Sheila Jackson Lee: “I thank the chairwoman so very much for yielding tonight, and I thank her for establishing the uniqueness of this…”

“I thank the chairwoman so very much for yielding tonight, and I thank her for establishing the uniqueness of this Special Order. It is a special Special Order in tribute and in remembrance of Alcee Lamar Hastings, a tireless fighter for justice and equality, dean of the Florida Congressional Delegation, former United States District Court judge, first African American elected to Congress from Florida since Reconstruction, vice chair of the Committee on Rules, and former member of the Intelligence Committee, chairman of the Helsinki Commission, Member of Congress for 28 years, mentor, beloved colleague, and dear friend. Madam Speaker, tonight, with humility, gratitude and a broken heart, I rise to anchor this Congressional Black Caucus Special Order in remembrance of Congressman Alcee Hastings, a senior member of the Committee on Rules, a man who traveled the world. Most of all, he loved his family, he loved his country, he loved his State of Florida, loved his friends and his colleagues. We humble ourselves today to honor him. Madam Speaker, I will reserve my words and tribute so that I can acknowledge one of his dear friends, the Honorable Bennie Thompson. Bennie Thompson, the chair of the Homeland Security Committee, a distinguished gentleman from Mississippi, a fighter for justice himself, but as well, the opportunity to be able to lead this country into safety. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr.…”