Alcee L. Hastings was the first African-American from Florida since the post-Civil War era to be elected to the United States Congress.  Throughout his lifetime, he has championed the rights of minorities, women, the elderly, children and immigrants.  Born in Altamonte Springs in Florida, he attended Florida's public school system and graduated from Fisk University in 1958.  He then earned his law degree from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.

As a young man, Alcee Hastings, also known to many as "Judge," distinguished himself as an attorney and civil rights activist.  In 1979 he became the first African-American Federal Judge in the state of Florida when President Jimmy Carter appointed him to the bench.  He served in that position for ten years.

In 1992 Alcee Hastings was elected to serve in the United States House of Representatives in District 23 and has served in that position for close to 16 years.  Since his election, Congressman Hastings has been an outspoken leader for making our country safer and more secure.  He has fought to ensure that our election systems are easier and more fair; create tax incentives for small businesses; expand the Earned Income Tax Credit; provide job training for displaced workers; ban assault weapons; fund Head Start and other education programs; make Social Security an independent agency; advocate for environmental justice and provide family and medical leave to all workers.   

Congressman Hastings has also distinguished himself on the world stage and has become one of the most respected voices in international affairs.  He is known throughout the world as an expert in foreign policy and has introduced legislation advocating diplomacy before military action to settle disputes with established and emerging nations.  In 2007, Congressman Hastings became the first African-American to chair the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe which is commonly referred to as the Helsinki Commission.  This independent U.S. government agency was created in 1976 to monitor and encourage compliance with the landmark human rights and democracy-building treaty signed in Finland the previous year.  Members of the Commission are appointed by the Speaker of the House, the Majority Leader of the Senate and the President.  As Chariman of the Helsinki Commission, Congressman Hastings has continued his trailblazing work in the areas of human rights, economic development, and parliamentary diplomacy.

Congressman Hastings serves as a member on the powerful House Rules Committee and is a former senior Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI).  On the Rule Committee, Congressman Hastings is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process which is responsible for matters associated with the inter-branch relations of Congress and the Executive.

Serving as Senior Democratic Whip, Congressman Hastings has become an influential member of the Democratic leadership.  As Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation, he has also worked closely on a bipartisan basis with his Florida colleagues.

Congressman Hastings is the proud recipient of numerous honors and awards bestowed on him from organizations both at home and abroad.  His governing philosophy is simple: he firmly believes that progress and change can be achieved through mutual respect and appreciation and that individuals and communities can see beyond the limits of parochialism enabling them to better understand each other.