March 18, 2004 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E403 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS

TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL L. STERN the entire 18th Congressional District of Ohio to believe it could happen again. This time, in thanking the men and women of the 1001st the problems will most likely be with the Quartermaster Company for their service to electronic voting that has replaced chad-pro- HON. J. DENNIS HASTERT ducing punch cards. Some counties, includ- OF ILLINOIS our country. ing Bay County, use paper ballots that are IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES f fed into an optical scanner, so a recount is Thursday, March 18, 2004 CONGRATULATING THE SAUK RAP- possible if there are questions. But 15 Florida counties, including Palm Beach, home of the Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I would like to IDS-RICE STORM ON THEIR VIC- infamous ‘‘butterfly ballot,’’ have adopted take this opportunity to express my personal TORY IN THE MINNESOTA CLASS touch-screen machines that do not produce a appreciation, and the appreciation of the A BOYS SWIMMING AND DIVING paper record. If anything goes wrong in these United States House of Representatives, for STATE TOURNAMENT counties in November, we will be in bad the service of Michael L. Stern to the House shape. as Senior Counsel in the Office of General Florida’s official line is that its machines HON. MARK R. KENNEDY are so carefully tested, nothing can go Counsel. After more than 8 years in the Office, OF MINNESOTA wrong. But things already have gone wrong. Mr. Stern will be moving to the other side of IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES In a January election in Palm Beach and the Capitol to become the Deputy Staff Direc- Thursday, March 18, 2004 Broward Counties, the victory margin was 12 tor for the Senate Committee on Govern- votes, but the machines recorded more than mental Affairs. Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I 130 blank ballots. It is simply not believable Mr. Stern has provided invaluable assist- rise today to congratulate the Sauk Rapids- that 130 people showed up to cast a nonvote, ance and advice to the House and its Mem- Rice Storm on their victory in the Minnesota in an election with only one race on the bal- bers, Officers, and Committees in connection Class A Boys Swimming and Diving State lot. The runner-up wanted a recount, but with a broad range of legal matters. Many Tournament. This is the first State title for the since the machines do not produce a paper record, there was nothing to recount. House Committees and Subcommittees, in Storm after finishing second last season. Coached by Tom Swanson, the Storm nar- In 2002, in the primary race for governor particular, have come to rely on his expertise between Janet Reno and Bill McBride, elec- and guidance in connection with their inves- rowly defeated Hutchinson, 237–233, by plac- tronic voting problems were so widespread tigative and oversight activities. Mr. Stern has ing first in the last event of the meet, the 400 they cast doubt on the outcome. Many brought his litigation skills to bear both in de- freestyle relay. Two seniors on the relay team Miami-Dade County votes were not counted fending Members and other House employees had been involved in the swimming program on election night because machines were and entities in judicial proceedings at the trial since the seventh grade—Jason Timmer and shut down improperly. One precinct with Connor Ziegler. Timmer also placed first in the over 1,000 eligible voters recorded no votes, and appellate levels, and in responding to despite a 33 percent turnout statewide. Elec- deposition, trial, grand jury, and administrative 50 and 100 freestyle, posting All-American times in both events and setting a state Class tion workers spent days hunting for lost subpoenas. Over the years, Mr. Stern has votes, while Floridians waited, in an uncom- also played a significant role in safeguarding A record in the 100. fortable replay of 2000, to see whether Mr. the legal and institutional interests of the Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the students, McBride’s victory margin, which had dwin- House in its interactions with other govern- coaches and fans from Sauk Rapids-Rice dled to less than 10,000, would hold up. mental entities. High School on their championship season. This past Tuesday, even though turnout I know that Mr. Stern will serve the Senate It’s a great tribute to their hard work, dedica- was minimal, there were problems. Voters tion and overall team effort and I know every- were wrongly given computer cards that let with the same level of distinction with which them vote only on local issues, not in the he served the House. On behalf of the entire one in Minnesota is proud of their accomplish- ments. presidential primary. Machines did not work. House of Representatives, I thank him for his And there were, no doubt, other mishaps many years of service and extend to him our f that did not come to light because of the very best wishes for his continued success. FLORIDA AS THE NEXT FLORIDA stunning lack of transparency around voting f in the State. When a Times editorial writer dropped in on one Palm Beach precinct A PROCLAMATION THANKING THE HON. CORRINE BROWN where there were reports of malfunctioning 1001ST QUARTERMASTER COM- OF FLORIDA machines, county officials called the police PANY FOR THEIR SERVICE TO IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES to remove him. OUR COUNTRY The biggest danger of electronic voting, Thursday, March 18, 2004 however, cannot be seen from the outside. Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Computer scientists warn that votes, and HON. ROBERT W. NEY Speaker, I submit the following for the whole elections, can be stolen by rigging the code that runs the machines. The only de- OF OHIO RECORD. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES fense is a paper record of every vote cast, a FLORIDA AS THE NEXT FLORIDA ‘‘voter-verified paper trail,’’ which can be Thursday, March 18, 2004 [From the New York Times, Mar. 14, 2004] counted if the machines’ tallies are suspect. Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker: As Floridians went to the polls last Tues- Given its history, Florida should be a leader Whereas, the men and women of the day, Glenda Hood, Katherine Harris’s suc- in requiring paper trails. But election offi- 1001st Quartermaster Company of the Army cessor as secretary of state, assured the Na- cials, including Theresa LePore, the Palm tion that Florida’s voting system would not Reserves are returning home after serving Beach County elections supervisor who was break down this year the way it did in 2000. responsible for the butterfly ballot, have re- their country in Iraq; and Florida now has ‘‘the very best’’ technology fused to put them in place. Whereas, the men and women of the available, she declared on CNN. ‘‘And I do Last week, Representative Robert Wexler, 1001st Quartermaster Company are to be feel that it’s a great disservice to create the a Florida Democrat, filed a Federal lawsuit commended for their honor and bravery that feeling that there’s a problem when there is to require paper trails. He relies on the Su- they displayed while serving our nation in this not.’’ Hours later, results in Bay County preme Court’s holding in Bush v. Gore that time of war; and showed that with more than 60 percent of equal protection requires States to use com- Whereas, the men and women of the precincts reporting, Richard Gephardt, who parable recount methods from county to 1001st Quartermaster Company have dem- long before had pulled out of the presidential county. Florida law currently requires a race, was beating John Kerry by two to one. hand recount in close races. That is possible onstrated a commitment to meet challenges ‘‘I’m devastated,’’ the county’s top election in most counties, but the 15 that use elec- with enthusiasm, confidence, and outstanding official said, promising a recount of his tronic voting machines do not produce paper service; county’s 19,000 votes. records that can be recounted. Under the Therefore, I join with your family and Four years after Florida made a mockery logic of Bush v. Gore, Representative Wexler friends, the residents of the Ohio Valley and of American elections, there is every reason is right.

∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor.

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