Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) released the following statement after the number of Americans cut off from Emergency Unemployment Insurance reached 2 million: “Today, the number of Americans who have lost their emergency unemployment benefits reached 2 million. Sadly, it is no surprise that House Republicans are marking this occasion with their 50th vote to undermine health care reform. It is clear that their priorities are truly backwards. “Every week, approximately 72,000 Americans lose ...
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Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings released the following statement after receiving the Florida Lawmaker of the Year award from the League of Southeastern Credit Unions: “It is my great privilege to accept the League of Southeastern Credit Unions award for Florida Lawmaker of the Year. Credit unions are critically important to our nation’s economy and serve as a primary source of consumer credit for millions of Americans, especially in underserved and rural areas, as well as for many local bus...
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Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) made the following statement after the European Parliament held a public hearing on Afrophobia and the critical importance of continuing to work with the European Union (EU) to address racism and discrimination against Black Europeans. The hearing was organized by the Green Party, in collaboration with the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) and the European Coalition of Cities against Racism (ECCAR). “An estimated seven to ten million individuals o...
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Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) released the following statement in recognition of Black History Month: “Every February, we celebrate the proud history and valuable contributions made by Americans of African descent. From the scars of slavery to the triumph of emancipation, and from the injustice of segregation to the struggle for equal rights, the journey of the Black community is inseparably woven into the fabric of American history. “Despite the persistent forces of prejudice and discrim...
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Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) released the following statement after the Humane Society Legislative Fund awarded him a 100 percent rating on their 2013 Annual Scorecard: “I am pleased to once again receive this recognition from the Humane Society Legislative Fund. Animal welfare remains an issue of great importance to me, and I will continue to work to ensure that all animals are treated fairly and humanely. “I have proudly offered my support to a number of legislative initiatives through...
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Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) made the following statement marking the fifth Anniversary of passage of Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009: “Five years ago, I was proud to vote for the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which extended basic protections against pay discrimination to women facing unfair treatment in the workplace. Women play a critical role in our economy, so Congress must do more to close the gender wage-gap and bring an end to employer discrimination once and for all. “Last n...
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Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) released the following statement in response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address tonight: “Our nation is known across the globe as a land of opportunity, where hard work and dedication lead to a more prosperous future. Every American should have the chance to succeed, yet this vision of the American Dream has slipped further out of grasp for an overwhelming majority of families now struggling to get by. “Together, we have made great progres...
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Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) released the following statement marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which is observed annually on the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz–Birkenau concentration camps by Soviet Forces: “As we observe International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we reflect on the millions of lives tragically cut short during the worst genocide in human history. Today, we honor the memories of those who were lost by rededicating ourselves to the principles ...
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Today, Representatives Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) and Steve Stivers (R-OH), along with 37 of their colleagues in Congress, sent the following letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, urging the State Department to re-establish Ahiska (Meskhetian) Turks – a distinct minority in Southern Russia – as a group of “special humanitarian concern” for Priority-Two (P-2) processing for refugee status. (Please also find below and attached a copy of the letter). Joining Hastings and Stivers as co-signers of t...
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Representatives Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) and David Schweikert (R-AZ), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Tunisia Caucus, released a joint statement on the Tunisian government’s official adoption of the country’s new constitution: “It is indeed a bright day for the Tunisian people. The overwhelming passage of Tunisia’s new constitution into law represents a significant step forward on the path to a strong, inclusive, and sustainable democracy. After two long years of negotiations, I applaud Tunisia’s...
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