Alcee Hastings: “let me join those that have thanked everyone that has been involved in developing this very fine legislative…”

“let me join those that have thanked everyone that has been involved in developing this very fine legislative undertaking, and especially thank all of the staff that have worked with all of us in developing this. Specifically I would like to thank Wendy Parker for her efforts in working with my office, as well as other members of the staff and also to thank the court reporters and the desk staff from the Clerk's office and all of those with the Speaker's office who have stayed with us throughout the night. With the permission of the Chair, and with the ranking member designee's permission and the Chair's permission, my understanding is that neither of the amendments that I am offering are likely to be controversial, and in the interest of time, I am placing my full statement in the Record, and allow me, since they know that one of these measures speaks to the subject of diversity and ethnicity and helps to strengthen our ability to achieve that, as has been stated by many in the agencies that they wish to accomplish. The other amendment facilitates the reporting, seguing off of the one that we just finished in an effort to fill some of the community's gaps in language and analytical skills, and I am submitting the statement for the Record. Mr. Chairman, I rise to introduce the second of two amendments I am offering to H.R. 4628.”