In a statement, Biden said that he had the privilege of getting to know Hastings when Biden served the Senate and later as Vice President, and admired his humor and ability to speak the truth without reservation.
“I greatly admired him for his singular sense of humor, and for always speaking the truth bluntly and without reservation,” Biden said.
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The president further hailed Hastings as a “trailblazing lawyer who grew up in the Jim Crow South,” and said he was “passionate about helping our nation live up to its full promise for all Americans.”
“It was a passion he forged as a pioneering civil rights lawyer in the 1960s, fighting tirelessly to desegregate hotels, restaurants, and public spaces in south Florida a trailblazing spirit to advocate for what is right that guided him throughout his life.”
But those plans have been in limbo since Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
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Under Pelosi’s draft bill, Republicans would appoint four members of the commission compared to seven for Democrats. None of the members would be lawmakers or government officials.
The former national security officials argued the event calls for a full nonpartisan panel to review the event and how the country can be better prepared.
“Commissions properly empowered, resourced, and led can establish a full picture of events and an analysis of their causes, from which nonpartisan recommendations can authoritatively flow,” they wrote.
“Given the gravity of January 6th as a national security matter the violent disruption to the transition of power and the continuing threat of future attacks a national commission examining the lead up to the January 6th assault, and the attendant security lapses, is not only appropriate, but a critical component of the national response.”
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The package provides another round of stimulus checks, aid for state and local governments, and more help for small businesses and schools. The party-line vote is a significant break from the previous five coronavirus bills, each of which passed with bipartisan support.
The Senate was in session for more than 24 hours, including all night Friday and well into Saturday, ahead of the final vote as Democrats fended off attempts by GOP senators to make changes to the legislation, which now has to go back to the House before it can be sent to President Biden’s desk.
The House will take up the bill on Tuesday for a vote and plans to send it to Biden s desk for a signature early next week, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer