19645: White: Rep. Hastings' New Website with Excellent Links in Spanish and Creole (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Randall White <raw@haitiaction.org>

Rep. Hastings' New Website with Excellent Links in Spanish and Creole


Dear Friends,

Representative Hastings unveiled today his newly
designed and user-friendly official website.  The
website, which can be found at
http://www.alceehastings.house.gov/, will serve
as an additional resource of information and
assistance to the citizens of Florida's 23rd
Congressional District.  The website features
links in English, Spanish, and Creole.  It is the
first site in Congress to provide information to
constituents in Creole.


Representative Hastings' new website provides
residents of Florida's 23rd Congressional
District with the following services:

  · Informing Constituents: Representative
Hastings' new site provides visitors with access
to issue statements outlining Representative
Hastings' views on the many important issues of
the day.  Visitors can also view Representative
Hastings' voting record and the legislation,
which he has introduced and cosponsored.  Recent
press releases are also viewable from the site.

  · Providing Constituent Services: Featuring
information and links in Spanish and Creole, the
site provides visitors with information on how
Representative Hastings and the staff can assist
with immigration, Social Security, Medicare, and
other federal programs and agencies.  The site
provides visitors with the necessary tools to
apply for student loans, and it lists information
about visiting Washington, DC, including
information on public tours, hotel reservations,
and getting to and around the city.  South
Florida residents can also place an order for an
American flag to be flown over the U.S. Capitol.

  · Contacting Congressman Hastings:
Representative Hastings' new site provides
residents of Florida 23rd Congressional District
with the ability to e-mail him directly, as well
as sign up for monthly e-mail alerts on the work
that the Congressman and staff is doing on their
behalf.

  · A Resource for Teachers and Students:
Representative Hastings' new site can serve as an
excellent resource for teachers, students, and
parents.  It includes links to federal agency
"Kid's Pages," as well as information about the
history of Florida and the United States.  The
site includes links to information about Internet
safety, and provides college students with an
opportunity to apply for an internship in any one
of Representative Hastings' three offices.

  · Providing Constituents with Grant
Opportunities: Representative Hastings' new site
features detailed information about how South
Florida companies, not-for-profits, and residents
can apply for and receive federal grants.

  · Linking South Florida to Washington:
Representative Hastings' site provides visitors
with the ability to link to every major
governmental entity in South Florida and
Washington, including cities, counties, Native
American tribes, state and federal departments
and agencies, and the Legislative and Judicial
branches.  The site also includes links to major
South Florida tourist attractions, major
newspapers, sports teams, and airports.

  The website also includes a video greeting from
Representative Hastings, a photo gallery, and
information about Hastings' Heroes, a list of
South Florida's civic leaders recognized by
Representative Hastings for their outstanding
commitment to their community.

  While unveiling his site, Representative
Hastings also announced his plans to introduce
legislation that will significantly break down
the digital divide.  The legislation, which is
currently being drafted, will increase computer
ownership and Internet access in minority and
rural areas, provide neighborhood-wide technology
training and support grants, and increase
community-based technology workforce training and
education in areas, which have historically
lacked access.

  "The Internet has become such an important tool
in today's world, and I am pleased to extend this
incredible resource to the people of Florida's
23rd Congressional District," said Representative
Hastings.  "The truth of the matter is, however,
no matter how much information is placed on any
website, the Internet is not readily available to
so many in my district, the majority of who are
minorities or those living in rural areas.  These
individuals, elementary, middle, and high school
students included, find themselves at a
competitive disadvantage not as a result of their
abilities, but rather due to their localities.
The digital divide must not longer be an excuse
for lack of progress."