Alcee Hastings

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my colleague on the Rules Committee and my good friend from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern).

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 1 minute to my good friend, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett). (Mr. DOGGETT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Kilpatrick), my good friend.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 1\1/ 4\ minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Owens), who will be leaving us, but will leave us with wonderful words, my friend. (Mr. OWENS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased that my colleague took cognizance of the fact that Florida still needs help; and I would remind him that it is a Republican majority there now. Mr. Speaker, how much time remains for each side?

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield), a former voting rights attorney. (Mr. BUTTERFIELD asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 1 minute to my good friend the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Solis).

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. How much time do I have, Mr. Speaker?

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson).

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Ruppersberger).

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to my classmate and good friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. Becerra).

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones), a former judge.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Scott).

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters) who has been a leader in this fight for a substantial number of years.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the remaining time. Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier today, this is not a period for jubilation. We do not have to come here and congratulate ourselves for the reason that suggests that history is our best judge. I also said that through these eyes I have seen the tyranny of racism. And through these eyes I have seen this great Nation change and become more tolerant. But to suggest that we have arrived at a point where we no longer would need the Voting Rights Act and measures that protect minorities would be foolhardy. The harsh reality remains that the suppression and disenfranchisement of minority voters is still tolerated. We saw it, as Ms. Brown just said, in 2000. We saw it, as Ms. Tubbs Jones just said, in 2004 in Ohio. And the likelihood is that we will see it in 2006 and 2008 in some other State where it seems that those in the majority require a victory regardless of the means to their end. We should fear those who dismiss concerns, deny such problems exist, and claim ignorance and naivete as to the reasons for years of neglect. These are the answers given by those who sat idly by throughout history when the rights and privileges of the weak and poor have been trampled on by the power. When history judges our actions today, it will question whether or not we met the expectations levied by those who have come before us: Did we break down barriers or build up walls? Did we adhere to the Biblical admonition that we are our brother's keeper? General Leave

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues have made the case for the extension of the Voting Rights Act, and I echo their sentiments. When this matter comes to the floor, if it comes, and it should today be made in order as a rule, then I will have an opportunity to speak more in that regard. But today I rise, in addition to asking in the world's oldest democracy that we extend the Voting Rights Act, that we recognize that on yesterday the world's largest democracy was attacked in a significant and condemnatory way. These events seem to take place on days of the 11th, and yesterday in India, despicable acts took place by those who would take the lives of innocents. In Madrid, in London, in Bali, the same thing happened. I do acknowledge the fact that hurriedly yesterday the foreign minister of Pakistan condemned those bombings, and I commend him in that regard. It was said earlier and reported today in one of our newspapers that in Europe it was said after September 11, ``We are all Americans now.'' Today, after yesterday in India, ``We are all Indians now.''

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to condemn the barbaric acts of terrorism that occurred yesterday in Mumbai, India and to introduce a resolution regarding this tragedy. Innocent civilians were traveling on commuter trains during rush hour and seven deadly blasts took their lives. More than 200 were killed and 700 were injured. These appalling blasts created horror, chaos and mayhem in Mumbai, a city of 16 million people. I've traveled to India four times and each time has been an awakening experience. When traveling in India, I realized the vivacity of the culture and the people. I would like to take this time to reach out to my Indian-American constituents in the 23rd District of Florida. I am deeply concerned for your loved ones back in your native land. I am praying for you and your family and hope the recovery is quick and steady. The country of India was founded on the principle of nonviolence and it continues in the international fight against terrorism. I believe anyone who would want to inflict pain and terror onto the people of India should be denounced and prosecuted. Upon finding out about the blasts in Mumbai yesterday, I immediately felt sorrow. I was reminded of how our nation felt after 9/11 and how India was amongst the first nations to express its condolences to the U.S. following the attacks. On behalf of the United States House of Representatives, I wish to express my condolences to the Government of India and her people. We stand with you today, we stood with you yesterday, and we will stand with you throughout the fight against terrorism. I urge my colleagues to quickly pass this resolution.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to condemn yesterday's brutal attack by a terrorist group on Israel, which took the lives of eight Israeli Defense Forces soldiers and captured two others, on the Israel-Lebanon border. The actions of the terrorist organization, Hezbollah, against Israel are unconscionable. Instead of working towards peace, Hezbollah has chosen to perpetuate the violence. Terrorist attacks such as these are cowardly actions that resolve nothing. From the South, Israel has been attacked by the terrorist organization Hamas with Kassam rockets and had one of her soldiers kidnapped. Hezbollah's current terrorist assault from the North does not further any legitimate peace process. The timing of these aggressions only serves to enhance the existing tensions in the region. Israel has complied with the U.N. charter and has completely withdrawn from Lebanon since May 2000. Now it is time for the Lebanese government to abide by the U.N.'s rules. In refusing to disarm Hezbollah as required by U.N. Resolution 1559, the Lebanese government is choosing to openly ignore the decree of the international body. I call upon Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora to accept responsibility and take immediate action against the terrorist group which Lebanon harbors. Let us not be misled into believing these attacks arise from a single source. The terrorist organizations, Hezbollah and Hamas, are unquestionably sponsored and guided by the Iranian and Syrian governments. The United States Congress must not allow the Iranian government to use bloodshed as a deflecting tactic against U.S. attention from their unrestricted nuclear program. The Syrian and Iranian governments should be condemned along with the terrorist groups they harbor. In response to these brutal attacks by terrorists, Israel must have the right to defend herself. Like the United States and other sovereign nations, Israel is justified in reestablishing its deterrent posture. I express my condolences to the families of the attacked soldiers, and offer a prayer for the safe return of the two kidnapped soldiers from the Lebanon border and the soldier kidnapped in Gaza. I pray for the ultimate end of the cycle of violence in the Middle East.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 1 minute to my good friend from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky).

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman, my classmate, Ms. Woolsey.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased at this time to yield 3\1/2\ minutes to my good friend from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey). He is a former ranking member of the Resources Committee, and has, in my judgment, extraordinary clarity regarding the issue of the day here in Congress.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. As I recall, my friend from Pleasantville and Happy Valley wanted drilling 3 miles out, he perceives it as such an emergency. I find it strange that people that live so far away from the potential problem have all of the correct answers. If we were drilling in Happy Valley outside of Penn State, you would be down here concerned, as I am, and Ms. Lee, who comes from San Francisco Bay in Oakland, California, who understands something about drilling. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased at this time to yield 3 minutes to my friend from Louisiana (Mr. Melancon).

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to my good friend from California (Mrs. Capps) who knows a little bit about the coastline, being from Santa Barbara.