BY LESLEY CLARK

 TALLAHASSEE -- In hushed tones and with a moment of silence, the House of
 Representatives on Friday passed a resolution urging the Justice Department to
 keep Elian Gonzalez in the United States until he can petition for asylum.

 Cuban-American lawmakers sponsoring the resolution said it sends a strong
 message to Washington, D.C.

 ``This demonstrates to the federal government that it's not just a bunch of Cubans
 asking for special treatment,'' said Rep. Alex Villalobos, R-Miami.

 ``Knowing what his mother went through to bring him here and knowing I would
 have done the same for my children, I am rising in support,'' said Rep. Debbie
 Wasserman, D-Weston. ``We are about freedom and we are about opportunity
 and the last thing we should be doing is denying either one of those things.''

 Rep. Alzo Reddick, D-Orlando, said he opposed the measure for not including
 Haitian refugees in similar straits.

 But whether other lawmakers opposed the motion was unknown: The measure
 was passed on a voice vote, with no one voicing opposition.

                     Copyright 2000 Miami Herald