Alcee Hastings: “Mr. Speaker, I rise today in vigorous support of this rule. I would like to thank Chairman Peterson, Chairwoman DeLauro…”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in vigorous support of this rule. I would like to thank Chairman Peterson, Chairwoman DeLauro, Chairman Rangel, and Mr. Goodlatte, who I feel have crafted a sound bipartisan compromise bill for all of us to support, and they are to be complimented for their hard work during these fiscally challenging times. The underlying legislation makes important reforms that benefit farmers across our Nation and assist many industries which are the economic engine of the congressional district that I'm privileged to serve. The bill before us today is an important achievement for the State of Florida and for the constituents that I serve. As many of my colleagues know, I represent, along with my colleague from Florida (Mr. Mahoney), the second largest sugar-producing district in the country. The Florida sugar industry has a $3.1 billion economic impact on the State of Florida, and I thank the committees for including the provisions that assist this important industry. I also thank the committees for including the Pollinator Protection Act, which I authored and which was carried by Mr. Cardoza, who is carrying this rule and working with me. This act authorizes funding to conduct research on colony collapse disorder to prevent the continuing decline of the pollinator population. People, if there ain't no bees, there ain't no food.”