Alcee Hastings: “I yield myself 8 minutes, and I thank my friend from Florida for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, before going into…”

“I yield myself 8 minutes, and I thank my friend from Florida for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, before going into the substance of what we are doing today, I would like to make note that a few weeks ago in the Rules Committee when we were originally contemplating this bill, I offered an amendment to the rule that would have extended general debate to 4 hours, ensuring that all Members, Republican and Democrat, were afforded the opportunity to have their voices heard on the House's actions today. My amendment, however, was defeated along a straight party line, and I did not offer it again yesterday. However, the majority provided 2 hours of general debate in the last rule on their other circumstances, and they also provided 2 hours of general debate on their politically driven flag-burning amendment. {time} 1030 If the flag is the symbol of democracy, then the Voting Rights Act is the very foundation on which that flag flies. It is both troubling and telling that the majority is unwilling to extend today's debate beyond 90 minutes. Mr. Speaker, as debate on this historic bill commences, I am reminded of President Kennedy's words delivered to Congress in 1962 with the first draft of what would later become both the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts.…”