Kamala Harris attends memorial ceremony for Alcee Hastings

South Florida Democratic Congressman Alcee Hastings passed away last April 6, with a memorial ceremony at the Capitol this week. Vice President Kamala Harris joined other Congressional leaders to celebrate Hastings’ life.

Harris joined other congressional leaders and colleagues of Hastings to pay tribute to the late Florida Congressman, who was elected back in 1992. Hastings passed away last April 6 at the age of 84, two and a half years after first getting diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Hastings was also the longest-serving Florida Congressmember at the time of his death.

Harris sat on the front row of the Statuary Hall during the memorial service but did not deliver any remarks. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus, congressional Democratic leadership, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and two of Hastings’ close colleagues from the Florida delegation and from both parties paid tribute to the late representative. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, not many congressional members were present at the service.

On the day of Hastings’ passing, Harris said he “welcomed me into the Congressional Black Caucus when I was still new to the Senate. He exuded the kind of warmth and good humor that not only put me at ease but encouraged me to speak my mind.” Back in 2019, Hastings endorsed Harris during her presidential bid. When Joe Biden all but formally secured his presidential nomination by the Democratic party, Hastings urged Biden to select Harris as his running mate.

In other news, Harris commemorated World Earth Day on social media and said that she is proud to have science back in the White House. Harris shared how her mother, who is a known scientist, raised her to appreciate science while noting the danger of climate change in the world. Prior to Harris’ tweet, Biden announced that the US would be reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by up to 52 percent by 2030 as part of the efforts to fight climate change.

“My mother was a scientist and raised me to appreciate the power of science. On this #EarthDay, I am proud that science is back in the White House,” tweeted Harris.