Alcee Hastings: “Mr. Speaker, most respectfully, the majority leader's comments are taken not lightly by any of us. But I would urge that…”

“Mr. Speaker, most respectfully, the majority leader's comments are taken not lightly by any of us. But I would urge that we understand that this law that we are passing establishes new separate departure procedures and standards for child-related offenses and sex offenses. Permissible departures are those that the Commission specifically enumerates. It limits age and physical impairment departures in child and sex cases. It prohibits gambling dependence in child and sex cases. It prohibits aberrant behavior departures in child and sex cases. It prohibits family ties departures in child and sex cases. And one that is particularly troubling, because I saw this case in my past responsibilities, it prohibits diminished capacity departures in child and sex cases. Everything is not as cut and dried as we would have it be, and I urge Members, while supporting AMBER Alert, to be mindful that we are supporting a number of provisions that would be addressed by the court system for some time to come.”