Alcee Hastings

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today as Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe to introduce a resolution which recognizes the enduring value of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, ICERD, as a cornerstone of global efforts to combat racial discrimination and uphold human rights. To monitor the implementation of this important agreement a number of multinational organizations continue to cooperate as partners, including the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, CERD; the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, ODIHR; the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, ECRI; and the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency, EUFRA. Recently, CERD held its 72nd session in Geneva, Switzerland to review anti-discrimination efforts undertaken by the Governments of Fiji, Italy, the United States, Belgium, Nicaragua, Moldova, and the Dominican Republic. At this session, the United States received a response to its April 2007 report it submitted to CERD detailing measures taken to adhere to the convention. The ``Concluding Observations'' which CERD responded with includes a number of important achievements that we should be proud of as Americans, but also a number of challenges we must still unite together to address. Until the displaced of Hurricane Katrina are housed and hate crimes are eliminated from our streets and workplaces, we must be vigilant in our quest to be the world leader in tolerance. Madam Speaker, I call my colleagues to join me in reaffirming the commitment that the United States has made in ratifying the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. This resolution is the first step in recognizing the value of this international commitment, and I look forward to working with my colleagues toward its expedited passage.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. It is at the secret level.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Reclaiming my time and continuing my reservation, with all due respect, I don't think the distinguished minority leader answered the question that I asked, and that is, Who has the classified information?

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I reserve the right to object.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. That being said, I will not object. But as other Members have, I will place on the Record I came here with the thought in mind that there was a substantial reason for us to go forward with a secret session, but I have learned from a considerable amount of experience in this arena that there are times when it is best not to be where ostensibly secret information is supposed to be provided, so at least I will not attend the session. Madam Speaker, I withdraw my reservation.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I would be happy to yield to the gentleman from Missouri.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, one of the reasons that we find ourselves in this position is the discussion between both Houses of Congress and Members on either side regarding immunity. It is fascinating that we find ourselves in the position of debating giving immunity to people that we don't know what violations they have committed that we are giving them immunity for. Very strange. But I would ask the distinguished majority leader and the distinguished minority leader a very serious question: Who has the classified information? As I listened to both of you, I did not get clarity as to whether either of you know what is supposed to be that information. And if that person has classified information, at what level is it? Is it at top secret, or is it at secret? Can either of the distinguished gentlemen provide that information to this Member?

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I thank my very good friend and cosponsor of this resolution, Representative Crowley, for the time. Madam Speaker, this resolution on the floor is the culmination of longstanding efforts I have made with Representative Wexler, who is chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe; Representative Ileana Ros- Lehtinen, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Representative Mark Kirk; and many others to open the largest closed Holocaust-era archive in the world and release critical Holocaust records. As I stand today in support of a resolution making this significant event in Holocaust history, I cannot help but reflect on the longstanding life and career of a true champion of human rights and Holocaust issues, the former chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the first and only Holocaust survivor Member of Congress, Representative Tom Lantos. These archives will forever contribute to the world's collective memory of the Holocaust atrocities experienced and the immense bravery exhibited by Representative Lantos and his wife and other survivors who are no longer with us today. The opening of the Bad Arolsen archives will enable Holocaust survivors, their descendants, and future generations of researchers and the public access to some 50 million records on the fates of 17.5 million individual victims of Nazi brutality. In our world today, filled with growing international intolerance, including anti-Semitism, hate, racial bigotry, xenophobia, and religious discrimination, it could not be more critical for us to ensure unfettered access to these Holocaust archives. The ultimate release of these documents serves to further delegitimize world leaders and other extremist factions who spew anti-Semitic propaganda and downplay or deny the significance of the Holocaust. I am thankful for the collaborative efforts and leadership shown by the Holocaust Memorial Museum, new leadership of the International Committee of the Red Cross at the International Tracing Service, the State Department, survivor groups, and this body of Congress to pressure the member states of the ITS to throw open the doors of these archives. Our success sends a robust message to the world that the horrors of the Holocaust shall forever remain at the forefront of our collective and individual memories. The ultimate release of these archives proves that the world recognizes the moral importance of combating the scourge of modern-day anti-Semitism. May we never forget the atrocities of the Holocaust. May this historic event serve as a constant reminder to the world of what happens when humanity is silenced and evil permitted to wage war on the innocent.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, as President Vladimir Putin ends his presidency of the Russian Federation and his anointed successor, Dmitry Medvedev, prepares to take over, I would call the attention of my colleagues to what I consider an alarming backward step recently taken by the Kremlin in the area of civil liberties and freedom of speech. Last week, we learned that criminal charges have been filed against human rights activist Lev Ponomarev for allegedly slandering the head of the Russian prison system, General Yuri Kalinin. Mr. Ponomarev had charged publicly that so-called ``torture camps'' have been established in certain penal colonies under General Kalinin's jurisdiction. If taken to court and convicted, Mr. Ponomarev could be fined, or even imprisoned for as much as 3 years. Mr. Ponomarev, the leader of the Moscow-based organization ``For Human Rights,'' is a veteran human rights campaigner, going back to the Soviet era. He recently met with the staff of the Helsinki Commission, of which I am honored to serve as chairman, to share his concerns about what he feels is a pattern of systematic abuse and violence in Russia's penal system. The slander charges were filed when he returned to Moscow. Madam Speaker, I make no judgment about the substance of Mr. Ponomarev's contentions. Nevertheless, I would point out that much of what he stated has already been publicized in the Russian media and by the office of the Russian State Duma's human rights ombudsman. It would appear that Mr. Ponomarev is being prosecuted not for any genuine crimes he may have committed, but for his prominent and long-time human rights activity. If this is indeed the case, he joins a growing number of Russian citizens who have been subjected to questionable legal procedures by authorities as a result of their political activities. Unfortunately, this situation is symbolic of larger problems in Russia that are recounted very well in a February 25th editorial by Washington Post columnist Jackson Diehl entitled, ``Holding Medvedev to His Words.'' I would like to submit this article for the Record and I urge my colleagues to read it to better understand the challenges faced by Russian citizens who work for human rights and civil society in today's Russia. [From the Washington Post, Feb. 25, 2008] Holding Medvedev to His Words (By Jackson Diehl) Dmitry Medvedev, the man Vladimir Putin has appointed to be elected as Russia's president next Sunday, is so slavishly devoted to his patron that he has begun imitating his physical quirks. That includes ``how he lays his hands on the table or how he stresses key words in speeches,'' not to mention walking with ``fast and abrupt steps,'' according to the Reuters journalist Oleg Shchedrov. Medvedev presumably won't be exercising his power as president to dismiss the prime minister--the position Putin is about to assume--anytime soon. Yet the diminutive 42-year- old former law professor has been making some interesting statements the past couple of weeks. For example: ``Russia is a country of legal nihilism. No European country can boast such a universal disregard for the rule of law.'' Or: ``Freedom is inseparable from the actual recognition by the people of the power of law. The supremacy of the law should become one of our basic values.'' Or: ``One of the key elements of our work in the next four years will be ensuring the independence of our legal system from the executive and legislative branches of power.'' It's hard to believe that Medvedev could mean this. After all, the man he is to succeed has, according to estimates by Russian and Western analysts, accumulated a $40 billion fortune while in office, ranging from shares in Russian energy companies to an apartment in Paris. On his watch, 14 journalists--almost all of them Kremlin critics--have been murdered, but none of the killers has been brought to justice. Relations with Britain are icy, thanks to Putin's refusal to act on Scotland Yard's case against the former KGB agent it says poisoned a Putin critic in London. But criminality isn't limited to the Kremlin; it may be Russia's single greatest problem. Average citizens are frustrated by everything from the bribes necessary to obtain simple services to the extortion practiced by police and the susceptibility of judges to payoffs, as well as political orders. Promising the rule of law--even if he doesn't apply it to Putin and his circle--may be the juiciest pre-election promise Medvedev can make. In any case, his pledge was seized upon by Lev Ponomarev, the courageous and pragmatic leader of the Russian movement For Human Rights, which is fighting an uphill battle to retard the country's return to Soviet-style lawlessness. Ponomarev was in Washington this month to lobby the Bush administration and the presidential campaigns; as he explained it, Russia's presidential transition offers a rare opportunity for outsiders to press Moscow to adhere to basic international standards. ``I don't have any big illusions,'' Ponomarev told me. ``I think Mr. Medvedev is just another face of Mr. Putin. On the other hand it provides an opportunity to follow up on the rhetoric about the rule of law. If Mr. Medvedev says A, maybe it is possible to pressure him to say B. What can B be? It can be specific steps for restoring and enforcing legal norms.'' Ponomarev said that President Bush and his successor can start by pushing Medvedev to stop using the law as an instrument of political repression. That would mean ending such practices as the prosecution of liberal academics on bogus espionage charges; the involuntary commitment of opposition activists to psychiatric wards, or their draft into the military; and the campaigns against human rights and other civil society groups based on supposed tax violations or breaches of local ordinances. Next comes what Ponomarev called ``the torture camps'': a re-emerging gulag of some 50 prison colonies, closed to the outside world, where prisoners are subjected to systematic violence and abuse. Ponomarev's group has documented these practices in photographs and videos smuggled out of the camps, many of which are controlled by the same officials or clans that managed them in the Soviet era. Finally, there is the legal persecution of those who report such truths. On Friday, state prosecutors brought criminal charges against Ponomarev himself, claiming that he had slandered Gen. Yuri Kalinin, the head of the prison camp system. Ponomarev's travel documents were also revoked; his lawyers believe he is being punished for speaking out in the United States. ``It seems to me that a country that is a member of the G- 8,'' the group of rich democracies that Russia was allowed into a decade ago, ``cannot afford to have political prisoners and to have torture in its prison camps,'' Ponomarev said to me. It also shouldn't be allowed to prosecute human rights activists who try to promote the rule of law. Medvedev ought to be asked by President Bush and other Western leaders to explain how his talk of ending ``legal nihilism'' squares with the charges against Ponomarev--before the new president gets his first invitation to a G-8 summit.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Uni-Capitol Washington Internship Program. Since the inception of the Uni-Captiol program, I have participated in this relationship building program that brings some of Australia's best and brightest future leaders to Washington. I have benefited greatly by the work of unique and talented individuals that produced top-notch work to both of my offices. In my personal office I have participated in the Uni-Captiol Washington Internship Program for the last nine years. This is the first year that I have also hosted an intern at the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe in my capacity as Chairman. I have been pleased to host two amazing young women, Siobhan Coughlan and Katrina Mae. Siobhan Coughlan, who is in her third year at the University of Queensland, first arrived in the Helsinki Commission's office on January 3, 2008, and since then has provided able, thorough, and important assistance to the professional staff of the Commission. Over the past two months with the Commission, Siobhan has demonstrated her honorable personal character and integrity in the way she confronted the topic of human rights and democratic principles and the manner in which she interacted with staff on economic development and tolerance issues in a domestic and international context. Siobhan has served our organization in a number of capacities, and at each stage has proven to be valuable because of her professionalism, her drive to succeed, and her ability to work well within a group dynamic. Siobhan always demonstrated the highest level of conscience in keeping the respectability of our program as she sought to achieve our common goals. Siobhan brought her courteous and positive demeanor to hearings, briefings and events that the Commission held and events she attended on behalf of the staff here at the Commission. Much as been gained by having an international student at our side and Siobhan has greatly contributed her experiences, ideas, and thoughts that are shared by our good Australian friends across the water. I am delighted that she's able to extend her internship for another two months. In her short time here, Katrina Mae has become an indispensable asset to my office. An undergraduate law student at the University of Wollongong, Katrina came to my office with an ardent interest in civil rights and a desire to work with individuals who support policies that encourage tolerance and cooperation across racial and cultural lines. Over the course of her two months, she has attended hearings and briefings on a myriad of policy issues, drafted countless constituent correspondence, assisted visitors and callers in her always patient and thoughtful manner, and helped several staffers with legislative research and special projects. While her professional skills and academic credentials are certainly impressive, Katrina is also an absolute pleasure to work with. No matter the assignment, she is always eager to help and approaches every new task with a smile. The anecdotes of her adventures as a first-time visitor to the United States were a constant source of entertainment, and her tales of life in Australia gave our office a greater understanding of her country's rich history, culture, and values. Katrina arrived on Capitol Hill hoping to acquire a better understanding of the U.S. legislative process, and it is my sincere hope that she benefited as much from this experience as we did from having her with us. Madam Speaker, in addition to Siobhan and Katrina, I am delighted to recognize our colleagues here in the House and other colleagues in the Senate who have been congressional hosts in 2008: James Paterson of Melbourne University, interning with Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart; Monique Salm of Griffith University, interning with Sen. Chuck Hagel; Madelene Fox of Deakin University, interning with Rep. Jerrold Nadler; Lucas Robson of Melbourne University, interning with Sen. Christopher Dodd; Clare Anderson of Griffith University, interning with Rep. John Tierney, Stephanie Lyons of the University of Canberra, interning with Rep. Sam Farr; Suzanne Allan of the University of Canberra, interning with Sen. Mike Crapo; Katrina Mae of the University of Wollongong, interning with Rep. Alcee Hastings; Stella Rieusset of Melbourne University, interning with Rep. Mike Castle; Anthony Bremner of the University of Queensland, interning with Rep. James Clyburn and the Majority Whip's office; Tim Goyder of the University of Western Australia, interning with Del. Eni Faleomavaega; and Ally Foat from the University of Queensland, interning with Rep. James Clyburn. Let it not go unnoticed the hard work that goes into the Uni-Capitol Internship Program is done by founder Eric Federing. Eric is a former senior House and Senate staffer of a dozen years, who successfully combined his experience in Washington with his extensive travels and lectures throughout Australia into an ingenious program of diplomatic exchange through cultural appreciation and understanding. I have said in the past that I heartily congratulate him on making his vision a reality. This program is a step in the right direction of supporting our young people who have a passion for and commitment to civic engagement and public service. Over the last nine years, my staff and I have greatly benefited from the relationships that have been made from the result of this program as it continues to provide all of us an extraordinary experience with our friends on the other side of the ocean. It has been a great privilege to host Siobhan and Katrina and I ask all my colleagues to extend their open arms to the Uni-Captiol Internship Program and to our Australian friends in the future.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 845, a resolution recognizing the 60th anniversary of Everglades National Park. I proudly introduced this resolution with my colleague and fellow co- chair of the Everglades Caucus, Representative Mario Diaz-Balart. I applaud Representative Diaz-Balart for his commitment to working together to preserve and restore the Everglades. I thank the chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources, Representative Nick Rahall, a true champion of protecting our Nation's natural resources, especially our majestic national parks, for his support for protecting Florida's environment. I also would like to thank the ranking member of the Committee, Representative Don Young, for his support as well. The bipartisan support this resolution enjoys is reminiscent of the past and present bipartisan support Everglades restoration efforts enjoy. Today we honor the 60th anniversary of Everglades National Park. The park, which spans 3 million acres of wetlands, is habitat to many endangered species and is an international center for business, agriculture, and tourism. Our work to restore the Everglades is the largest restoration effort of its kind in history. As a fifth generation Floridian and great grandson of a Creek Indian, my passion for these majestic wetlands extends back to my birth. I have seen species that have since become endangered, and a living ecosystem that has since been degraded by management and development activities. Regrettably, since the passage of landmark legislation in 2000, restoration efforts in Congress have been mired. Now the Everglades is paying a hefty price for Federal delays. Expected project completion timeframes have been shifted, and the restoration price tags increased. With new perspectives and new priorities, Congress is again reaffirming our commitment to the Everglades. Just last November, Congress overrode a President Bush veto and passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2007, authorizing $1.8 billion in Everglades restoration funding. As we pause to celebrate the anniversary of the Everglades National Park today, we enhance our vigilant efforts to restore the park to the pristine ecosystem it once was. I thank the leadership of the House for their work on this bill, and urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this resolution commemorating the courage of the Haitian soldiers who fought for American independence in the ``Siege of Savannah.'' This resolution also honors those soldiers who fought for Haiti's independence and the renunciation of slavery. As a cosponsor of this legislation, I would like to express my appreciation for the efforts of my good friend from Florida, Congressman Kendrick B. Meek, for introducing this important legislation and for the House Leadership for bringing it to the floor for a vote. The War for American Independence was not easily won, and it took the contributions of an untold number of American patriots. It is important that we continue to remember those heroes who gave their lives for the freedoms we can enjoy today. In 1779, American rebels fought to take back the city of Savannah from the British. This resolution commemorates a group of 500 Haitian volunteers who fought valiantly alongside the patriot forces for more than 2 weeks as the siege continued. It is important for us to take this moment to commemorate and honor the memory and sacrifice of the 300 Haitians who gave their lives during that historic battle. It is fitting that a monument to these brave men now stands in Savannah, Georgia, where this momentous fight took place. It is also fitting that the monument depicts a young Henri Christophe, a man who helped gain Haitian independence and end slavery in that country. Mr. Christophe and his compatriots fought valiantly for the causes of liberty and justice on both American and Haitian soil, proving their deep commitment to these ideals. Their desire for liberty is not yet fulfilled, so we must continue to work with the people of Haiti to realize the dreams of their founders. We can hardly begin to measure the ways in which the people of Haiti have shaped our country. In South Florida, residents of Haitian descent have contributed so much to the fabric of our community. Their culture, heritage, and traditions have influenced almost every single corner of our society. South Florida--so rich in diversity--would not be what it is today without the Haitian people. From the beginning of our history, the Haitian people have left their mark on America and have helped to shape our great nation. In fact, the contributions of Haitians began before our country had even won its independence, and they continue to this very day. Madam Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this important resolution and honor the valor and ideals of the Haitian soldiers who fought for American independence and to end the practice of slavery.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 807, a resolution honoring the life of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, champion of the Florida Everglades and founder of Florida's environmental movement. I am proud to have introduced this resolution with my colleague and good friend, Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. I share Representative Ros-Lehtinen's desire to recognize and commemorate the significance of Marjory Stoneman Douglas's lifelong work to promote awareness of the need to protect and conserve Florida and the entire Nation's natural resources. As co-chair of the Everglades Caucus, I particularly share Ms. Douglas's passionate commitment to restoring the River of Grass to the pristine ecosystem it once was. Ms. Douglas deserves much credit for raising awareness of the importance of these majestic wetlands and making restoration efforts a national priority. In 1947 she wrote the infamous book, ``The Everglades: River of Grass,'' which helped draw national attention to the Everglades. This book is responsible for initiating public support for President Harry Truman's 1947 declaration officially protecting the Everglades as a national park. Today, this book serves a the ``bible'' for all Everglades supporters and environmental activists around the world. Ms. Douglas is also responsible for founding the Friends of the Everglades, an educational and advocacy group dedicated to the protection and restoration of the Everglades. Through the group's ecosystem conservation efforts, Ms. Douglas's legacy lives on. This resolution enjoys bipartisan support from every Member of the Florida delegation. The support this resolution enjoys indicates the respect our delegation has for Ms. Douglas's lifelong work and the impact of her contributions on the entire State of Florida. I am proud to join Representative Ros-Lehtinen in introducing this bipartisan resolution and pledge to carry on Ms. Douglas's legacy effort by continuing to champion Everglades restoration efforts in Congress. I urge my colleagues to adopt this excellent resolution.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 974 provides a structured rule for consideration of H.R. 3521, the Public Housing Asset Management Improvement Act of 2007. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate controlled by the Committee on Financial Services. The rule makes in order two amendments printed in the Rules Committee report accompanying this resolution. The rule also provides one motion to recommit, with or without instructions. Mr. Speaker, I am especially pleased that the rule makes in order an amendment offered by my colleague from Florida, Representative Kendrick Meek. His amendment ensures that in extreme cases where HUD is forced to take over control of a housing authority, it must honor any and all existing agreements between the local housing authority and tenant associations. This amendment is needed in south Florida and throughout the country, and I urge my colleagues to support it. Mr. Speaker, the skyrocketing number of foreclosures and the lack of affordable housing are some of the greatest financial problems our Nation faces today. In Broward County, the county in which I live in Florida, foreclosure rates tripled in 2007 alone. It is obvious this situation has grown beyond a crisis and extends into our entire economy. One group of service providers that is suffering significantly from this economic crisis is our public housing authorities. For this reason I support this rule and underlying legislation that will provide flexibility to public housing authorities during our Nation's housing crisis so that they are able to sufficiently meet the needs of our constituents. There are approximately 3,300 individual public housing authorities in the United States serving 1.2 million households. Low- and middle- income individuals and families making between 50 percent and 80 percent of the median income level in their community are eligible for Federal assistance. Without this assistance, literally millions of people would be homeless or in some cases even worse. Despite this known reality, HUD recently issued a ruling which will result in funding cuts for over 800 housing authorities throughout the country. If the House does not act, then 26 percent of the housing authorities in the United States will lose significant funding because of HUD's decision. To make up for the anticipated funding shortfalls, the underlying legislation gives housing authorities the flexibility to transfer funds from their capital to operational accounts. This move will ensure that housing authorities will not be forced to close down existing public housing units because of HUD's short-sightedness. Finally and importantly, the legislation also reaffirms the role that tenants play in determining where they live and how those communities are governed. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the problems addressed in this legislation are not the only obstacles public housing authorities have been forced to deal with over the last 7 years. As my colleagues know, the current administration has a long record of failing to meet America's low- and middle-income housing needs. For example, funding shortfalls have become regular staples in the President's public housing budgets, while the administration continues to neglect the more than $18 billion backlog in deferred maintenance for public housing units, allowing the deterioration of public housing units to the point that many of them are completely uninhabitable. This is simply unacceptable. In my district some housing units are literally falling apart. Roofs are leaking and in some instances even caving in. Appliances are broken and decades, not years, old. Units are deteriorating, unattractive, and lacking in some of the most basic amenities. Even more is that security in many of the public housing communities has been consistently disappearing. Residents in some public housing units in my congressional district alone are literally afraid to leave their homes. Yes, we are working to address these and other public housing issues. But we will not be able to fully address these issues if the underlying legislation does not pass. Mr. Speaker, this housing bill was reported out favorably by the Financial Services Committee, the whole committee, by voice vote. The minority members of the committee did not offer any amendments during markup, and not one Republican amendment was submitted to the Rules Committee. It is my sincere hope that the House will pass this rule and underlying bill with that same overwhelming bipartisan support. I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the Public Housing Asset Management Improvement Act of 2007 as we work to improve public housing throughout America. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I also ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials into the Record.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to my friend, the gentleman from Texas, Representative Sessions. All time yielded during consideration of the rule is for debate only. General Leave

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 974 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am hard put to move hurriedly, so I will yield myself such time as I may consume. I am also hard put, Mr. Speaker, to restrain myself and not get involved with the ongoing discussion and the numerous ads that I saw during the previous recess that were very much in error concerning the House of Representatives' actions on the FISA legislation. Mr. Speaker, I served for 7 years on the House Select Committee on Intelligence. I find it hard to believe that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, or that anyone, would believe that the distinguished Chair of the Intelligence Committee, Silvestre Reyes, the distinguished Chair of the Judiciary Committee, John Conyers, the distinguished Chair of the Homeland Security Committee, Bennie Thompson, their counterparts in the United States Senate, all combined would want to put this Nation in jeopardy in any way. Enough of the fearmongering. Enough of making people think that something is going to happen that is not going to happen. The simple truth is that there will be legislation that will be legislation fashioned by the House and by the United States Senate and not by the United States Senate and not by this administration without those of us who have actual concerns about the United States Constitution having our say in that regard. Civil liberties and civil rights are critical to America, and the foundational aspects of our country allow full airing before conclusions are made by people that have oriented the most secretive administration that I know of in the history of this country. I won't go much further on that score on the previous question, Mr. Speaker. I return now to what we have heard about why we must pass this rule and the Public Housing Asset Management Improvement Act, which we are here about today. It is nice to have the nuances. It is nice to have the process. It is nice to have the procedural opportunities that the minority takes, and correctly they can bring up those matters which are not on the agenda today. I can assure my friends on the other side that the Speaker of the House of Representatives and those in this body, including the Blue Dogs, will address FISA legislation, and it will be appropriately undertaken to protect every American, every American's civil liberties and civil rights, and more important, to protect the Constitution of the United States of America. Mr. Speaker, the American people deserve an opportunity to improve their lives. Transitional public housing opportunities have served this purpose for decades, nurturing families and yielding such leaders as some of us who serve in this Congress. Public housing authorities must be empowered to effectively and flexibly manage their assets with appropriate tenant oversight. My colleague on the other side mentioned private sector tools. I am fascinated by the notion that the private sector, which all of us respect, has been so careful with all of their management. If their management has been so successful, why is it, then, that there is a housing crisis in this Nation with reference to foreclosure? This morning, Mr. Speaker, and I take the liberty of doing this because occasionally we come to the floor and talk about different matters, but a distant cousin of mine in Fort Worth, Texas, called me. Her name is Sharon Samuels. And Sharon shared her story with me about her involvement with her mortgage company, Countrywide. She has been in her home since 1993, she said, and in addition, thereto, had never taken out any of her equity out of her home. She has three children, all of them that she has managed to educate. And she was pursued by Countrywide to enter into a mortgage set of circumstances that has now led from her mortgage rising from $1,100 to $2,200 and foreclosure proceedings going forward without any forbearance or opportunity for her to do anything other than lose all of her assets that she had developed during the years since 1993. I mention that because that is the private sector that has put an individual in a home, in a position of being in need of this kind of stuff that we are talking about here today. Hardworking Americans families should not suffer as a result of HUD's failed policies. I applaud my colleagues for joining together in this effort that will benefit the low-income families, the elderly and the disabled Americans who live in public housing. This bill has been endorsed by all the groups that represent not only public housing administrators and agencies but also tenant advocacy groups. The bill is supported by the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, the Public Housing Authorities Directors Association, the National Association of Housing and Development Officials, National Housing Law Project, and the National Training and Information Center. But guess who doesn't support it? Some people on the other side of the aisle who had an opportunity in the Financial Services Committee to offer amendments if they so choose, and they chose not to do so, and yet they will come here today and say that we are lacking on our side of the aisle in providing the necessary standards and providing the necessary tools for people to live in public housing. Mr. Speaker, 15 years ago, I ran for the United States Congress, and among the things that I said was I would try to improve public housing in my congressional district and throughout this Nation. I don't feel that I have succeeded. Twelve of those years have been spent under Republic administrations that were controlled by Republicans, 12 years in the House, 8 years just now, ending soon, happily, in November so that these $18 billion backlogs and so that housing won't collapse and fall down around people. This is the same administration that didn't answer in New Orleans. But what have we done? In the limited time that we are here, and I continue to hear criticism about what we have not done. What we have done in the House, we passed the section 8 voucher reform program that increases the number of families, veterans, and seniors that are able to afford safe homes by adding 20,000 new vouchers. We did expand the Homeownership Act of 2007 that allows the population of borrowers to have access to the Federal Housing Administration. In this House we have passed the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2007, which creates a fund to use and build more affordable housing for low- income families and families who have lost their homes to foreclosure. They keep saying that the agenda isn't good. We passed the Housing Finance Reform Act and expanded the size of loans that can be issued by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. We passed the Mortgage Reform and Anti- Predatory Lending Act that increases transparency and heightens standards to keep brokers from practicing predatory lending. Save us from these people who argue that asset management is a landmark program change now several years in the making? You bet it is. What I don't understand is why is it poor people are always the ones that have to take it right on the chin every time this Nation gets itself in a crisis. The National Training and Information Center sponsored by La Raza; the Center for Community Change; the Chicago Rehab Network; Cleveland Housing Tenant Association; Fall River Housing Joint Tenants Council; Legal Aid Justice Center; Miami Workers Center, all sorts of organizations. I will include all of the letters of all of the organizations I have for the Record. National Training and Information Center, Chicago, IL, February 7, 2008. Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Madam Speaker, The undersigned 150 democratic grassroots resident organizing groups and allies would like to convey our strong support for protecting the rights of public housing residents to organize, as delineated in H.R. 3521, the Public Housing Asset Management Improvement Act of 2007. As the transition to a system of asset management is one of the most significant shifts facing the administration of public housing in many years, it is more important than ever that public housing residents are involved in the decisionmaking processes at the local and national levels. In April of 2007, the National Training & Information Center (NTIC) submitted a letter to Congress endorsed by local, statewide, and national organizations in protest of recent attempts to undermine the efforts of resident and community organizations to participate in the decisions around public housing that impact their communities and their lives. One of those attempts was a notice by HUD on March 1, 2007 to streamline the process to waive 24 CFR 964, which outlines the rights of residents to organize, for PHAs transitioning to asset management. Section 4 of H.R. 3521 is critical in order to ensure that the congressionally sanctioned rights to organize for public housing residents are protected. The NTIC network is of the perspective that residents must be central to the discourse around policies that impact them--both at the local and national level. Section 4 of this bill will ensure that the voices of public housing residents are not lost in the implementation of asset management. Over the past year, NTIC has brought together public housing residents and allies from 38 cities to identify the most pressing areas for reform of public housing policy. The right to organize and meaningful resident participation are among the highest priorities for residents across the country. In order to make asset management work for everyone, it is critical that residents are involved in decisions around its implementation. The undersigned 150 local, statewide, and national organizations would like to convey our support for the principles outlined in Section 4 of H.R. 3521. Namely, we feel strongly that residents should have a right to organize in public housing and should be meaningfully and substantively involved in the decisions that impact their lives--both at the local and national level. Specifically, it is critical that the rights bestowed by 24 CFR 964 not be undermined by the transition to asset management. We hope that we can rely on your support for these principles. Access Living--Chicago, IL. Annapolis Tenant Task Force--Boston, MA. Beacon Glen Resident Association--Cincinnati, OH. Bethel New Life--Chicago, IL. Bethune Village Resident Council--Daytona Beach, FL. Border Fair Housing & Economic Justice Center--El Paso, Texas Bowen Homes Resident Association--Atlanta, GA. Cabrini Green Rowhouse Council--Chicago, IL. California Coalition for Rural Housing--California State Center for Community Change--National Central Advisory Council--Chicago, IL. Central Illinois Organizing Project--Central Illinois Chicago Coalition for the Homeless--Chicago, IL. Chicago Rehab Network--Chicago, IL. Cleveland Housing Resident Association--Cleveland, TN. Clinton Springs Resident Association--Cincinnati, OH. Coalition to Protect Public Housing--Chicago, IL. Communities United for Action--Cincinnati, OH. Community Voices Heard--New York, NY. Connecticut Legal Services--Connecticut State Consumer Action--National Crossroads Urban Center--Salt Lake City, UT. Detroit United Organizing for Power--Detroit, MI. District of Columbia Grassroots Empowerment Project-- Washington, DC. Empower DC--Washington, DC. Empowering & Strengthening Ohio's People--Cleveland, OH. Erie Tenant Council--Erie, PA. Everywhere & Now Public Housing Residents Organizing Nationally Together--National Fall River Housing Joint Tenants Council Inc.--Fall River,

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory and life of Mrs. Leah Galante Schad, a woman who devoted over 40 years of her life to protecting Florida's Everglades and a driving force in the American environmental movement. Her contributions helped bring about a new era in our country in which organizers, activists, and politicians worked together to implement courses of action that would improve our environment and our lives. After her recent passing, I am moved to reflect on her accomplishments and legacy as we strive to enact environmental policies for our districts, States, and Nation. A native of Kentucky, Leah Schad became active in Florida's environmental movement shortly after she moved to the State in 1961. In the following decades, Mrs. Schad would become renowned for her fierce determination and uncompromising will to improve Florida's Everglades and wildlife, earning her the title of ``The Grand Dame of Environmentalism.'' Realize, this title was not given to Mrs. Schad arbitrarily. As a board member of the National Audubon Society and the South Florida Water Management District, chairwoman of the Florida Audubon Society, and president and treasurer of the Audubon Society of the Everglades, Leah Schad had the audacity to successfully challenge decades of environmental mismanagement and to lead the effort to leave the earth in better shape than when we got it. Without doubt, Mrs. Schad's passion and persistence inspired communities, organizations, and elected officials to engage in efforts to preserve and improve our environment. She received numerous awards for her decades of service including: the Florida Audubon Society's Chapter President of the Year Award in 1979, the Women's Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches Award in 1997, and the American Diabetes Society Valor Award in 2002. However, those who knew and admired Mrs. Schad understood that she worked in pursuit of a greater reward. Mrs. Schad fought for environmental protection and restoration in Florida despite the people and institutions that threatened her mission and the cancer that threatened her life. Although we in Congress have made enormous environmental progress, our battle is far from over. Leah Galante Schad's struggles and successes remind us that we must confront adversity to ensure that we achieve our goal of comprehensive environmental restoration and protection. Madam Speaker, in 1907 President Theodore Roosevelt told Congress, ``The conservation of our natural resources and their proper use constitute the fundamental problem which underlies almost every other problem of our national life.'' As we reflect on the life and legacy of Mrs. Leah Galante Schad, we must enhance our efforts to restore the Everglades and other national treasures to their natural state. I urge my colleagues to continue the work of Leah Galante Schad, and other pioneers who fought to ensure that our Nation's unique habitats and wildlife are preserved for the enjoyment of the present generation and for generations to come.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. At this time, I am very pleased to yield 1 minute to my very good friend from Virginia, Representative Scott.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. At this time, I am pleased to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to my colleague from California, the original cosponsor of this measure, Ms. Linda Sanchez.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Chairman, I rise today with my good friend from California, Congresswoman Linda Sanchez, to offer an amendment to the College Opportunity and Affordability Act. I certainly commend the Chair and ranking member for all of their efforts on this measure. Madam Chairman, gang violence is a cycle that poisons many of our districts and deprives many of our youth from pursuing productive educational opportunities. Many who have been engaged in gang activity unfortunately return to the same streets after they serve time in our juvenile justice system, and the cycle begins again. Only holistic partnerships that engage entire communities are going to break this cycle of gang activity. To meet this need, I introduced the Path to Success Act July 6 of last year. Our amendment today reflects the content of the Path to Success Act and will authorize a nationwide program through the Department of Education to promote public and private community- centered partnerships aimed at reducing gang violence. Madam Chairman, our amendment will establish a program that is set up to the task of disrupting the juvenile justice pipeline. It will give former gang members a chance to attend college and be engaged positively in their communities. Through educational and vocational training opportunities at community colleges as well as partnerships with law enforcement for pro-active gang prevention efforts, our amendment will give former gang members hope for the future while taking juvenile justice in a new direction. Also the American Psychological Association, the American Association of Community Colleges agree with the need for this new direction and have endorsed our amendment. I urge our colleagues to support this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.