U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., is returning as part of the Democrats’ leadership in the U.S. House.
This week, U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-SC, announced that Hastings will serve as a senior whip, a role the South Florida congressman had last year.
“It is a great honor and privilege to be appointed as a senior whip for the 117th U.S. Congress. I am thrilled to work with such an esteemed and diverse team as we deliver real results for the American people” said Hastings on Monday. “I will work tirelessly with my good friend and colleague, Majority Whip Clyburn to create and promote a powerful legislative agenda that amplifies the voices of South Florida and our nation.”
“Alcee’s experience will serve us well as we face historic challenges and opportunities this year,” said Clyburn. “I am pleased that he will be returning as senior whip and look forward to working with him.”
Convicted and impeached by Congress for accepting a bribe–becoming only the sixth federal judge in American history to be removed from the bench by Congress–Hastings bounced back to win a congressional seat in 1992. Since then, Hastings has easily defended his seat in a secure Democratic district. Hastings has handily kept his seat despite the Treasury Department being forced to pay out $220,000 to settle with a former staffer who accused the congressman of sexual harassment and being ranked by Judicial Watch as the number one member of Congress when it came to nepotism.
Hastings is one of the co chairmen of the Florida delegation. In recent years, Hastings has also reeled in some major positions in the House. At the start of 2019, he was named the vice-chairman of the powerful U.S. House Rules Committee which determines what bills hit the House floor. Hastings also took over the U.S. House Legislative and Budget Process Subcommittee. Back in February 2019, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., tapped Hastings to return as chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, better known as the Helsinki Commission.
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.
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