[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 66 (Monday, April 24, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5564-S5565]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               NATION'S RESPONSE TO THE OKLAHOMA BOMBING

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I appreciate my colleague's kindness in 
this matter. I just have a few words to say here this morning following 
the Oklahoma bombing.
  Today, we all continue to mourn the senseless loss of life in 
Oklahoma City. My heart and my prayers go out to the families and loved 
ones of those killed and injured in this tragic bombing. This vicious 
destruction of human life, particularly of the lives of so many 
innocent children, is tragic beyond belief.
  We must not rest until all of the perpetrators are discovered and 
punished. I have full confidence in the ability of Federal law 
enforcement officials to bring the perpetrators to justice. The 
[[Page S5565]] Judiciary Committee will support the President, the 
Attorney General, Director Freeh, and the hundreds of law enforcement 
officials involved in this effort. We will provide them with any 
assistance, legislative or otherwise, that they may need in that 
regard. I want to compliment each and every one of them, especially 
Director Freeh and the FBI, for their leadership in the work they have 
done in uncovering all the things they have, thus far.
  President Clinton was correct when he described the terrorists who 
committed this act as ``evil cowards.'' If the barbaric individuals 
responsible for this venomous, wicked act believe they could 
intimidate, punish, or coerce the United States of America, they were 
wrong. Dead wrong. We must and we will guarantee that any terrorist, be 
he domestic or international, know that our Nation's policy will be one 
of swift and effective retribution.
  For years, many in Congress have been fighting for passage of 
legislation aimed at enhancing our domestic and international 
counterterrorism efforts. I have been one of those. Much of this 
legislation is embodied in the Dole-Hatch crime bill that was 
introduced on the first day of this Congress. Recently, the 
administration forwarded to Congress its own counterterrorism bill that 
is similar to the Dole-Hatch proposal.
  Since the tragic incident of last week, Senator Dole and I have been 
working with Senators Nickles and Inhofe on a comprehensive bill that 
will combine the better provisions from both the Dole-Hatch and 
administration bills into a single vehicle. Although this legislation 
is ready, we will delay its introduction until we can incorporate the 
additional provisions the President referred to last evening in his 60 
Minutes interview. We will also hold hearings in the Judiciary 
Committee later this week to determine what can be done to fight 
terrorism.
  The heinous attack on innocent men, women, and children underscores 
the need for tough, effective laws to fight the scourge of terrorism. 
We must ensure that Federal law enforcement officials have the tools to 
prevent and detect future terrorist attempts. Legislation is needed, 
and it is needed now, to give them those tools.
  In addition to whatever recommendations the President may promulgate, 
our bill will certainly do the following:
  It will increase the penalties for committing terrorist acts here in 
the United States;
  Our legislation will add the crime of conspiracy to terrorism 
offenses, thus, permitting the Federal law enforcement agencies to stop 
terrorist organizations at their formation rather than waiting until 
after they have committed their terrorist acts;
  Although the tragedy in Oklahoma appears to have been committed by 
individuals who are from the United States, it is important that we 
protect our citizens from foreign terrorists as well. Our bill will 
provide law enforcement and courts the tools they need to quickly 
remove alien terrorists from our midst without jeopardizing national 
security or the lives of law enforcement personnel;
  Our legislation also seeks to prevent individuals who support or 
engage in terrorist activities from ever entering the United States. 
The bill would permit the Secretary of State to withhold visas from 
certain individuals who come from nations that sponsor terrorism, or 
from individuals who are members of organizations suspected of 
terrorist activities;
  Our bill further includes provisions making it a crime to knowingly 
provide material support to groups designated by a Presidential finding 
to be engaged in terrorist activities;
  Finally, our bill provides for numerous other needed improvements in 
the law to fight the scourge of terrorism. I would note that many of 
the provisions of this bill enjoy broad bipartisan support, and in 
several cases, have passed the Senate on previous occasions.
  We must, however, resist the urge to leap to conclusions and unfairly 
tar certain political minorities with recriminations for last 
Wednesday's tragic events. As President Clinton said last evening, ``We 
must be careful not to stereotype people from other groups.'' Once all 
of the perpetrators of this act are apprehended, there will be time 
enough to ensure that justice is done.
  As a final note, I want to commend President Clinton for his 
leadership that he has exhibited in the face of this tragedy. He and 
his administration have done a superb job in responding to this 
tragedy. The Department of Justice, the FBI, and all of the police and 
rescue workers in Oklahoma must be acknowledged for their efforts to 
date.
  In closing, what is shocking to so many is the apparent fact that 
those responsible for this atrocity are U.S. citizens. To think that 
Americans could do this to one another, it is unbelievable.
  Yet these killers are not true Americans, not in my book. Americans 
are the men, women, and children who died under the sea of concrete and 
steel. Americans are the rescue workers, the volunteers, the law 
enforcement officials and investigators who are clearing up the chaos 
that has occurred in Oklahoma City. The genuine Americans are the 
overwhelming number who will forever reel at the senselessness and 
horror of April 19, 1995. It falls on everyone as Americans in heart 
and spirit, to condemn this sort of political extremism. Anarchistic 
radicalism of this sort--be it from the left or the right--will not 
prevail in our freedom-loving democracy.
  The rule of law and popular government will prevail. We intend by 
this legislation to see that it prevails, and that it prevails with the 
force that really should be behind the rule of law.
  There are a lot of other things I will say about the bill we will 
file in the future, but suffice it to say these are some of the matters 
I wanted to cover in these few short remarks here.
  Again, my lasting prayers, and that of my family, go out to those who 
have suffered so much through this ordeal, those who have suffered the 
loss of loved ones, those who have been maimed, and those who are 
related to those who have died or been maimed.
  My love goes out to our Federal workers, too, for they are hard-
working people who try to do the best they can. We want to make sure 
the Federal installations, as well as all other installations in this 
country, are secure from terrorism, terrorist activities, and from 
those who would subvert the very freedom fabric of our country.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  

                          ____________________