Alcee Hastings

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. DeSaulnier) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Roybal-Allard), my classmate and good friend, for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the distinguished gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ellison) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gene Green), my classmate and good friend, for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Lawrence), a new Member of Congress who is on the Oversight Committee.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Beatty), a good friend of mine, a member of the Committee on Financial Services.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I would like very much at this time to be able to accommodate the ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, Mrs. Lowey. She was going to be scheduled to speak earlier. I am going to allow that she go forward now to discuss something that is very important, and then I will proceed with my opening, if the Speaker will allow. There are only 3 days left until funding for the Department of Homeland Security expires, which will shut down many of the crucial operations that keep our country safe. Mr. Speaker, if we defeat the previous question, I am going to offer an amendment to the rule that will allow for consideration of a clean Department of Homeland Security funding bill. With such serious consequences, it is time to put politics aside and prioritize the safety and security of the American people. To discuss that particular aspect of the proposal, I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), my good friend, the distinguished ranking member of the Appropriations Committee.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 15 seconds to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis), my friend.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I thank my friend, the gentleman from Georgia, for yielding me the customary 30 minutes. I rise, obviously, in opposition to the rule and underlying bill because neither of these measures will keep the Department of Homeland Security from shutting down in 3 days, something that I am sure is of vital interest to my friend from Georgia who is an advocate, continuously and has been since being on the Rules Committee and here in Congress, of having an open process. I would only urge that we understand that the last Congress, the 113th, was the most closed Congress in the history of all of the House of Representatives; yet, at this point, in this, the 114th Congress, we find ourselves in this position. In the last Congress, 38 percent of the rules were closed at this point, six out of 16. As of today, this House has approved 75 percent of its rules that are closed. In other words, this Congress is on a path to be twice as closed as the last, which had the most, in history, closed rules. Now, my friend Mr. Woodall certainly understands that, and every Member of this House understands that. A lot of times, constituents hear us, and it sounds a whole lot like Washington speak, but the fact is, just simply, that when a rule is closed, as this one is, with the exception of one portion that is open for yet another provision in the measure, H.R. 5, but when a rule is closed, that means all of the other Members, all of your constituents who do not have an opportunity if they so choose, are precluded from offering an amendment to the base bill that is being discussed. Congress has 3 days to act before we shut down; and truthfully, I don't believe that my friends on the Republican side are crazy enough to shut down the government at this point, so I think something is going to happen. I don't know what. It is not like this debacle caught us by surprise. It was obvious way back when Congress funded the rest of the government for the year but funded DHS for only a few months. Yet each week my Republican friends continue to consider bills that will do nothing and go nowhere. And now, without a road map out of this quagmire, my Republican friends are threatening to double down on their politics by shutting down the agency responsible for our national security, yet somehow we find ourselves talking about completely unrelated measures. You can disagree with the President--and many of you do, and sometimes some of us do. Great. It is a beautiful free country that we live in--but don't put our national security at risk to do it. Now, I have heard my Republican colleagues' talking point--oh, no, don't worry about national security; most of the DHS employees will still work, and very little will change--but that is just a guess, because those employees will be expected to work without pay. Among those who are expected to work without pay are more than 40,000 Border Patrol agents and Customs and Border Protection officers, more than 50,000 TSA aviation security screeners, more than 13,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement law enforcement agents and officers, more than 40,000 Active Duty Coast Guard military members, and more than 4,000 Secret Service law enforcement agents and officers. Footnote right there. Very occasionally when we are talking budget matters and when we are talking authorization and appropriations, we talk about the need for certainty for the agencies that have to implement the measures that are before them. Well, that could not be truer at any point any more than with DHS needing that certainty as well. To add insult to injury, when all this gets fixed--and it will need to be fixed--we will need to pass another measure to retroactively ensure that they receive their paychecks. But until then, there is no way for them to know when they will be paid. That kind of gamble is not the best way to ensure the stability of our national defense, and it is not fair to ask of the men and women keeping us safe. We talk a lot about job creation here in this institution. My friends across the aisle gut clean air and water protections in the name of job creation. In the name of job creation, my friends hack away at the policies implemented to keep big banks from preying on hardworking Americans. If, by chance, DHS shuts down, approximately 30,000 employees would be furloughed. That is 30,000 families with jobs taken away. Who knows how long a shutdown will last. We have already had months to address this lapse in funding. Why do we do this? Why is it every time we get ready to do something important, we play brinksmanship, we come up until the day of? It is really the kind of holding up of our process that is deleterious to the good of this country. Just because DHS employees are furloughed or not being paid but still must go to work, that doesn't mean that their mortgage payment or their car payment or any other bills are going to go away. What are they supposed to say? ``Don't worry. I will pay you retroactively''? You can't run your household that way, and we certainly should not be running our government that way. For the life of me, I cannot understand why my Republican friends will not join House Democrats in supporting clean legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security. So, after all that, what do these two education bills that are in this particular rule have to do with keeping DHS open? I have no idea. I consider them to be important, but they don't have anything to do with what is the most germane issue before us today, the most pertinent issue. If the goal is to make college more affordable, there is no reason to focus on provisions used by only 3 percent of families. We need to make higher education more affordable for all Americans. Moreover, my friends have yet to explain what makes these 529 provisions so important that they are willing--listen to me carefully--to add $51 million to the deficit for these particular measures, $51 million added to the deficit that they talk so much about. The other measure, H.R. 5, makes even less sense. It would have catastrophic consequences for our Nation's most vulnerable youth and their educators. I respect my colleague from Georgia immensely. I respect his intellect immensely. I am proud that his schools are doing extremely well in the community that he is privileged to serve. But I can tell you, based on what I know, that any changes to the No Child Left Behind program must adhere to the spirit of the law. In Florida, we didn't only leave children behind; we lost them and couldn't find them. Somehow or another, we keep changing these things without having the accountability and the transparency. We cannot and we should not leave any child in America behind. Children with disabilities, English learners, families with less financial resources, and those from racial and ethnic minority groups of underserved communities all deserve quality education, and our Nation would be better for it if they all received quality education. These two bills are distractions from the main event, side shows for the center ring of the circus. It is time for Congress to focus on the things that matter, because even as our economy grows stronger, we still have plenty of real work to do. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, would you be kind enough to tell both of us how much time remains?

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield to the distinguished gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.

Mr. HASTINGS. I do.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ellison), a member of the Financial Services Committee.

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

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am grateful to the chair for permitting me earlier to allow Mrs. Lowey to speak to the previous question. As I indicated, if we are not successful in defeating this measure then I am going to ask unanimous consent to insert the text of the amendment in the Record, along with extraneous material, immediately prior to the vote on the previous question, if I may.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' when we get to this. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Roybal-Allard), my classmate and good friend.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. In closing, there are 3 days left until the Department of Homeland Security will shut down. As I have said earlier, I don't believe that is going to happen. I believe my friends will be about the business of making sure that it does not occur. I hope they do because our country needs to make sure that we are not in any insecure position going forward. Notwithstanding that, the brinksmanship continues, and we are here considering two bills that will go nowhere. That, to me, is the state of play right now. If my friends want to pass these education measures, they need to take care of business first. And it is time to quit messing around. Mr. Speaker, there is a list of extraordinary organizations in this country that are against H.R. 5. I lift from a list that I will insert into the Record the names of the Congressional Tri-Caucus; the American Association of People With Disabilities; the American Association of University Women; the American Federation of Teachers; the American Foundation for the Blind; the Association of University Centers on Disabilities; the Autism National Committee; the Center for American Progress; the Children's Defense Fund; the Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund; Easter Seals, which most of us contribute to; the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network; the NAACP; the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the National Association of School Psychologists; and the National Down Syndrome Congress. Disability plays a major role in this particular legislation, and the fact that all of these organizations are standing up saying that they are opposed to it should get our attention. In addition, the United Negro College Fund, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and the United States Chamber of Commerce. Opposition to H.R. 5 Congressional Tri-Caucus, The Advocacy Institute, Afterschool Alliance, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, American Association of People with Disabilities, American Association of University Women, American Federation of Teachers, American Foundation for the Blind, Association of University Centers on Disabilities, Autism National Committee, Autistic Self Advocacy Network, Center for American Progress, Center for Law and Social Policy, Children's Defense Fund, Committee for Education Funding, Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, Council of Great City Schools, Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Democrats for Education Reform, Disability Right Education and Defense Fund. Easter Seals, Education Post, Education Law Center, First Focus Campaign for Children, Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, Human Rights Campaign, The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Leading Educators, League of United Latin American Citizens, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, NAACP, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, National Association of School Physcologists, National Center for Learning Disabilities, National Council on Independent Living, National Council on Teacher Quality, The National Center on Time and Learning, National Congress of American Indians, National Council of La Raza. National Coalition for Public Education, National Disability Rights Network, National Down Syndrome Congress, National Education Association, National Urban League, Partners for Each and Every Child, Poverty & Race Research Action Council, Public Advocates Inc., Stand for Children, Southeast Asia Resource Action Center, TASH, Teach Plus, TNTP, The Education Trust, United Negro College Fund, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. HASTINGS. All of these people are opposed to this measure, and yet we find ourselves going forward. It is time for us to get real in this Congress, stop having closed rules, and let all of the Members in this body participate in the decisional process as we argue measures that are needed on behalf of our country. This is a great institution, and the people that serve here are absolutely wonderful people, but somehow or another we have gotten stuck. And by getting stuck, we are not able to do the things that are vital for the Nation. We need to unstick it and get on with the business, knowing that we can sit in a room together and come to conclusions not only about education, but about energy and every aspect of American life that we have a responsibility for. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, for decades the United States and Australia have shared a special union, being one of our nations closest cultural, economic, and security partners. I rise today to recognize a unique international exchange program between our two nations: the Uni- Capitol Washington Internship Program For the past 16 years, the Uni-Capitol Program has paired students from Australia with offices on Capitol Hill. Since the program's inception, more than 170 students, from 10 partner Australian universities located across 5 of the 6 Australian states and the Australian Capital Territory, have participated. The students in this program are the best and the brightest that Australia has to offer. They bring a unique perspective to the House and Senate offices that they serve--strengthening the special alliance between our two nations and fostering greater understanding and mutual respect between us. This year, it has been my pleasure to host two outstanding Australian students in my Washington office: Ms. Gabrielle Debinski and Ms. Millicent Allan. Gabrielle and Millicent are great examples of the high-caliber students this program provides Congressional offices. They both proved themselves to be very intelligent and hard working. Furthermore, they excelled in drafting correspondence to my constituents, researching legislative issues, and attending briefings, all while demonstrating a desire to learn about, and engage in, the important policy issues facing our nation. Mr Speaker, I have no doubt that Gabrielle and Millicent will go on to do great things in their future. I wish them both all the very best, and the Uni-Capitol Washington Internship Program many more years of continued success.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, one of the privileges we have here in the House of Representatives is to speak to any issue during this period of time. Regrettably, I rise today to speak of the death of an iconic figure, a dynamic force for social justice, Georgia Jones Ayers, who was not from my congressional district but from Congresswoman Frederica Wilson's district, and I am sure that the two of us will add additional remarks. I also happily today come to the floor to congratulate the Dillard High School girls basketball team and the Palm Beach Lakes High School basketball teams. Dillard and Coach Pinder, my dear friend, have had such a consecutive run that they are becoming a real force nationally as well as locally, and Palm Beach County took theirs as well. So I am fortunate that I have girls basketball teams that are champions, and I proudly congratulate them.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill recognizing persons of African descent and to support a resolution authored by my colleague Representative Hank Johnson to commemorate the start of the International Decade for People of African Descent. As our country fights to realize justice for Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Aiyana Jones, John Warner, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and many others, we must not forget the names--Stephen Lawrence, Oury Jalloh, Mark Duggan, Zyed Benna, Bouna Traore and many others who are victims of similar injustices in Europe and elsewhere around the world. The International Decade provides an opportunity to join efforts with countries across the globe to, over the next decade, develop and implement national strategies honoring the vast contributions of people of African Descent, and to combat continuing issues of prejudice and discrimination such as those currently gripping our nation. To aid these efforts, I am proud to support Representative Johnson's resolution commemorating the International Decade. I have also introduced the African Descent Affairs Act. The Act to improve the situation of people of African descent around the world, by establishing a Global Office of African Descent Affairs within the U.S. State Department that would implement strategies for people of African descent; create a ``President Obama Fund'' to support anti- discrimination and empowerment efforts by African descent led civil society organizations; and require that the Annual State Department Human Rights Reports include a section on discrimination faced by people of African descent. U.S. foreign policy strategies such as these have improved the situation of vulnerable groups internationally. Furthermore, it would greatly assist in responding to the increasing levels of prejudice and discrimination faced by people of African descent around the globe. Mr. Speaker, the International Decade reaffirms the importance of inclusion, as well as full and equal participation of people of African descent around the world in all aspects of political, economic, social, and cultural life. I encourage my colleagues to join me in recognizing and celebrating the collective history and achievements made by people of African descent on the occasion of the launch of the International Decade by supporting this important resolution.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution designating August 6th as National Voting Rights Day. On August 6, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law. The Act not only outlawed discriminatory voting practices and exponentially expanded the level of African American voter registration and participation, but also vastly increased the number of African American and other minority elected officials. For nearly five decades the Voting Rights Act has served as our nation's most important safeguard against racial discrimination in our electoral system. As we prepare to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of its passage, establishing a day recognizing its magnitude will pay homage to this transformative law, which remains one of the most effective pieces of civil rights legislation ever enacted, and will serve as a critical reminder of the importance of continued efforts to ensure that all Americans are able to fully participate in our electoral process. I am pleased be joined by 36 of my colleagues in introducing this resolution. They include: Representatives: Mark Takai (D-HI), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), John Garamendi (D-CA), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Charles Rangel (D-NY), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Robert Brady (D-PA), Frederica Wilson (D-FL), Sanford Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Patrick Murphy (D-FL), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Andre Carson (D-IN), Joyce Beatty (D- OH), Mike Honda (D-CA), Louise Slaughter (D-NY), Adam Smith (D-WA), Al Green (D-TX), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Corrine Brown (D-FL), Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Marcia Fudge (D-OH), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Earl Blumenauer (D- OR), John Yarmuth (D-KY) and Kathy Castor (D-FL). Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate Black History Month, I urge my colleagues to co-sponsor this resolution, so that we may all properly recognize the significance of the Voting Rights Act by designating August 6th as National Voting Rights Day.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, would you be kind enough to tell both of us the remaining amount of time on both sides.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Here we are, only 17 days before the Republican Homeland Security shutdown and with just 6 legislative days left until the Department of Homeland Security shuts down on February 28, closing down many of the crucial Department of Homeland Security operations that have kept our country safe from terrorist attacks. If we defeat the previous question, I am going to offer an amendment to the rule to bring up a clean version of the Department of Homeland Security funding bill. With such serious consequences, it is time to put politics aside in order to strengthen our homeland and protect American families. To discuss our proposal, I am very pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), my good friend, the ranking member of the Appropriations Committee.