Alcee Hastings

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Alcee L. Hastings is a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 23rd district of Florida.

Congressman Hastings was first elected in 1992 and is currently serving his 10th term in the Congress.

Early life

Born in Altamonte Springs, Hastings attended Florida’s public schools, and graduated from Fisk University in 1958. He earned his law degree from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.^[1]

Career

Known to many as “Judge,” Alcee Hastings has distinguished himself as an attorney, civil rights activist, judge, and now Member of Congress. Appointed by President Jimmy Carter in 1979, he became the first African-American Federal Judge in the State of Florida, and served in that position for 10 years. Since his election to Congress as the first African-American from Florida since the post-Civil War period, Congressman Hastings has been an "outspoken advocate for Floridians and our nation as a whole".^[2]

Throughout his lifetime, Congressman Hastings has championed the rights of minorities, women, the elderly, children, and immigrants.

Congress

Congressman Hastings is Ranking Democratic Member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. Commonly referred to as the Helsinki Commission, this independent U.S. government agency was created in 1976 to monitor and encourage compliance with the landmark human rights and democracy-building treaty signed in Finland the previous year. Members of the Commission are appointed by the Speaker of the House, the Majority Leader of the Senate, and the President. In 2007, Congressman Hastings became the first African-American to chair the Commission and continues his work in the areas of human rights, economic development, and parliamentary diplomacy.

Congressman Hastings is a senior Member of the powerful House Rules Committee, which has broad jurisdiction over determining the terms and conditions, known as “special rules” or “rules,” under which legislation is considered. The Committee also considers “original jurisdiction” measures, which commonly represent changes to the standing rules of the House, or measures that contain special rules.

As a Senior Democratic Whip, Mr. Hastings continues to be a leading voice in the Democratic Caucus, underscoring his commitment to work closely on a bi-partisan basis with his colleagues in both the House and Senate. He also serves as Co-Chairman of the Democratic Caucus’ Jobs Task Force and is Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of the Congressional Caucus to End Homelessness, the Congressional Pollinator Protection Caucus, and the Tunisia Caucus. In addition, as the Democratic Chairman of the Florida Delegation, Mr. Hastings works closely with his Florida colleagues on issues of particular importance to the State.^[3]

Intelligence responsibilities

With over 10 years of experience in the intelligence community, Mr. Hastings remains committed to ensuring our national security and protecting the American people. In the 111th Congress, Mr. Hastings served as Vice Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and was a member of its Subcommittee on Terrorism, HUMINT (Human Intelligence), Analysis, and Counterintelligence, as well as the Subcommittee on Intelligence Community Management. ^[4]

Congressional Progressive Caucus

In 1998 Alcee Hasting Democrat was listed as a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.^[5]

As of February 20 2009 Alcee Hastings was listed as a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.^[6]

Health Care Access resolution

John Conyers promoted House Concurrent Resolution 99 (H. Con Res. 99) Directing Congress to enact legislation by October 2004 that provides access to comprehensive health care for all Americans. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 4, 2001.

Sponsors:John Conyers (for himself), Jan Schakowsky, John Tierney, Barbara Lee, Donna Christensen, David Bonior, Dennis Kucinich, Earl Hilliard, Maurice Hinchey, Jerry Nadler, Donald Payne Chaka Fattah, Peter DeFazio, John Lewis Tammy Baldwin, Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Barney Frank, Henry Waxman, Cynthia McKinney, Jim Langevin, George Miller Alcee Hastings, Patsy Mink, John Olver , Bennie Thompson, Pete Stark, Julia Carson, and Mike Capuano submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce;^[7]

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), that the Congress shall enact legislation by October 2004 to guarantee that every person in the United States, regardless of income, age, or employment or health status, has access to health care..

Staff

The following is past and present staff:^[8]

External links

• Hastings' website with the House of Representatives

References