and that, if Wilson was not formally rebuked, "we will have people with white hoods running through the countryside again".{{cite web |author=Isenstadt, Alex |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/27248.html |title=In the race from race, Democrats rebut Jimmy Carter |work=Politico |publisher=Politico.Com |date=16 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927081921/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/27248.html |archive-date=27 September 2012 |access-date=2010-07-12 |url-status=dead }}

During a March 25, 2010, House Armed Services Committee hearing{{cite web|url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-111hhrg58295/html/CHRG-111hhrg58295.htm|title=- FISCAL YEAR 2011 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT--BUDGET REQUESTS FROM THE U.S. PACIFIC COMMAND AND U.S. FORCES KOREA|publisher=Gpo.gov|access-date=18 November 2014}} about the U.S. military installation in Guam, Johnson said to Admiral Robert F. Willard, Commander of U.S. Pacific Command, "My fear is that the whole island will become so overly populated that it will tip over and capsize", to which Willard replied, "We don't anticipate that."{{cite news |last=Wilkie |first=Christie |title=Rep. Hank Johnson: Guam could 'tip over and capsize' |url=http://washingtonscene.thehill.com/in-the-know/36-news/3169-rep-hank-johnson-guam-could-tip-over-and-capsize |newspaper=The Hill |agency=Washingtonscene.thehill.com |date=31 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621033004/http://washingtonscene.thehill.com/in-the-know/36-news/3169-rep-hank-johnson-guam-could-tip-over-and-capsize |archive-date=21 June 2012 |access-date=12 August 2010 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web

|title=Hank Johnson (Congress D-GA) – Warns Guam May Capsize

|publisher=YouTube.com

|date=1 April 2010

|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs23CjIWMgA

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616220752/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs23CjIWMgA

|archive-date=16 June 2017

|access-date=16 June 2017

|url-status=live

}}{{cite web|url=http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/guamtip.asp|title=Guam Reaches the Tipping Point |website=Snopes|date=3 April 2010 |access-date=11 August 2017}} The next day, Johnson's office claimed that he was tremendously deadpan and had used a facetious metaphor to draw attention to the potential negative impact of adding 8,000 Marines and dependents to an island of 180,000 people.{{cite web

|url = http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2010/04/01/your-morning-jolt-hank-johnson-and-a-capsizing-guam/

|last = Galloway

|first = Jim

|title = Your morning jolt: Hank Johnson and a 'capsizing' Guam

|work = The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

|publisher = Political Insider: blogs.ajc.com

|date = April 1, 2010

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120523201658/http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2010/04/01/your-morning-jolt-hank-johnson-and-a-capsizing-guam/

|archive-date = 23 May 2012

|access-date = 2 April 2010

|url-status = dead

}}

In 2014, Johnson was named the 18th most effective Democrat in the 112th Congress according to a study by Vanderbilt University and the University of Virginia (UVA).{{cite web|url=http://www.thelawmakers.org/#/|title=The Lawmakers Homepage|publisher=Thelawmakers.org|access-date=18 November 2014}} He was also ranked higher than any of his Republican colleagues from Georgia. The study judged effectiveness by looking at a lawmaker's "proven ability to advance a member's agenda items through the legislative process and into law." The scorecard looked at the number of bills a member introduced or sponsored, the bills' significance, and how far each made it in the legislative process.{{cite web|url=http://hankjohnson.house.gov/press-release/study-rep-johnson-most-effective-member-ga-delegation-112th-congress|title=Study: Rep. Johnson most effective member of GA Delegation in 112th Congress|publisher=Hankjohnson.house.gov|access-date=18 November 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117091910/https://hankjohnson.house.gov/press-release/study-rep-johnson-most-effective-member-ga-delegation-112th-congress|archive-date=17 November 2014}}

Johnson was a member of the United States House Judiciary Task Force on Judicial Impeachment, a task force of the House Judiciary Committee created in 2008. The task force carried out impeachment inquiries into Judges Thomas Porteous and Samuel B. Kent.{{cite web |title=TO CONSIDER POSSIBLE IMPEACHMENT OF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE SAMUEL B. KENT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS HEARING BEFORE THE TASK FORCE ON JUDICIAL IMPEACHMENT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION JUNE 3, 2009 Serial No. 111–11 |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-111hhrg50067/pdf/CHRG-111hhrg50067.pdf |website=govinfo.gov |publisher= United States House Judiciary Task Force on Judicial Impeachment |access-date=11 December 2022 |date=June 3, 2009}} In 2009, Johnson was in the unanimous majority voting to adopt all four articles of impeachment against Kent. All House members participating in the vote voted in favor of each article, with the exception of one member who voted "present" on the fourth article.Multiple sources:

• {{cite web |title=Roll Call 415 Roll Call 415, Bill Number: H. Res. 520, 111th Congress, 1st Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2009415 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |access-date=11 December 2022 |language=en |date=19 June 2009}}
• {{cite web |title=Roll Call 416 Roll Call 416, Bill Number: H. Res. 520, 111th Congress, 1st Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2009416 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |access-date=11 December 2022 |language=en |date=19 June 2009}}
• {{cite web |title=Roll Call 417 Roll Call 417, Bill Number: H. Res. 520, 111th Congress, 1st Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2009417 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |language=en |date=19 June 2009}}
• {{cite web |title=Roll Call 418 Roll Call 418, Bill Number: H. Res. 520, 111th Congress, 1st Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2009418 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |access-date=11 December 2022 |language=en |date=19 June 2009}} Johnson was thereafter appointed and served as an impeachment manager (prosecutor) for Kent's impeachment trial. In 2010, he also voted in the unanimous majority that approved all four articles of impeachment against Porteous.Multiple sources:
• {{cite web |title=Roll Call 102 Roll Call 102, Bill Number: H. Res. 1031, 111th Congress, 2nd Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2010102 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |access-date=11 December 2022 |language=en |date=11 March 2010}}
• {{cite web |title=Roll Call 103 Roll Call 103, Bill Number: H. Res. 1031, 111th Congress, 2nd Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2010103 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |access-date=11 December 2022 |language=en |date=11 March 2010}}
• {{cite web |title=Roll Call 104 Roll Call 104, Bill Number: H. Res. 1031, 111th Congress, 2nd Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2010104 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |access-date=11 December 2022 |language=en |date=11 March 2010}}
• {{cite web |title=Roll Call 105 Roll Call 105, Bill Number: H. Res. 1031, 111th Congress, 2nd Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2010105 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |access-date=11 December 2022 |language=en |date=11 March 2010}} He was also appointed and served as an impeachment manager for Porteous's impeachment trial.{{cite web |url=https://history.house.gov/Institution/Impeachment/Impeachment-List/ |title=List of Individuals Impeached by the House of Representatives |publisher=United States House of Representatives |access-date=January 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218232339/https://history.house.gov/Institution/Impeachment/Impeachment-List/ |archive-date=December 18, 2019 |url-status=live}}

On September 24, 2019, Johnson called for the impeachment of President Donald Trump due to the Trump-Ukraine scandal.{{cite web |title=Congressman Johnson Calls for Impeachment of President Trump |url=https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-johnson-calls-impeachment-president-trump |website=Congressman Hank Johnson |publisher=hankjohnson.house.gov |access-date=11 December 2022 |language=en |date=24 September 2019}} This was the same day that the related impeachment inquiry was launched.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/pelosi-top-democrats-privately-discuss-creation-of-select-committee-for-impeachment/2019/09/24/af6f735a-dedf-11e9-b199-f638bf2c340f_story.html |first1=Rachael |last1=Bade |first2=Mike |last2=DeBonis |first3=Karoun |last3=Demirjian |date=September 24, 2019 |title=House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announces formal impeachment inquiry of Trump, says his actions were a 'betrayal of national security' |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=September 24, 2019}} Johnson sat on the House Committee on the Judiciary, which played a significant role in the inquiry.{{cite web |title=THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY INTO PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP: PRESENTATIONS FROM THE HOUSE PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE AND HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED SIXTEENTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION DECEMBER 9, 2019 Serial No. 116-68 |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-116hhrg38818/html/CHRG-116hhrg38818.htm |website=www.govinfo.gov |publisher=U.S. Government Publishing Office |access-date=11 December 2022 |date=2019}} When the committee voted on approving articles of impeachment against Trump to be forwarded to the full House, Johnson voted in favor of approving both articles.{{cite web |title=Rep. Johnson Votes in Favor of Articles of Impeachment Against President Donald J. Trump |url=https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-johnson-votes-favor-articles-impeachment-against-president-donald-j |website=Congressman Hank Johnson |publisher=hankjohnson.house.gov |access-date=11 December 2022 |language=en |date=13 December 2019}} In the full House vote on the adoption of the two articles of impeachment against Trump, Johnson voted with the majority to adopt them and thereby approve the first impeachment of Trump.{{cite web |title=Roll Call 696 Roll Call 696, Bill Number: H. Res. 755, 116th Congress, 1st Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2019696 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |access-date=11 December 2022 |language=en |date=18 December 2019}}{{cite web |title=Roll Call 695 Roll Call 695, Bill Number: H. Res. 755, 116th Congress, 1st Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2019695 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |access-date=11 December 2022 |language=en |date=18 December 2019}} In 2021, he voted for the adoption of sole article of impeachment against Trump in his second impeachment.{{cite web |title=Roll Call 17 Roll Call 17, Bill Number: H. Res. 24, 117th Congress, 1st Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/202117 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |access-date=11 December 2022 |language=en |date=13 January 2021}}

On October 5, 2014 The Washingtonian published its 15th biennial "Best & Worst of Congress" list. Johnson was voted "Most Clueless" by congressional staffers.{{cite web|title=The Best & Worst of Congress, 2014|url=http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/people/the-best-worst-of-congress-2014/|website=The Washingtonian|date=6 October 2014|access-date=30 March 2015}}

For the 119th Congress:{{cite web |title=Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. |url=https://clerk.house.gov/members/J000288 |publisher=Clerk of the United States House of Representatives |access-date=April 7, 2025}}

• Committee on the Judiciary
• Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet (Ranking Member)
• Subcommittee on Oversight
• Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust
• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
• Subcommittee on Aviation
• Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
• Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials

• Congressional Progressive Caucus{{cite web|title=Caucus Membrs|url=https://progressives.house.gov/caucus-members| publisher=US House of Representatives |access-date=January 3, 2021}}
• Congressional Black Caucus{{cite web|title=Membership|url=https://cbc.house.gov/membership/|publisher=Congressional Black Caucus|access-date=7 March 2018}}
• Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment{{cite web|title=Membership|author=|url=https://bush.house.gov/era/about/membership|format=|publisher=Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment|date=|accessdate=18 September 2024}}
• Congressional Freethought Caucus
• Congressional Arts Caucus{{cite web|title=Membership|url=https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership|publisher=Congressional Arts Caucus|access-date=21 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140644/https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}
• U.S.-Japan Caucus{{cite web|title=Members|url=https://usjapancaucus-castro.house.gov/members| publisher=U.S. - Japan Caucus |access-date=11 December 2018}}
• Medicare for All Caucus
• Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
• Rare Disease Caucus{{cite web|title=Rare Disease Congressional Caucus|author=|url=https://everylifefoundation.org/rare-advocates/rarecaucus/rarecaucus-members/|format=|publisher=Every Life Foundation for Rare Diseases|date=|accessdate=18 March 2025}}
• United States–China Working Group{{cite web|title=Our Mission|author=|url=https://larsen.house.gov/uscwg/ |format=|publisher=U.S.-China Working Group|date=|accessdate=26 February 2025}}
• Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Turkish Americans{{cite web|title=Members of the Caucus on U.S. - Türkiye Relations & Turkish Americans|author=|url=https://www.tc-america.org/in-congress/caucus.htm|format=|publisher=Turkish Coalition of America|date=|accessdate=27 March 2025}}

Johnson is married to attorney and DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson; they have two children.{{cite web|title=Hank Johnson Official Biography|url=http://hankjohnson.house.gov/about-me/full-biography|website=Hank Johnson Official Website|publisher=Hank Johnson|access-date=30 March 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327054016/http://hankjohnson.house.gov/about-me/full-biography|archive-date=27 March 2015}}

In December 2009, Johnson revealed that he had been battling Hepatitis C (HCV) for over a decade, which resulted in slow speech and a tendency to regularly get "lost in thought in the middle of a discussion". He said he learned he had the disease in 1998 but did not know how he contracted it. HCV-induced liver dysfunction often leads to hepatic encephalopathy, a cause of confusion. Symptoms are often reversible with treatment.{{cite journal |vauthors=Cash WJ, McConville P, McDermott E, McCormick PA, Callender ME, McDougall NI |title=Current concepts in the assessment and treatment of hepatic encephalopathy |journal=QJM |volume=103 |issue=1 |pages=9–16 |date=January 2010 |pmid=19903725 |doi=10.1093/qjmed/hcp152|doi-access=free }} The disease damaged his liver and led to thyroid problems. He was treated with a combination of ribavirin and interferon at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.{{cite news |last=Keefe |first=Bob |title=U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson battling hepatitis C |newspaper=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |publisher=Ajc.com |date=7 December 2009 |url=http://www.ajc.com/news/u-s-rep-hank-230506.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626231319/http://www.ajc.com/news/u-s-rep-hank-230506.html |archive-date=26 June 2012 |access-date=31 March 2010 |url-status=dead }} In February 2010, Johnson successfully completed an experimental treatment for Hepatitis C, which resulted in restored mental acuity, weight gain and increased energy.{{cite news |last=Associated Press |title=Rep. Hank Johnson: Health is better, ready to get back to D.C. |newspaper=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |publisher=Ajc.com |date=8 July 2010 |url=http://www.ajc.com/news/rep-hank-johnson-health-566907.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629130002/http://www.ajc.com/news/rep-hank-johnson-health-566907.html |archive-date=29 June 2011 |access-date=31 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}

Johnson is one of only four Buddhists to have served in the United States Congress. The others are Representative Derek Tran of California, Senator Mazie Hirono and former Representative Colleen Hanabusa, both of Hawaii.{{cite news |author=Jonathan Tilove |title=New Congress brings with it religious firsts |url=http://www.newhousenews.com/archive/tilove120806.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061219220442/http://www.newhousenews.com/archive/tilove120806.html |archive-date=19 December 2006 |publisher=Newhouse News Service}}{{cite news |date=January 5, 2015 |title=Faith on the Hill: The Religious Composition of the 114th Congress |url=http://www.pewforum.org/2015/01/05/faith-on-the-hill/2/ |access-date=September 13, 2016 |publisher=Pew Research Center |quote=The number of Buddhists in Congress fell from three to two, as Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, D-Hawaii, lost her bid for a Senate seat.}}{{Cite web |last=Diamant |first=Jeff |date=2025-01-02 |title=Faith on the Hill |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/01/02/faith-on-the-hill-2025/ |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}

• List of African-American United States representatives
• List of Buddhist members of the United States Congress

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• [http://hankjohnson.house.gov/ Congressman Hank Johnson] official U.S. House website
• [http://www.hankforcongress.com/ Hank Johnson for Congress]

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Category:1954 births

Category:African-American members of the United States House of Representatives

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Category:Buddhist members of the United States House of Representatives

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Category:Converts to Sōka Gakkai

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Category:Living people

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Category:Buddhism in Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:21st-century African-American politicians

Category:20th-century African-American politicians

Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives

Category:20th-century American Buddhists

Category:21st-century American Buddhists