House Proceeding on Oct 15th, 2009 :: 0:31:00 to 0:41:30
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0:30:59 to 0:31:19( Edit History Discussion )

Alcee L. Hastings: debate, and two, one motion to recommit if applicable. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from florida is recognized for one hour. mr. hastings: thank you, madam speaker. for the purpose of debate only i yield the customary 30 minutes to my good friend, the gentleman from florida, mr. diaz-balart. and all time yielded during

0:31:00 to 0:41:30( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Alcee L. Hastings

0:31:20 to 0:31:40( Edit History Discussion )

Alcee L. Hastings: consideration of the rule is for debate only. i yield myself such time as i may consume. i also ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on house resolution 829. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. hastings: madam speaker, house resolution 829 provides

0:31:41 to 0:32:02( Edit History Discussion )

Alcee L. Hastings: for consideration of the conference report to accompany house resolution 2892, the department of homeland security appropriations act of 2010. the rule waives all points of order against the conference report and against its consideration.

0:32:03 to 0:32:24( Edit History Discussion )

Alcee L. Hastings: the rule provides that the conference report shall be considered as read, and finally, the rule provides that the previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervention of any motion except one-hour debate and one motion to recommit, if applicable. this conference report

0:32:25 to 0:32:46( Edit History Discussion )

Alcee L. Hastings: appropriates over $42 billion in funds necessary to protect the american people and enhance our national security. through terrorist threat mitigation, natural disaster response and immigration enforcement, this

0:32:47 to 0:33:07( Edit History Discussion )

Alcee L. Hastings: appropriations bill provides the funding to fulfill the many essential responsibilities of a range of important governmental agencies from the coast guard to fema to customs and border protection to the transportation security administration. particularly critical in this

0:33:08 to 0:33:29( Edit History Discussion )

Alcee L. Hastings: legislation are the partnerships established with state and local communities to prepare for and protect against a range of emergency situations. including natural disasters and acts of terrorism and violence. the funding provided for

0:33:30 to 0:33:50( Edit History Discussion )

Alcee L. Hastings: emergency response resources demonstrates the need for collaboration amongst federal, state and local governments in providing for effective security. it's worth noting a few of the major initiatives conined in this conference report.

0:33:51 to 0:34:11( Edit History Discussion )

Alcee L. Hastings: this legislation helps secure our boers by providing over $10 billion for customs and border protection. including funding for over 20,000 border patrol agents which represents an increase of

0:34:12 to 0:34:35( Edit History Discussion )

Alcee L. Hastings: 6,000 agents since 2006. in addition, this report extends authorization of the e-verify program for years under which employers are able to eck the legal status of their workers. this legislation provides the funding to operate and improve

0:34:36 to 0:34:57( Edit History Discussion )

Alcee L. Hastings: the existing e-verify program. ensuring the safety and security of our nation's part of this legislation. this conference report provides the necessary funding to the transportation security administration and the coast guard to protect our nation's vast transportation network

0:34:58 to 0:35:19( Edit History Discussion )

Alcee L. Hastings: including airports, sea ports, subways, trains and buses. with this funding, the t.s.a. will be able to improve explosive detection equipment at airports and the coast guard will be able to replace aging ships and aircraft which is

0:35:20 to 0:35:40( Edit History Discussion )

Alcee L. Hastings: much need, modernizing our national security. madam speaker, i have always praised the federal emergency management program for the fine work they do in helping distressed communities. in my home state of florida, we have frequently played with natural disasters including

0:35:41 to 0:36:04( Edit History Discussion )

Alcee L. Hastings: hurricanes and flooding. these disasters profoundly impact florida's residents, particularly when so many individuals and families experience severe damage to their hes and communities. i am pleased with the funding levels indicated in is report for the firefighter grants,

0:36:05 to 0:36:26( Edit History Discussion )

Alcee L. Hastings: flood map modernization, predisaster mitigation and emergency food and shelter programs. i know that the men and women at fema work hard and are dedicated to receiving the plight of americans faced with the hardships of natural disasters. at the same time, i've never

0:36:27 to 0:36:49( Edit History Discussion )

Alcee L. Hastings: ben shy about making my voice heard on matters important to my constituents and all residents of florida and our nation that experience disasters. i've been outspoken on the need for fema to improve temporary housing, and i'm also pleased to havincluded language in

0:36:50 to 0:37:13( Edit History Discussion )

Alcee L. Hastings: this bill requiring the long-term recovery office located in orlando to remain open. and a footnote there, representative alan grayson and

0:37:14 to 0:37:34( Edit History Discussion )

Alcee L. Hastings: congresswoman others -- in order to enhance relief operations, this is necessary in the event of a natural disaster. madam speaker, i do want to adress the provisions in this report relating to the detainees at guantanamo bay.

0:37:35 to 0:37:56( Edit History Discussion )

Alcee L. Hastings: and i know that this body has matter, as rightly we should be. as president obama has committed his administration to close the detention facility at fwaunt by january of 2010 --

0:37:57 to 0:38:17( Edit History Discussion )

Alcee L. Hastings: this conference report will not allow these detainees to be transfe states except to be prosecuted and then only after congress receives a detailed plan on the risks involved. a notification from the governor of the affected state,

0:38:18 to 0:38:40( Edit History Discussion )

Alcee L. Hastings: this is all well and good, but the language in this bill, while a good step forward, is not going to solve the problem of what to do with the hundreds of individuals we have detained and those in the future that we may have to detain whether they

0:38:41 to 0:39:02( Edit History Discussion )

Alcee L. Hastings: are detained at guantanamo or bagram airbase in afghanistan or any other facility where they may be detained by the unit the debate over guantanamo in my opinion is missing the larger picture. and that is a need to reform our tire detainment policy.

0:39:03 to 0:39:23( Edit History Discussion )

Alcee L. Hastings: as i have maintained, the problem is policy, not the place. without a system of justice to deal with suspected terrorists wherever they are held, we are left with a broken system that has been a significant recruiting t

0:39:24 to 0:39:45( Edit History Discussion )

Alcee L. Hastings: and other groups which threaten we need to deny them that image of america. we need a judicial process that accomplishes at least three things. number one, protects our national security by holding and prosecuting those who have

0:39:46 to 0:40:08( Edit History Discussion )

Alcee L. Hastings: committed crimes or pose an imperative threat to our country. number two, oppose international standards of human rights and, three, strengthens our nation's image as a country that upholds the rule of law and does not resort to arbitrary justice, even

0:40:09 to 0:40:30( Edit History Discussion )

Alcee L. Hastings: while under threat. this appropriationseason has so far brought forth a number of bills, almost all with language relating to guantanamo and a whole lot of not in my backyarstuff. at some point soon we are going to need to move beyond trying to legislate this matter into

0:40:31 to 0:40:53( Edit History Discussion )

Alcee L. Hastings: appropriations bills and instead deal with what is necessary, and that is new policies and guidelines to bring our national security needs in line with our historic national value. i'm pleased to have introduced h.res. 3728, the detainment

0:40:54 to 0:41:16( Edit History Discussion )

Alcee L. Hastings: reform act, which will move us forward on this matter. and i urge my colleagues and the president and his administration to give some supporting this effort, revising it or doing what is necessary in order for this bil policy that'seeded for

0:41:17 to 0:41:31( Edit History Discussion )

Alcee L. Hastings: detaining individuals who will be imperative threats -- conduct themselves in a criminal matter against this nation. madam speaker, ultimately the conference report before us today provides the necessary