Alcee Hastings: “I am very proud to be bringing this bill to the House floor today. This minor change in House rules represents a major…”

“I am very proud to be bringing this bill to the House floor today. This minor change in House rules represents a major step forward for the nearly 5 million Americans whose voice is not currently represented on the floor of this House. That is right, Madam Speaker, 5 million Americans go unrepresented on the floor of the people's House. This is one of the few things we can do for the American body politic that is not only the right thing to do, it is easy to do as well. One of the most simple, yet eloquent and powerful statements in support of what we will do today was made by one of our former colleagues several years ago. Ben Blaz served in this House for 8 years as the delegate from Guam in the mid-1980s and early 1990s. Delegate Blaz is a man of unquestioned patriotism and uncommon valor. He retired from the Marine Corps with the rank of brigadier general, and during his time in the corps he was awarded the Legion of Merit, a Bronze Star with Combat V and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. What the general said about his status in the House and the faith of his fellow Guamanians was this: "We are equal in war, but not in peace." So it is today, Madam Speaker.”