[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 12 (Friday, January 20, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1282-S1283]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


     SENATE RESOLUTION 67--RELATING TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CLINICS

  Mr. PRESSLER (for Mrs. Boxer, for herself, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Feingold, 
Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Simon, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Dodd, Mr. 
Baucus, Mr. Levin, Mr. Lieberman, Ms. Moseley-Braun, Mr. Harkin, Mr. 
Pell, Mr. Inouye, Ms. Mikulski, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Reid, Mr. 
Wellstone, Mr. Robb, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Bryan, and Mr. Kerry) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                               S. Res. 67

     SENSE OF THE SENATE CONCERNING PROTECTION OF REPRODUCTIVE 
                   HEALTH CLINICS.

       Whereas there are approximately 900 clinics in the United 
     States providing reproductive health services;
       Whereas violence directed at persons seeking to provide 
     reproductive health services continues to increase in the 
     United States, as demonstrated by the recent shootings at two 
     reproductive health clinics in Massachusetts and another 
     health care clinic in Virginia;
       Whereas organizations monitoring clinic violence have 
     recorded over 130 incidents of violence or harassment 
     directed at reproductive health care clinics and their 
     personnel 
     [[Page S1283]] in 1994 such as death threats, stalking, 
     chemical attacks, bombings and arson;
       Whereas there has been one attempted murder in Florida and 
     four individuals killed at reproductive health care clinics 
     in Florida and Massachusetts in 1994;
       Whereas the Congress passed and the President signed the 
     Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1994, a law 
     establishing Federal criminal penalties and civil remedies 
     for certain violent, threatening, obstructive and destructive 
     conduct that is intended to injure, intimidate or interfere 
     with persons seeking to obtain or provide reproductive health 
     services;
       Whereas violence is not a mode of free speech and should 
     not be condoned as a method of expressing an opinion; and
       Whereas the President has instructed the Attorney General 
     to order--
       (1) the United States Attorneys to create tasks forces of 
     Federal, State and local law enforcement officials and 
     develop plans to address security for reproductive health 
     care clinics located within their jurisdictions; and
       (2) the United States Marshals Service to ensure 
     coordination between clinics and Federal, State and local law 
     enforcement officials regarding potential threats of 
     violence.
       Resolved, it is the sense of the Senate.--That the United 
     States Attorney General should fully enforce the law and 
     protect persons seeking to provide or obtain, or assist in 
     providing or obtaining, reproductive health services from 
     violent attack.
       Sec. 2.--Nothing in this resolution shall be construed to 
     prohibit any expressive conduct (including peaceful picketing 
     or other peaceful demonstration) protected from legal 
     prohibition by the first amendment to the Constitution.
     

                          ____________________