[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 8, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H1378]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                              {time}  1140
                            SUPPORT H.R. 729

  (Mr. JONES asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, last week the State of North Carolina 
executed Kermit Smith for the brutal kidnaping, rape, and murder of a 
college cheerleader in 1980. Because of the burdensome appeals process, 
the case dragged on for 14 years, going before 46 judges and the U.S. 
Supreme Court 5 times. The victim's family suffered each and every time 
the case was brought up for review.
  Why must we penalize the victims and their families? Haven't they 
gone through enough. Honest taxpaying citizens question why criminals 
spend an average of 15 years on death row appealing their cases. They 
question the enormous cost of the appeals process. They question the 
amount of time courts spend hearing these cases, while in turn ignoring 
other pressing matters.
  We, as Members of Congress, have the obligation and responsibility to 
streamline this process for the victims' families and the law-abiding 
citizen. The Effective Death Penalty Act is a step in the right 
direction. It sets time limits for the appeals process. We must support 
H.R. 729.

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