Alcee Hastings

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Treasury-Postal Operations appropriations bill for fiscal year 2002 and in support of the rule. I want to congratulate the gentleman from Oklahoma (Chairman Istook) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), for their work on this bill and for their recognition of the importance to the entire country of the necessary departments and agencies it funds. For a moment, let me just say how important this bill is to the American people. It funds such diverse agencies as Customs and the Postal Service. It increases funding for the Office of National Drug Control Policy and the National Archives. Mr. Speaker, in addition to the programs and agencies of national interest that I just alluded to, this bill contains a number of significant projects important to my home State of Florida that I would like to highlight briefly. I am pleased that this bill contains $15 million for the completion of the new Federal courthouse in Miami. I cannot overemphasize the importance to our region that this facility will have. I know full well the burdens that our courts and judges face today. They have a difficult job in ideal circumstances. However, when these jurists are not given adequate facilities and resources, their job is made that much more difficult. For the very same reasons, it is worth noting that this bill continues significant funding for the proposed new United States Courthouse in Orlando. I am especially pleased to see that the Committee on Appropriations has directed that the courthouse must complement the historic community and the future Florida A&M college of law. As an alumnus of the law school, I am certain that the new facility in Orlando will continue the proud tradition of FAMU. Additionally, this bill contains funding for improvements to the Federal building in Jacksonville and to the Federal Courthouse in Tallahassee. Let me be perfectly clear, these are necessary funds; and, frankly, they are needed throughout the country. As the ranking member, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) and the others note in the report that accompanies this bill, this is not an issue of luxury for the judiciary. The courthouse requests represent an effort to keep up with the skyrocketing judicial workload while ensuring a safe environment for employees, detainees, and the public. I could not agree more. Mr. Speaker, very soon in this debate my colleague and neighbor, the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek), will seek time to explain a very worthy program that she has fought tirelessly for. Let me briefly extend my support to the First Accounts program. While the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek) will go into more detail, suffice it to say that this is one of the few programs in this bill which specifically targets low-income Americans. I wholeheartedly support the program and urge its full funding and authorization. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to discuss what I perceive to be one major omission of this otherwise good bill. This bill funds the Federal Election Commission. It has now been 240 days since our last Federal election, 240 days since we discovered what problems exist in this country when it comes to elections. Mr. Speaker, I am embarrassed to report to the American people that, since the last election, Congress has done nothing, nothing in the area of appropriations. While we are spending millions of dollars on the Salt Lake Olympics and billions on a tax cut for the wealthy, we have not spent one penny to fix the problems that plague the last election, not one cent. Columnist E.J. Dionne said yesterday, ``Some problems are genuinely difficult to solve. Some problems are easy. When the solutions are clear, a failure to act is irresponsible, the result of a lack of will.'' I submit to my colleagues and to the American people that the solutions to our disgraceful election systems are abundantly clear. Congress' failure to act is worse than irresponsible, it is shameful. The amendment I will offer later today is the first step toward fixing the problems that our States face in updating and modernizing their election equipment. In fact, to my knowledge, Mr. Speaker, this will be the first time that Congress discusses this issue in the context of floor consideration of a relevant appropriations measure. Sure, Members have spoken in special orders, in travel around the country, or in hearings. They have had 1-minutes here on the floor. But, until today, we have been unable to discuss dollars and cents. I look forward to the candid debate that I am certain the amendment will generate. With that aside, Mr. Speaker, let me again say that this is a reasonably good bill, and the rule is fine as far as it goes. I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma (Chairman Istook) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), for bringing this bill to the House. This is a mostly bipartisan bill that helps millions of Americans from coast to coast, and I urge passage of the bill and adoption of the rule.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4\1/2\ minutes to my friend, the distinguished gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume merely to respond to the distinguished gentleman from Maryland, the ranking member of the committee, that the jurisdiction allows for what is being contemplated today. I want to thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) because I know of his sincerity in proposing measures that will assist in remedying the many problems in this country with reference to our election system. I have been asked often, as I travel about the country, how much is it going to cost? And my reply has been and will continue to be that democracy does not have a price. We spend money around here on fleas knees studies. So it would seem to me that we could find money to correct problems that exist throughout this Nation with reference to the infrastructure for our election systems. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Matheson).

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would say to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder) that it is regrettable that it does not, because I for one believe that we are deserving of a cost of living adjustment, just so I go on record. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson), one of our newer Members.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price). (Mr. PRICE of North Carolina asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Paterson, New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell).

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from Jacksonville, Florida (Ms. Brown), who happens to have a number of constituents standing by.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek).

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to myself. Mr. Chairman, my amendment provides an additional $600 million to the Federal Elections Commission for the purpose of assisting State and local officials in updating their voting systems. 240 days have passed since last year's embarrassment of an election. Congress should have acted by now. Aside from 1 minute speeches and special orders, press conferences, and hearings, this is the first time election reform has even been discussed in a meaningful way on the floor of the House, or in either of our legislative bodies. The simple fact is the absence of a real debate on election reform is as much of an embarrassment as was the last election. Following last year's election, Florida's failing election system became the punch line of nearly ever political joke around. However, Florida took the criticism, bounced back and passed what I consider up to this point to be the most comprehensive election reform package in the country, albeit still deficient. It is not perfect by any means. Florida's new election law seeks to remedy some of the core problems that occurred last year, particularly in the area of updating voting technology. However, as counties throughout Florida begin to update their voting systems, they are finding themselves unable to fund their needs, and this is true across America. In my home county, Broward, it will cost more than $20 million to purchase the state-of-the-art voting system. The State is providing Broward County with a mere $2.3 million, leaving the county with the remaining tab. Broward County, ground zero during the election debate, may not purchase the best voting machines on the market because it cannot afford them. My concern is if we do not appropriate now and legislate later, as Senator McConnell has said, then we are missing our opportunity to provide the necessary funds in time for election day 2002. Mr. Chairman, Republican leadership has yet to provide us with a formal commitment that a submittal or emergency appropriations bill will accompany any election reform legislation. I am hopeful that, as this debate progresses, such commitment will be made. The amendment sends a message to the American people that help is on the way. My amendment says to State and local governments throughout America that the Federal Government wants to assist them in updating their voting technology. The amendment makes the commitment that Congress has yet to make. Contrary to what many argue, the need for election reform is much more than a civil rights issue. Rather, the need for election reform is a challenge to our democracy. It is a challenge that burns at the heart of every American who believes in our country's democratic heritage. It is a challenge that we cannot back down from, and it is a challenge that we will not back down from. There is no price tag for democracy, and it is time for Congress to tell America that it is willing to spend whatever it takes. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the Crowley-Royce-McDermott Amendment. It is difficult for us to imagine the magnitude of destruction and loss caused by India's devastating earthquake in Gujarat. With over 30,000 dead, 500,000 homeless, and over $5.5 billion worth of damage, Gujarat desperately needs the resources to begin rebuilding and recovering from this tragic event. As India's largest trading partner and investor, the United States has a duty to help the people of Gujarat and ensure that natural disasters do not fracture the foundation of the world's largest democracy. The key to avoiding the unnecessary deaths of thousands of individuals is to institute disaster preparedness and response programs throughout India. Many South Asian countries have asked our government for technical assistance so that they can develop disaster management programs. In order to be successful, however, these efforts need sufficient funds and resources. An additional $10 million in aid, a relatively modest contribution for the U.S., would not only provide relief to victims of the recent earthquake, but also help prevent future deaths should another earthquake strike this geographically vulnerable region. With the proper resources, India can harness its manpower to surmount nature's greatest obstacles including cyclones, droughts, floods, and earthquakes. We cannot afford to see a repeat of January's tragedy, and we cannot watch as a nation which accounts for a quarter of the world's poor experiences needless suffering. I am certain that Congress will recognize that it would be inhumane not to vote in favor of this highly cost-effective amendment. Amendment Offered by Mr. Kolbe as a Substitute for Amendment No. 12 Offered by Mr. Crowley

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, last week, the House of Representatives attempted to consider campaign finance reform. While the House ultimately decided not to consider the legislation because of a ridiculous rule, it is significant that campaign finance reform has come to the floor for a vote before election reform has even been debated. I was the first to point out that it does not matter how much money we spend on our campaigns, or for that matter, how much money we do not spend on our campaigns, if votes still do not count. It is clear to me that after last year's farce of an election, in which it was discovered that thousands of Americans nationwide had their right to vote stripped from them, Congress would have acted by now. But Congress has not acted. Congress remained silent when the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights released its findings that minority voters were more likely to have their votes thrown out than non-minority voters. Congress remained silent when thousands of voters testified to civil rights groups such as the NAACP, the National Council of La Raza, the ACLU, and this Committee, discussing the many problems they faced at the polls last November. Congress still remains silent, while Americans become more cynical by the day. The debate that needs to commence is not on how much money we spend on our campaigns. Instead, the debate should focus on how much money we are not spending on our elections. My home county, Broward County, may not purchase the best voting machines on the market because it cannot afford it. We need to be talking about how to get Broward County, and every other county in this country, the needed funds to improve their election systems. Mr. Speaker, contrary to what many argue, the need for election reform is much more than a civil rights issue. Rather, the need for election reform is a challenge to our democracy. It is a challenge that calls on us to reaffirm our commitment to the principles and ideals that our country's founding fathers died defending. It is a challenge that burns at the heart of every American who believes in our country's democratic heritage. It is a challenge that we cannot back down from, and it is a challenge that we will not back down from. Finally, it is a challenge that must be overcome before history repeats itself.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to commend the efforts of several Florida-based institutions who are working to address the too-often ignored problem of Mother-to-Child-Transmission of HIV-AIDS in Africa. We have spoken much about the overall crisis of HIV-AIDS in Africa, but the aspect of innocent children on the Continent contracting HIV- AIDS has not been as widely discussed. According to the most recent statistics from UNAIDS, the rates of HIV infection among African women are high. In several countries, more than 15 percent of women of reproductive age have contracted the virus. As high as 35 percent of these women will pass on the virus to their children curing pregnancy, during labor and delivery or during breast-feeding. Already, more than 600,000 African children age 14 or below have died from HIV-AIDS, and an additional one million African children are now living with the disease. Mr. Chairman, the Foundation for Democracy in Africa, through its Institute for Democracy in Africa based in Miami, Florida, is leading efforts to enhance the capacity of African medical personnel to properly handle HIV-positive mothers so that their babies do not join the growing list of victims of this merciless killer disease. The Foundation is currently working with the University of Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital to develop a comprehensive HIV-AIDS treatment strategy for African nations. This collaboration is being encouraged and facilitated by Miami-Dade County. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to encourage their own local and state institutions to put in place efforts to use their resources and expertise in the fight against the scourge of HIV-AIDS in Africa.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I yield to the gentleman from Virginia.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I am willing to concede the point of order and withdraw my amendment, but first I would like to engage in a colloquy with the distinguished chairman of the committee, the gentleman from Virginia; and the distinguished ranking member the gentleman, from New York; and my good friend, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley). I thank particularly the chairman and the ranking member for their consideration, mindful of the time constraints that are involved. For the past year, the entire South Florida community has fallen victim to an ongoing drought. While larger, wealthier communities have been able to survive, smaller, poorer cities and towns have merely scraped by on savings that no longer exist. Without the immediate assistance of the Federal Government, these communities will find themselves facing extinction. Small towns located on the shores of Lake Okeechobee, that my good friend the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley) and I represent, such as the city of Pahokee, depend on a tourist industry that attracts thousands of recreational boaters, who travel inland from the coasts to enjoy the lake as well as the local restaurants and shops. In addition, the city's growing commercial fishing industry has come to a standstill. In fact, fishermen's boats are unable to even make it to the water which has evaporated so much that its nearest point of entry is 1\1/2\ miles inland. Both recreational and fishing boats docked at Pahokee's city marina now lie on their sides against what used to be the floor of the city's marina. The City of Pahokee is in dire need of $250,000 in Federal assistance to dredge the city marina. This project will provide immediate assistance to the businesses that depend on the marina as a deeper marina will be able to recover from the drought at a quicker pace than a shallower one. The State of Florida has agreed to pay for half of the project, but Pahokee is unable to recover the remainder of the costs. Just this morning, I received a copy of a letter from Florida Governor Jeb Bush urging the Small Business Administration to declare the counties surrounding the gentleman's from Florida (Mr. Foley) and my district's area a disaster area. I am confident with the leadership of the gentleman from Virginia and the gentleman from New York I can go home and tell the people of Pahokee that help is on the way.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I thank the gentleman. This issue is a bipartisan issue. It is one that affects the lives of thousands in South Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield to my good friend and neighbor, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley), who has worked so hard with me to restore the livelihood of those living in the communities around Lake Okeechobee.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I yield to the gentleman from New York.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Reclaiming my time, I thank the gentleman for his kindness and look forward to working with him.

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

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I would just like to once again thank the distinguished chairman, the gentleman from Virginia, and the distinguished ranking member, the gentleman from New York, for all their help on this important issue to the people of South Florida. I would also like to thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley) for joining me on the floor today in support of this project. I look forward to working with the gentleman in the coming weeks on this and many other issues affecting the people of South Florida and this Nation. Finally, I would like to say to the people of Pahokee, help is on the way. Mr. Chairman, I withdraw my amendment.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

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

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. First, Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. It is a pleasure to serve on the Committee on Rules with the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder). Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to House Joint Resolution 36. I firmly believe that passing this constitutional amendment would abandon the very values and principles upon which this country was founded. Make no mistake, I deplore the desecration of the flag. The flag is a symbol of our country and a reminder of our great heritage. I find it unfortunate and repugnant that a few individuals choose to desecrate that which we hold so dear. However, it is because of my love for the flag and the country for which it stands that, unfortunately, I have no choice but to oppose this well-intentioned yet misguided, in my view, legislation. Our country was founded on certain principles. Chief among these principles is freedom of speech and expression. These freedoms were included in the Bill of Rights because the Founding Fathers took deliberate steps to avoid creating a country in which individuals' civil liberties could be abridged by the Government. Yet that is exactly what this amendment would do. It begins a dangerous trend in which the Government can decide which ideas are legal and which must be suppressed. Ultimately, we must remember that it is not simply the flag we honor but, rather, the principles it embodies. To restrict people's means of expression would do nothing but abandon those principles, and to destroy these principles would be a far greater travesty than to destroy its symbol. Indeed, it would render the symbol meaningless. Earlier this month, Mr. Speaker, I was with a group of 15 Members of Congress who were visiting the American cemetery in Normandy, France. There we saw the graves of more than 9,000 men and women who gave their lives not just for the liberation of Europe but in defense of an idea: democracy, and all that it stands for. What democracy stands for is forever enshrined in our Constitution. These men and women who died for an idea, and the patriots who came before and after them, understand that idea. I brought back these two flags, this one especially, the American flag. The other is the flag of France. I hold it here to remind myself of what others gave so that I may be here today in this country which protects individual rights and liberties more than any other country in the world. Understand, though, this flag itself has little inherent value. It is cloth attached to a piece of wood. The value of this cloth is in the messages that it conveys and the country that it stands for and the people who have fought and died to keep this flag and others like it flying high and free. Those men who died storming Omaha and Utah Beaches did not fight for a flag; they fought for the idea that our flag represents. This amendment, in my view, would diminish what those brave men and women fought and died for. The last time Congress debated a similar bill, retired four-star general and current Secretary of State Colin Powell said that he would not support amending the Constitution to protect the flag. In fact, General Powell said, ``I would not amend that great shield of democracy to hammer a few miscreants. The flag will be flying proudly long after they have slunk away.'' We are too secure as a Nation to risk our commitment to freedom by endeavoring to legislate patriotism. If we tamper with our Constitution because of the antics of a handful of thoughtless and obnoxious people, we will have reduced the flag as a symbol of freedom, not enhanced it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. First, Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder) for yielding me this time. This seems to be my and his day for rulemaking here in the House. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Commerce, Justice, State, Judiciary, and related agencies appropriations bill for fiscal year 2002 and in support of the rule. I want to congratulate the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf), the chairman of this subcommittee, and the ranking member, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano), for their work on this bill and for their recognition of the importance to the entire country of the necessary departments and agencies it funds. In years past, this has been a very controversial bill. I am satisfied that this year we have a bill that is fair, balanced, and enjoys wide bipartisan support. For a moment, let me just say how important to the American people this bill is. It funds programs like the Legal Services Corporation and the Immigration and Naturalization Service. It increases funding for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the United States Commission on Civil Rights. Additionally, this bill funds the very critical programs that our embassies around the world carry out every day. These hardworking unheralded women and men work hard for the American people every day and everywhere. From Baku to Buenos Aires, and from Quito to Cairo, our foreign service personnel have some of the most difficult jobs in the world. The increases in funding in this bill for embassy and consular security are most needed and should, in my opinion, be increased. Mr. Speaker, in addition to the programs of national interest that I alluded to above, this bill contains a number of significant projects important to my south Florida district that I would like to highlight briefly. I am pleased this bill contains more than $1.4 million for the continued restoration of the south Florida ecosystem. Funding for these projects includes important work being done at the National Coral Reef Institute in Dania Beach, Florida; and I am thrilled that Congress continues its commitment to this facility through this bill. Protection of Florida's unique environment and the animals that inhabit it are aided by this bill. Specifically, this bill allocates $1.7 million for the Marine Mammal Commission for continuation of studies to further protect the endangered Florida manatee. Additionally, this bill continues funding for the Caribbean Initiative, which provides added resources to the FBI, DEA, and the INS for the region that includes Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, and south Florida. I am pleased to see that the bill before us includes significant funding for the Community Oriented Policing Services, the COPS program, administered by the Department of Justice. Specifically, the committee report recommends that funds be directed to the largest school district in my State, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, for technology equipment for school policing activities. Finally, Mr. Speaker, let me mention that later in this debate I will offer an amendment for funding to an important project in a very small city in my district that is in desperate need, Pahokee, Florida. Looking ahead, I thank the ranking member for working with me on my amendment and for the thoughtful consideration of it. Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill; and the rule is fine, as far as it goes. Again, Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano) for bringing an excellent bill to the House. This is a bipartisan bill that helps millions of Americans from coast to coast, and I urge passage of the bill and adoption of the rule. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.