Alcee Hastings

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my full support for H. Res. 942, a resolution that recognizes Black History Month as a time to acknowledge the many contributions that African Americans have made in our Nation's history and as a time for all Americans to fully understand the events and struggles that shaped our great Nation. When Aristotle said, ``If you would understand anything, observe its beginning and its development,'' he suggested that we cannot fully know what something is if we do not know its past. This certainly holds true for our country. Knowing our Nation's history does more than tell us who we were; it tells us who we are. And if we look honestly at our past successes and mistakes, it tells us what we can become. Unfortunately, the long practice of omitting, abbreviating, and misrepresenting African Americans in American history has resulted in an incomplete and skewed story of our country's history. Fortunately, the social change of the civil rights movement inspired a change in the way that America told and understood its history. It became clear that American history--like America's schools and lunch counters--needed to be integrated. Over the years, Black History Month has become a chance to realize our rich diversity by studying the artistic, scientific, and political contributions that African Americans have made to the United States and the rest of the world. Realize Black history is American history, and February should not be the only time that we acknowledge the contributions of African American men, women, and children in U.S. history. African Americans have played a key role in just about every single moment in American history, and it is high time that our history books reflect that. Driven by my commitment to the human and civil rights of all, I have worked hard to ensure that all people--regardless of their nationality, sexual orientation, gender, or race--have access to their most basic rights. My experiences in and before I came to this body have taught me that all people have influenced our country's greatness. It is critically important that these contributions are acknowledged and retold. Mr. Speaker, as we observe and celebrate the contributions of African Americans in America we must not forget that we are making history as we speak. We are living in an historical era in which extraordinary people from all walks of life are seeking opportunities that were previously not available to them. Outstanding Americans such as Barrington Irving, the youngest and first person of African descent to fly around the world, teach us that we can achieve great things in this land of opportunity as long as we have the will and drive. As we all know, for the first time in history, the two contending candidates for the Democratic nominee for President are a black man and a woman. As we reflect on the numerous contributions and experiences of African Americans in this country, we must be cognizant of how we as a modern multi-ethnic and multicultural nation deal with the issues of our time. How we do this will determine how future generations will view us in the history books. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this important resolution.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, last month, I chaired a Helsinki Commission briefing with a delegation of leading political opposition figures and democratic activists from Belarus. The briefing was entitled, ``The Future Belarus: Democracy or Dictatorship'' and focused on the prospects for change in a country located in the heart of Europe that has Europe's worst track record with respect to human rights and democracy. Unfortunately, developments since the delegation's visit to Washington have been deeply discouraging and do not bode well for Belarus' democratic future. One of the young people who testified at the briefing, 19-year-old Zmitser Fedaruk, spoke eloquently of the dangers that young human rights activists face in Belarus. His words were prophetic, as a few days later, back in Belarus, he was beaten and knocked unconscious by riot policemen, then rushed by ambulance to the hospital. Just last week, the Minsk district prosecutor's office in Minsk refused to open an investigation into Zmitser's beating. A day earlier, my friend Anatoly Lebedka, one of Belarus' staunchest defenders of democratic rights, who also testified before the Commission, was roughed up by Belarusian police as well. It was far from the first time that this leader of the democratic opposition had been beaten up or repressed by the Lukashenka regime. On January 4, the Lukashenka regime banned Anatoly from travelling abroad in what was obviously a politically-motivated decision. Today, Anatoly is in jail serving a 15-day sentence, along with several dozen other pro-democracy and small business advocates who participated in a January 10 protest against restrictions on activities of small businesses. Some of the activists--mostly young people--received injuries during their arrest. Tatyana Tsishkevch, who was severely beaten during her arrest and presented her bloodstained jacket in court, received a 20-day sentence. Arsien Pakhomau, a freelance photo correspondent for ``Nasha Niva'' weekly--one of the very few remaining independent publications in Belarus--was also sentenced to 15 days' administrative arrest. On the day of the protest, a number of websites that cover social and economic affairs in Belarus, such as Charter '97 and Radio Liberty, were partially or fully blocked by the authorities. These most recent repressive actions follow the sentencing of opposition activist Artur Finkevich to 18 months in prison; the arbitrary use of judicial power to put out of business independent newspapers such as ``Novi Chas''; steps to liquidate the opposition Belarusian Communist Party; and the fining of Baptist pastor Yuri Kravchuk for unregistered religious activity. Belarus is the only country in Europe with compulsory registration before religious activity can take place. Unfortunately, the indications in just the first few weeks of this New Year are not encouraging. Lukashenka's presidential administration has recently rejected the opposition's proposal to hold talks on the upcoming 2008 parliamentary elections, refusing an offer by the Belarusian opposition to consider joint proposals on conducting parliamentary elections in accordance with democratic standards. Madam Speaker, as Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission and as someone who has long been involved in the OSCE process to promote security, cooperation, democracy and human rights among the 56 OSCE countries, including Belarus, I am deeply disappointed in the Belarusian Government's continual flaunting of freely undertaken OSCE commitments. It is my strong hope that Mr. Lukashenka will cease the self-imposed isolation of his country--threatening, most recently, to expel U.S. Ambassador Karen Stewart--and will give serious thought to the offers of cooperation that have come from the United States and the European Union if Belarus releases political prisoners and displays respect for basic democratic norms. In the meantime, the Lukashenka regime can be assured that my colleagues and I on the Helsinki Commission are determined to stand by Anatoly Lebedka, Dzmitri Fedaruk and all those in Belarus--young and old--bravely struggling for freedom, democracy and respect for human rights.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, as Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, otherwise called the Helsinki Commission, I rise to introduce a resolution which condemns in the strongest terms, the terrorist bombing of the Algerian Supreme Court and United Nations offices in Algiers, Algeria on December 11, 2007. These deplorable attacks upon civilian targets took the lives of 37 people, including 17 United Nations employees, and injured numerous others. As a consequence of the destruction of the United Nations Development Programme office and the damage to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees office in Algiers, the capacity of the world body to carry out its operations in Algiers has been seriously diminished. We subsequently learned that the December 11 attacks were the work of al-Qaeda in the Maghreb, a North African affiliate of al-Qaeda. This same organization claimed responsibility for several previous attacks in Algeria and Morocco, using tactics similar to those employed by their al-Qaeda brethren in Iraq, where they indiscriminately wreak upon civilians and military targets. These inhumane attacks are intended to sow insecurity and divisiveness, and, as in Iraq, can impede progress in the social and economic spheres. The attacks illuminate al-Qaeda's determination to continue to spread its destructive aims globally by perpetuating violence against innocent civilians. But they should also reinforce the imperative of the community of civilized nations to stamp out terrorism in all its forms. Algeria is a Mediterranean Partner of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), within whose ambit the Helsinki Commission carries out its mandate. The OSCE has among its highest priorities a commitment to combating terrorism, and the Algerian Government has been unwavering in its efforts to defeat terrorism, a goal that the United States shares. Through our recent experience with terrorism, Americans understand the pain now suffered by the Algerian people for the loss of so many innocent lives and the injury of numerous others. Today, we affirm our support for the people and Government of Algeria in their continued struggle against extremism and violence. That is why, together with my good friend Congressman Bill Delahunt, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight, I am introducing today's resolution, which condemns the senseless acts of violence against the Algerian people and the United Nations on December 11. This resolution also expresses our profound sympathy for the victims of the bombings; the support of the U.S. House of Representatives for the Algerian people in their continued efforts to secure peace for their nation; and support for the Algerian authorities in bringing the perpetrators of the attacks to justice. Chairman Delahunt's commitment to advancing peace, human rights, and security are laudable and long-standing. I am deeply proud to work with him on this resolution.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 859 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Washington, Representative Hastings. All time yielded during consideration of the rule is for the purposes of debate only. General Leave

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

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, if we have learned anything from the failures of the war in Iraq, it is that reliable intelligence is critical to ensuring America's national security. The terrorist attacks of September 11, combined with the continuing threats fueled by extremism, radicalism, hopelessness and poverty underscore the importance of this legislation. The new Democratic majority is working every day to ensure that we congratulate our intelligence community for its successes but also hold it accountable for its failures. This report is a strong step in the right direction, and it enjoys bipartisan support. I am proud of our product and hope that my colleagues will agree. I urge a ``yes'' vote on the rule and the underlying conference report. The material previously referred to by Mr. Hastings of Washington is as follows: Amendment to H. Res. 859 Offered by Mr. Hastings of Washington At the end of the resolution, add the following: Sec. 2. That immediately upon the adoption of this resolution the House shall, without intervention of any point of order, consider the resolution (H. Res. 479) to amend the Rules of the House of Representatives to provide for enforcement of clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives. The resolution shall be considered as read. The previous question shall he considered as ordered on the resolution to final adoption without intervening motion or demand for division of the question except: (1) one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Rules; and (2) one motion to recommit.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I would like to inquire of the gentleman if he has any remaining speakers. I am the last speaker for our side.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into the Record.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I will reserve my time until the gentleman has closed for his side and has yielded back his time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I am going to submit my full statement for the Record and abbreviate it. I, however, wish to commend Chairman Reyes for the leadership on this bill. Under his leadership, and that of many others, consideration of this intelligence bill has been one of the most open intelligence authorization bills that we've seen. There may be some who will disagree with some of the report's content, but there should be none who disagree with the openness of the process. Madam Speaker, over the past week, as we debate the CIA's destruction of videotapes of past interrogations, the Nation has realized the importance of congressional oversight of the intelligence community. For far too long, Congress has been silent as a partner in the unchecked actions of this administration. In neglecting to do our jobs, we were failing the people of America. With this new majority Congress, we are again conducting the necessary oversight of the executive branch. With this bill, we are fulfilling our responsibility to give the intelligence community the tools it needs to succeed. One thing that I think Members will be particularly interested in is that interrogation techniques put forth in this measure are limited to those of the Army Field Manual, making it clear that harsh or aggressive interrogation techniques are prohibited. I participated in the conference myself, Madam Speaker, and I saw the development of this report that we have here. I would like to take a moment of personal privilege to say that I took the liberty of leaving the Select Committee on Intelligence with the hope of returning in the successive year. It is my great hope that all of the Members of that committee and the tremendous staff that work under awesome pressure know how much I and others in Congress appreciate their work. Madam Speaker, this rule provides for consideration of the Intelligence Authorization Act conference report under the standard rule for conference reports. As the chairman of the Intelligence Committee noted here on the floor yesterday, Madam Speaker, Members wishing to view the classified portions of the conference report can do so in H-405 of the Capitol. Madam Speaker, this rule provides for consideration of the Intelligence Authorization Act Conference report under the standard rule for conference reports. As the chairman of the Intelligence Committee noted here on the floor yesterday, Madam Speaker, Members wishing to view the classified portions of the Conference Report can do so in H-405 of the Capitol. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to come to the floor today in strong support of the underlying Intelligence Authorization Conference Report for Fiscal Year 2008. As a member of the Conference and a signatory of its Report, I take great pride in being a part of a Majority which has successfully completed its work on the Intelligence Authorization bill after the previous Majority failed to do so for the last 3 years. I commend Chairman Reyes for his leadership on this bill. Under the Chairman's leadership, and that of many others, consideration of this intelligence bill has been one of the most open intelligence authorization bills that we've seen. There may be some who will disagree with some of the Report's content. But there should be none who disagree with the openness of the process. During the original consideration of this bill by the House in May, the House adopted multiple bipartisan amendments. For example, the gentleman from Michigan, Representative Rogers and I offered an amendment which took aggressive steps to limit the growth of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The two of us share concerns that the Director of National Intelligence has grown without constraint and is adding an additional level of bureaucracy without providing the coordination that we hoped to see when we passed the Intelligence Reform Act. This Conference Report addresses our concerns in a positive manner. Most importantly, so has the Committee, as it has held multiple hearings on the subject since May. There were also amendments offered and adopted by the conferees that are included in the conference agreement. Indeed, every amendment adopted by the conferees, including the one offered by Ranking Member Hoekstra, enjoyed bipartisan support. Madam Speaker, over the past week, as we debate the CPA's destruction of videotapes of past interrogations, the Nation has realized the importance of Congressional oversight of the intelligence community. For far too long, Congress was a silent partner in the un-checked actions of this Administration. In neglecting to do our jobs, we were failing the American people. With this new Majority, Congress is again conducting the necessary oversight of the Executive Branch. With this bill, we are fulfilling our responsibility to give the intelligence community the tools it needs to succeed. In response to growing concerns here in Congress and throughout the public, this bill takes significant steps to address interrogation and detention programs. It limits interrogation techniques to those in the Army Field Manual, making it clear that harsh or aggressive interrogation techniques are prohibited. It requires that the intelligence community report to Congress on compliance with the Military Commissions Act and the Detainee Treatment Act. The American people should know that we have asked the Administration to provide us with all Department of Justice legal opinions about interrogation and detention programs--opinions which are sorely needed given the CIA's decision to destroy videotapes of interrogations. This Conference Report also increases Congressional oversight ability by strengthening the inspectors general of the intelligence community. The Report requires the CIA Inspector General to audit all covert action programs every three years. And it also requires the DNI to provide Congress a comprehensive listing of all special access programs. Members of the Intelligence Committee are concerned, with good cause, that the intelligence community has not been keeping us fully informed of all their activities. With this new Majority, the critical oversight which has been lacking for the last six years is finally being conducted. And unlike in the past, it is being done in an inclusive and bipartisan manner. Madam Speaker, the underlying Conference Report provides the necessary reforms and funding to ensure that America's intelligence community continues to pave the way in effective counter surveillance, human intelligence collection, and analysis. I urge my colleagues support for the rule and the underlying Conference Report. Madam Speaker, with that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Environmental Justice Access and Implementation Act of 2007. I am pleased to stand with my friends Representatives Hilda Solis, Keith Ellison and John Conyers for the environmental health of all communities by reintroducing this legislation updated from its previous introduction as H.R. 1648 in the 109th Congress. Once again, this bill will seek to direct federal agencies to establish offices of environmental justice, integrate environmental justice into the core missions of Federal agencies, and establish community technology centers to increase access to information about environmental hazards. Since the late 1970s and early 1980s, environmental injustices against communities of color and lower-income families have been identified throughout the Nation. Coupled with decades of thorough research acknowledging ``environmental racism'' and encouraging the pursuit of ``environmental justice,'' a tremendous movement has emerged. Recently, the United Church of Christ report ``Toxic Wastes and Race at Twenty: 1987-2007'' was released, synthesizing decades of environmental justice movement developments. This groundbreaking document chronicles the experiences of many communities throughout our Nation disadvantaged by environmental burdens. This report and other research demonstrate that federal agencies need to put their money where there mouth is to meet the expectations of Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low Income Populations, which was signed by former President Clinton on February 11, 1994. Our communities deserve access to information about the hazards of their immediate environment and have waited well over a decade for the goals set forth by the Executive Order to be met. Madam Speaker, I first introduced this legislation with a number of my colleagues in 2005 and eventually garnered the support of 67 cosponsors. To once again meet these goals and better compliment other legislative initiatives to achieve environmental justice, I have made a few key updates to this legislation in consultation with many stakeholders. Updates to this legislation include authorization of $1,000,000 annually for each established office of environmental justice in relevant agencies, as well as reporting requirements to increase the effectiveness of federal agency implementation and ensure proper Congressional oversight. This legislation has also been updated to refine criteria for the development of community technology centers, which will increase the accessibility of information about environmental hazards in many communities. For over a decade, agencies have been mandated to examine the impact of their policies on the environmental health of minority and low- income communities. Once we give those mandates true legal standing, we will be able to turn those mandates into action that directly serves our communities. We must legislate accountability and conscience in our permitting processes and environmental action to reduce the burden on low-income populations and communities of color. I am confident that the provisions of the Environmental Justice Access and Implementation Act will do just that. Madam Speaker, in closing, I encourage my colleagues to support this necessary legislation and look forward to its expedient passage.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great pleasure to commemorate the achievements of Captain Antonio Barrington Irving, the youngest pilot and first person of African descent to fly solo around the world. I thank Chairmen Oberstar and Costellos and Ranking Member Petri and the distinguished staff for their support and willingness to expedite the consideration of this resolution. Since we introduced H. Res. 661, my good friend, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Meek) and I have been joined by a bipartisan coalition of 43 cosponsors who also share our desire to encourage youth to pursue careers in aviation. It is our hope that recognizing Barrington Irving's achievement will encourage many more youth to reach for the same skies in which he made history. Barrington Irving was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1983, and soon after moved to Miami, Florida. When he was 15 years old, he met Captain Gary Robinson, a Jamaican airline pilot who became a lifelong mentor, inspiring him to fly one day himself. Enduring the challenges of growing up in inner-city Miami, Irving never let his dreams of becoming a pilot be stifled. He worked miscellaneous jobs to save for lessons, and eventually earned a joint Air Force-Florida Memorial University flight awareness scholarship to study aviation and take professional flying lessons. Barrington took tremendous steps to pursue his dream in aviation while still a student at Florida Memorial University. Mr. Oberstar, I am sure that a colleague of yours and a mentor of mine when I first came to Congress would be very proud of this young man, William Lehman, who at one time was in the same position as yourself as Chair of Transportation, developed the program at Florida Memorial University which allowed for a significant number of youngsters to achieve status as captains in aviation, many of whom have gone on to become commercial airline pilots and military pilots, and I am sure that Alabama Bill, as some of us know him, would be proud today. The reason I mention it is this program, when Carrie Meek came to Congress, Kendrick's mother, she continued the efforts on this program, as did Kendrick and others. I guess it comes under the heading ``earmark,'' perhaps. And if that is the case, then I continuously urge my colleagues to review the status of things when responsible acts are taking place and they are being made to sound irresponsible because they are identified as earmarks. We need to be very cautious in this institution in that regard because we ignore a lot of time opportunities like in this particular case. This young man contacted many companies and convinced the aircraft manufacturer Columbia to provide him with a plane to fly around the world if he could secure donations and the components. After successfully securing donations, Barrington embarked on a 24,600-mile flight around the world from Opa Locka, Florida on March 23, 2007. Only 23 years of age, he was still a senior, majoring in aerospace, that program that I talked about that Bill Lehman helped to develop at Florida Memorial University, and he was a senior at the time he began this flight. He traveled the world as an ambassador of aviation, teaching young people in 27 cities around the world about opportunities in aviation and the importance of academics. He returned from his journey on June 27, 2007, concluding his flight at the same small airport from where he began in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Mr. Speaker and Mr. Chairman, this young man embodied the perseverance and dedication necessary to truly pursue one's dreams. Barrington Irving deserves praise not only for his achievement, but for the continued community contributions of Experience Aviation, Inc., a nonprofit organization he founded to address the shortage of youth pursuing careers in aviation. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I thank you, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Petri and the staff as we work on many initiatives to come that will reprioritize opportunities in aviation for our youth and promote achievement in all fields of human endeavor.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today with my good friends and original cosponsors of this important resolution, Representatives Robert Wexler, chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Mark Kirk to introduce a resolution expressing gratitude to all of the member states of the International Commission of the International Tracing Service (ITS) on ratifying the May 2006 Agreement to grant open access to vast Holocaust and other World War II-related archives located in Bad Arolsen, Germany. I am thankful for their bipartisan leadership, not only on this issue to open the Bad Arolsen archives, but on wider issues of anti-Semitism in general. This legislation is the culmination of longstanding efforts I have made with Representatives Wexler, Ros-Lehtinen, Kirk, and others to release these crucial Holocaust records. Madam Speaker, November 28, 2007, was a historic moment in time when for the first time in 62 years, Holocaust survivors, their descendants, researchers, and the public were allowed open access to the International Tracing Service (ITS) archives in Bad Arolsen, Germany, the largest closed Holocaust-era archives in the world. These significant archives contain 50 million records on the fates of some 17.5 million individual victims of Nazi brutality. Everything from lists of the names of Holocaust concentration camp victims murdered on Hitler's birthday to death camp prisoners' personal affect cards are included in these records, and each holds an important place in the memory of a victim. Until earlier this year, when Holocaust survivors requested information from the ITS, they were shamefully often provided with letters written entirely in German with incomplete or misinformation about the horrors they had experienced. Often survivors passed away prior to ever being provided the truth about their experiences under Nazi persecution. Until only 2 weeks ago, these historic materials were held secret from researchers and research institutions and the general public. In today's world, filled with growing international intolerance including anti-Semitism, hate, racial bigotry, xenophobia, and religious discrimination, it could not be more urgent and critical to allow for unfettered access to these archives. The ultimate release of these documents serves to further delegitimize international leaders who insist on spewing Holocaust denial and other anti-Semitic rhetoric. Allowing for open access to these historical records also contributes to the world's collective memory of the Holocaust atrocities and ensures that these historic documents will be preserved and shared with future generations when survivors are no longer among us. I am thankful for the efforts made by the Holocaust Memorial Museum, the State Department, survivor groups, and this body of Congress to pressure the member states of the International Tracing Service to ratify the 1955 Bonn Accords and throw open the doors of these archives. The new leadership of the International Committee of the Red Cross at the ITS should also be commended for their efforts to provide more expeditious and comprehensive responses to survivors and their descendants. A year ago, the ITS faced a 140,000 backlog of survivor and others' inquiries. Today, the ITS has reduced the requests to less than half of that amount and is committed to processing incoming requests within 8 weeks. Our collaborative bipartisan efforts have truly paid off. I am most appreciative that the remaining European ITS member states ultimately recognized the justifiable and moral importance of combating modern day anti-Semitism with the release of these archives. This resolution serves to commend all parties who assisted in opening the archives and increasing their accessibility to all. Finally, remaining survivors and researchers alike will be able to view these tremendously important documents and hopefully find closure on one of the darkest moments in history. Our efforts send a robust message to the world that the atrocities and murders of the Holocaust victims shall forever remain at the forefront of our collective and individual memories. May we never forget the horrors of the Holocaust and view this historic moment as a constant reminder of what happens when humanity is silenced and evil permitted to wage war on the innocent. I ask for my colleagues' support and urge the swift passage of this resolution.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to introduce significant bipartisan legislation with my colleague and fellow co-chair of the Everglades Caucus, Representative Mario Diaz- Balart to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Everglades National Park. For years, Representative Diaz-Balart and I have been working together to preserve and restore the Everglades, and I am pleased to be introducing this resolution with him. Sixty years ago tomorrow, President Harry S. Truman dedicated Everglades National Park. Today, this vast subtropical wilderness in the United States is habitat to many endangered species as well as an international center for business, agriculture, and tourism. Everglades National Park has been designated an International Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage Site, and a Wetland of International Importance in recognition of its significance to all the people of the world. Over time, however, management and development activities have destroyed our nations' majestic wetlands. Today the River of Grass is only half of its original size. Sadly, the ecosystem's tree islands and mangroves have been largely destroyed and its estuaries have become barren. In response to threats to this pristine ecosystem, in 2000, Congress passed an ambitious restoration plan called the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). In doing so, we commit the Federal government to become an equal partner with the State of Florida to restore the Everglades and protect the River of Grass. Regrettably, since the passage of this legislation, restoration efforts in Congress have been mired. For 7 years under Republican rule, Congress failed to afford Everglades revitalization efforts the priority they deserved and failed to properly fund restoration programs. As a result of Congress' delays in authorizing financing and developmental pressures in South Florida, the costs of repairing the Everglades have drastically soared. Today we have a new Congress with new priorities. This Democratic Congress has worked relentlessly--in a bipartisan fashion--to keep the Federal government's end of the bargain and restore its commitment to the River of Grass. Just last month, Congress overrode a President Bush veto and passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2007, authorizing $1.8 billion in Everglades restoration funding, including funding the two long awaited and critical projects: the Indian River Lagoon and the Picayune Strand. As we pause to celebrate the anniversary of the Everglades National Park tomorrow, we enhance our vigilant efforts to restore and conserve the Park to the pristine ecosystem it once was. As Marjory Stoneman Douglas wrote in The Everglades: River of Grass, ``There is a balance in man also, one which has set against his greed and his inertia and his foolishness. . . . Perhaps even in this last hour, in a new relation of usefulness and beauty, the vast magnificent, subtle and unique region of the Everglades may not be utterly lost.'' Today, I rise to ensure that these majestic wetlands will forever be remembered, preserved and protected for all future generations of Americans to enjoy.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, as Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, which has exercised unprecedented leadership in the global fight to combat trafficking in human beings, I rise in support of H.R. 3887, the Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2007. From our earliest awareness of this cruel phenomenon which enslaves an estimated 27 million victims, the Commission has led in the effort to mobilize nations to implement effective measures to combat human trafficking. My fellow Commissioner and former Chairman of the Commission, Representative Chris Smith is among those who has led the effort to bring an end to this modern day form of slavery, authoring the trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and its subsequent reauthorizations. Today, the Commission continues its work to support efforts to combat this global crime within the framework of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Most recently, the Commission conducted an oversight hearing last October 11, to explore the progress made in combating human trafficking and the adequacy of resources dedicated to identifying victims of trafficking for forced labor, an area that we believe would benefit from additional resources and attention. The reauthorization bill that we are taking action on today marks another important milestone in preventing the inhumane practice of human trafficking, protecting trafficking victims, and prosecuting the criminals that perpetrate these crimes. In addition to bolstering the resources needed to continue various anti-trafficking programs, H.R. 3887, which I cosponsored, would strengthen mechanisms for fighting human trafficking overseas, through the provision of capacity building support to foreign governments to bolster investigative mechanisms and legal protective frameworks for immigrant populations and migrant workers. Importantly, the measure would also address the transnational nature of human trafficking by providing increased support and protection for refugees and internally displaced populations. This legislation also seeks to improve transparency and evaluation of trafficking programs, and would designate governments that remain on the special watch list for 2 consecutive years among those whose efforts to combat trafficking are inadequate. This reauthorization bill will improve mechanisms to better identify and protect trafficking victims, while increasing accountability on the part of governments in their anti-trafficking efforts. It takes a comprehensive approach to a gross criminal exploitation, and I urge my colleagues to support the legislation.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 4 minutes to the distinguished chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence, Mr. Reyes.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 824 and ask for its immediate consideration.

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

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, for a year and a half, the Intelligence and Judiciary Committees have been working with the administration to craft a bill that will ensure our Nation is protected, without sacrificing American constitutional liberties. Let me just talk about some of the people that have had input into that particular measure. The chairman of the Judiciary Committee, John Conyers; the chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence, Silvestre Reyes; the ranking members of both of those committees, including Mr. Hoekstra; all of the members of the Select Committee on Intelligence, including myself; Ms. Harman, who serves on Homeland Security. Countless testimonies during that year and a half, hundreds of discussions and negotiations between the staffs of the respective committees, and a markup of this particular provision that the Republicans brought only two amendments to in the markup in the Select Committee on Intelligence. We negotiated. We compromised. We reached an agreement. Then the administration backed out of the agreement. So we negotiated some more. We compromised some more. We reached another agreement. We reached agreements until we were blue in the face here in August. Everybody was so tired, and the administration continued to back out of the agreement. Then, less than 24 hours before the bill was supposed to come to the floor in August, the administration reneged on the agreement and refused to work with us to protect the American people. Last month, Democrats again brought this bill to the floor, and yet again Republicans tried to play politics with the safety of the American people. Just as they did this past summer, Republicans and the administration now seem content on letting the clock run out on the current FISA law rather than working with us to get something done. They choose and chose obstructionism rather than bipartisan cooperation. Mr. Speaker, the American public needs to know that there are no persons in the United States Congress that do not want to protect the security and liberty of the United States. So I do not cast aspersions on my colleagues for having a different view as to how administratively we should proceed to protect those securities and liberties, but everybody here is mindful of all of our responsibilities. So the hyperbole is off the chain sometimes when I hear people talk and it is as if we didn't really do substantively what was required of us as individuals on behalf of the American people. None of us should be ashamed of any of the work that was done with reference to the RESTORE Act. We made a bad bill better. And it is not as good, for example, as I would like for it to be, but it is as good as we are going to get with this administration at this time. The esteemed chairperson of the Intelligence Committee, Representative Reyes, has noted on more than one occasion: You can have your own opinion, but you can't have your own facts. Mr. Speaker, those are the well-documented facts that I just got through dealing with. The RESTORE Act protects the American people. It protects them at home and on the streets. It protects their safety and the constitutional rights, which have been intact more than 225 years, and no one need fear when the fearmongers come here and try to divide people by having somebody think that undocumented aliens are going to be put in some category. I personally am just tired of the smearing that is being done with reference to immigration in this country. We need a solid immigration policy, and we need a policy that contemplates all of the particulars of that immigration set of circumstances. Mr. Speaker, this body has the responsibility today to pass this rule and the underlying legislation today. The security of this Nation requires it of all of us, and I believe all of us want that security and liberty. I urge a ``yes'' vote on the previous question and on the rule. The material previously referred to by Mr. Hastings of Washington is as follows: Amendment to H. Res. 824 Offered by Mr. Hastings of Washington At the end of the resolution, add the following: Sec. 2. The House disagrees to the Senate amendment to the bill, H.R. 2642, making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes, and agrees to the conference requested by the Senate thereon. The Speaker shall appoint conferees immediately, but may declare a recess under clause 12(a) of rule I for the purpose of consulting the Minority Leader prior to such appointment. The motion to instruct conferees otherwise in order pending the appointment of conferees instead shall be in order only at a time designated by the Speaker in the legislative schedule within two additional legislative days after adoption of this resolution. (The information contained herein was provided by Democratic Minority on multiple occasions throughout the 109th Congress.) The Vote on the Previous Question: What It Really Means This vote, the vote on whether to order the previous question on a special rule, is not merely a procedural vote. A vote against ordering the previous question is a vote against the Democratic majority agenda and a vote to allow the opposition, at least for the moment, to offer an alternative plan. It is a vote about what the House should be debating. Mr. Clarence Cannon's Precedents of the House of Representatives, (VI, 308-311) describes the vote on the previous question on the rule as ``a motion to direct or control the consideration of the subject before the House being made by the Member in charge.'' To defeat the previous question is to give the opposition a chance to decide the subject before the House. Cannon cites the Speaker's ruling of January 13, 1920, to the effect that ``the refusal of the House to sustain the demand for the previous question passes the control of the resolution to the opposition'' in order to offer an amendment. On March 15, 1909, a member of the majority party offered a rule resolution. The House defeated the previous question and a member of the opposition rose to a parliamentary inquiry, asking who was entitled to recognition. Speaker Joseph G. Cannon (R-Illinois) said: ``The previous question having been refused, the gentleman from New York, Mr. Fitzgerald, who had asked the gentleman to yield to him for an amendment, is entitled to the first recognition.'' Because the vote today may look bad for the Democratic majority they will say ``the vote on the previous question is simply a vote on whether to proceed to an immediate vote on adopting the resolution . . . [and] has no substantive legislative or policy implications whatsoever.'' But that is not what they have always said. Listen to the definition of the previous question used in the Floor Procedures Manual published by the Rules Committee in the 109th Congress, (page 56). Here's how the Rules Committee described the rule using information from Congressional Quarterly's ``American Congressional Dictionary'': ``If the previous question is defeated, control of debate shifts to the leading opposition member (usually the minority Floor Manager) who then manages an hour of debate and may offer a germane amendment to the pending business.'' Deschler's Procedure in the U.S. House of Representatives, the subchapter titled ``Amending Special Rules'' states: ``a refusal to order the previous question on such a rule [a special rule reported from the Committee on Rules] opens the resolution to amendment and further debate.'' (Chapter 21, section 21.2) Section 21.3 continues: ``Upon rejection of the motion for the previous question on a resolution reported from the Committee on Rules, control shifts to the Member leading the opposition to the previous question, who may offer a proper amendment or motion and who controls the time for debate thereon.'' Clearly, the vote on the previous question on a rule does have substantive policy implications. It is one of the only available tools for those who oppose the Democratic majority's agenda and allows those with alternative views the opportunity to offer an alternative plan.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Missouri, the distinguished chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Mr. Skelton.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, would you be so kind as to inform each side as to the amount of time remaining.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I would say to my friend from Florida that this rule doesn't change the law. Members will still have an opportunity to vote on the base text of this bill. It doesn't change the law of FISA. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas, my good friend and classmate, Mr. Doggett.