[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 254 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 254


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 15, 1998

      Received and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Whereas on May 2, 1973, Joanne Chesimard and 2 friends were stopped in their 
        vehicle by New Jersey State Troopers James Harper and Werner Foerster on 
        the New Jersey Turnpike;
Whereas while being questioned, Ms. Chesimard and the driver opened fire with 
        automatic pistols striking Trooper Werner Foerster twice in the chest 
and Trooper James Harper in the left shoulder;
Whereas the suspects then turned Trooper Foerster's own weapon on him firing an 
        additional two bullets into his head execution style;
Whereas this heinous and premeditated act resulted in the tragic death of New 
        Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster;
Whereas Trooper Foerster left behind a wife, Rose Foerster, and family;
Whereas in 1977, after a 6 week trial, a jury found Ms. Chesimard guilty of 
        first-degree murder for the slaying of Trooper Foerster, a respected New 
        Jersey State Trooper;
Whereas as a result of this conviction Ms. Chesimard was sentenced to life in a 
        New Jersey State prison;
Whereas in 1979, Ms. Chesimard broke free from a maximum security cell at the 
        Reformatory for Women in Clinton, New Jersey, with the help of 4 men who 
        took a guard and prison van driver hostage;
Whereas after escaping prison, Ms. Chesimard fled to Cuba for political asylum;
Whereas the Federal Bureau of Investigation lists 77 felony fugitives known to 
        have been granted safe haven by the Cuban Government, including Robert 
        Vesco, Frank Terpil, and Victor Gerena, wanted for, or convicted of, 
        violent crimes, including murder, robbery, kidnapping, air piracy, and 
        terrorism;
Whereas these individuals have been indicted or convicted of criminal offenses 
        in the United States and have not paid their debt to society;
Whereas people in New Jersey were shocked and outraged to see television 
        interviews showing Ms. Chesimard living freely in Cuba, portraying 
        herself as the victim and denying any crimes against Trooper Foerster;
Whereas the Governor of New Jersey, Christine Whitman, has requested Federal 
        assistance from Attorney General Janet Reno for the return of Ms. 
        Chesimard; and
Whereas Members of Congress have petitioned Secretary of State Madeleine 
        Albright requesting that the Department of State do everything in its 
        power to have Joanne Chesimard, and all other individuals who have fled 
        the United States to avoid prosecution or confinement for criminal 
        offenses and who are currently living freely in Cuba, returned to the 
        United States in order for them to face prosecution or confinement in 
        the United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the Government of Cuba should return to the United 
        States convicted murderer Joanne Chesimard in order for her to 
        complete her life sentence for the murder of New Jersey State 
        Trooper Werner Foerster;
            (2) the Government of Cuba should return to the United 
        States all other individuals who have fled the United States to 
        avoid prosecution or confinement for criminal offenses and who 
        are currently living freely in Cuba in order for them to face 
        prosecution or confinement in the United States; and
            (3) the return from Cuba to the United States of all 
        individuals who have fled the United States to avoid 
        prosecution or confinement for criminal offenses and who are 
        currently living in Cuba should be a top priority for the 
        United States Government.

            Passed the House of Representatives September 14, 1998.

            Attest:

                                                ROBIN H. CARLE,

                                                                 Clerk.