Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) made the following statement in celebration of United Nations Day, which commemorates the anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations in 1945: “Celebrated on October 24th each year, United Nations Day marks the anniversary of the creation of the United Nations in 1945 with the ratification of its founding document, the UN Charter. Since its inception 69 years ago, the United Nations has worked tirelessly to implement international peacekeeping init...
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Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) made the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court decision to allow Texas to enforce its restrictive voter ID law in next month’s elections: “I am deeply disturbed by the Supreme Court’s order permitting Texas to implement its new voter ID law. The Court’s decision, released early Saturday morning, marks the first time in more than two decades that it has permitted a law restricting citizens’ access to the voting booth to be enforced after a federal cour...
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Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) made the following statement regarding the recent announcement by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create in 2015 a Haitian Family Reunification Parole Program in order to expedite the issuance of residency visas for those Haitians who have already been approved to join their family members in the United States, and whose visa priority dates will become current within two years. Complete information on the program is available through U.S. Citizen...
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Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) made the following statement in support of Spirit Day, a day designated to show support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth: “Please join me today in going purple to express support for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth community on this Fourth Annual Spirit Day. Established in 2010, Spirit Day has become a nationally observed day of support for LGBT youth and demonstrates our commitment to taking a stand a...
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Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) made the following statement in support of National Minimum Wage Day, designated as a day to raise awareness for the need to increase the minimum wage to $10.10: “The value of the minimum wage today is more than 30 percent less than it was in 1968, leaving millions of hardworking Americans in poverty. The time for action is long overdue. “A full-time minimum wage worker earns only $15,080 a year, making it nearly impossible to support a family and save for th...
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Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) made the following statement in support of Latina Equal Pay Day, which highlights the gender wage gap between men and women, which is especially evident for Latina women: “Over 50 years have passed since the Equal Pay Act was enacted. And yet, equal pay for equal work still ceases to be a reality for all Americans. On average, women earn only 77 cents for every dollar paid to their male counterparts, regardless of race. The disparity for Latina women is even ...
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Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (FL-20), along with Representatives Ted Deutch (FL-21), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), and Lois Frankel (FL-22), sent the following letter to Broward County Superintendent Robert W. Runcie, urging him to work with parents, educators, and community leaders to prevent human trafficking in schools. (Please find below and attached a copy of the letter). October 8, 2014 Mr. Robert W. Runcie Superintendent of Schools Broward County Public Schools 600 SE Third Av...
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Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings made the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court decision to deny review of rulings in support of marriage equality for states within the Fourth, Seventh, and Tenth Circuit Courts: “With today’s decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has effectively upheld the ruling by circuit courts all across the country that banning same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. As a result, gay and lesbian Americans in Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin will soon b...
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Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings made the following statement recognizing October as the Domestic Violence Awareness Month. "Each year, the month of October is dedicated to recognizing the survivors and their families, who have suffered domestic violence, as well as those who work every day to eliminate violence and abuse in America. Twenty years ago, Congress passed the Violence against Women Act, which was signed into law on September 13, 1994. I was a proud cosponsor and supporter for thi...
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Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) made the following statement to welcome the beginning of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, which begins at sundown tonight: “As my friends in the Jewish community mark the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, I would like to take this opportunity to offer my warmest wishes for good health, happiness, and peace in the New Year. While we may live in an uncertain world, the coming year offers us a chance to make a positive difference for the future. Let us celebrate ou...
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