[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 18]
[House]
[Page 26038]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



               ENSURING FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE IN ELECTIONS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on November 7, 2000, some of 
the people were able to exercise their will. I believe that all of the 
people of this great Republic and great Nation should have that 
opportunity. Now we find ourselves, our eyes, the Nation's eyes, the 
world's eyes, on the great State of Florida.
  First, let me thank my colleagues, the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. 
Meek), the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Brown), the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Wexler), and the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutsch) for their leadership, along with 
the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Fowler) in trying to explain to the 
American people what is happening in their great State.
  I think the real key has to be that we must listen to the people of 
that State, the people of Florida, and, although so many of us would 
want to cast our opinions and our viewpoints, it is time now to let 
their will be heard. I think it is a very strong will; and, if we watch 
what is going on in Florida, we will see that the first order of 
recount was driven by the law of the State of Florida.
  I was in Nashville, Tennessee, as the numbers began to crumble, and 
it was about 3 a.m. in the morning when the votes that were originally 
called for Governor Bush now deteriorated to just a difference of 569 
votes between Vice President Gore and Governor Bush. So a recount was 
triggered, not by the Vice President or by the Governor, but by the 
laws of the State of Florida.
  The recount was then further activated, if you will, by the laws of 
that State and the will of the people. They are asking that their 
recount be allowed to proceed. I believe it is extremely difficult to 
address the concerns of an accurate count without allowing an accurate 
count to take place. There were ballot deficiencies and irregularities. 
There was the butterfly ballot that confused many of the voters.
  I have listened to the political pundits and media pundits. I am 
offended by insulting and making fun of those individuals who say that 
they had difficulty. In fact, I have heard and understand that many did 
ask, ``could I get another ballot,'' or try to determine whether that 
could happen, and, unfortunately, in the rush of activities, they were 
told not.
  I believe in ``we, the people,'' and I think the focus should be on 
the people of Florida. I come from a county of about 1 million. 995,000 
people voted in Harris County. We only discarded 6,000 votes in Harris 
County, Texas. But yet, in this county in Florida, 19,000 ballots were 
discarded. That is, of course, an exception, an aberration, that should 
be addressed.
  I think it is unfair for the Secretary of State to demand that all be 
in by 5 o'clock on tomorrow. That is not responding to the will of the 
people. Let their voices be heard. It is evident by the decision that 
was made by the Federal judge today that ruled against eliminating the 
recounting that the people of Florida want. The judge called the 
Republican argument serious, but turned them aside, saying it was a 
matter for the State, not Federal courts, to decide.
  Vice President Gore today said something that I think should apply 
reasonably to all of our thought processes. He said, ``That is why I 
have believed from the start that, while time is important, it is even 
more important that every vote is counted and counted accurately.''
  There is no constitutional crisis here. Let us stop raising the ante. 
Let us stop spinning it so that people are in fear. I know there is a 
bit of humor around the world, but I believe we live in the greatest 
nation, and I am still proud of America. So let the world laugh a 
little bit. They always laugh at people they envy. Let us show them 
that, in the calm of day and night, we can quietly recount the votes 
and determine who the next President of the United States will be.
  I tell you for one, supporting Vice President Gore, that I am willing 
to support whoever the new President is, and I would simply ask that 
person to represent all of us.
  It is a tragedy what is going on in the State of Florida with the 
arguing back and forth, making distinctions about the State of Illinois 
or the State of New Mexico. The key is that the State of Florida is in 
play. Those 25 votes will name the next President of the United States, 
so it is there in the State of Florida where we should be most accurate 
with the votes.
  Frankly, those voters deserve the right to be heard; and they deserve 
the right to have the questions answered about irregularities in the 
balloting, of being turned away, of being stopped, as they will.
  I would ask the Secretary of State of that particular great State 
that she should listen to the people of the State. Does Governor Bush 
want Republican counties to be counted? I have no problem with that. I 
believe in fairness and justice, and if those counties can be 
recounted, then so be it. Yes, there will be further tests when the 
votes come in from the absentee balloting, and I believe that will be 
an added addition.
  Mr. Speaker, I would simply hope that we allow the will of the people 
to be heard in their totality.

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