[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 18]
[House]
[Page 26160]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



VICE PRESIDENT GORE SHOULD CONCEDE THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND ALLOW 
         THE PRESIDENT-ELECT TO BEGIN THE TRANSITION TO OFFICE

  (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, almost 4 weeks ago the American people went 
to the polls to elect a new president. This election was close, but the 
election is over. Governor George Bush is the certified winner of 271 
electoral votes. He is the president-elect.
  However, Vice President Gore has taken the unprecedented step of 
contesting a presidential election in court. Governor Bush won the 
original vote in Florida. He then won the required recount vote and won 
again, and won again when the overseas ballots were included. He won a 
fourth time when the counties submitted the results of their hand 
counts and the Secretary of State certified the results.
  For the first time in history, the party currently in control of the 
White House is refusing to cooperate with the transition to a new 
administration. Vice President Gore should concede, end his legal 
challenges, and allow the President-elect to prepare to take on the 
awesome responsibilities of the office.

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