[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 72 (Wednesday, May 3, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E948]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


            RE-INTRODUCTION OF EXPLOSIVES FINGERPRINTING ACT

                                 ______


                         HON. THOMAS J. MANTON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 3, 1995
  Mr. MANTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Explosives 
Fingerprinting Act. This legislation is virtually identical to H.R. 
1262, legislation I introduced in the 103d Congress.
  Unfortunately, last month's devastating bombing in Oklahoma City 
demonstrates that our Nation desperately needs to implement an 
effective method of quickly identifying and punishing the perpetrators 
of terrorist bombings.
  My legislation would require all explosives manufacturers to 
introduce high-technology additives into their explosives that will 
give them identifying signatures which would identify when and where 
the particular explosive device was made.
  These additives, called taggants, are microscopic chips designed to 
survive explosives. Many Federal law enforcement officials, including 
those at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agree that 
taggants would be a valuable anti-terrorist tool. The use of taggants 
would allow agents to examine the manufacturers required paperwork to 
identify suspects from lists of purchasers. Identifying the source and 
subsequent sale of explosives is nearly impossible without taggants.
  Given the effectiveness of taggants, it is discouraging that this 
anti-terrorist technology has not been required in the past. The 
reason, tragically, is that special interest groups representing the 
explosives industry and gun industry have not only worked to kill 
previous legislation to require taggants, but have also limited the 
amount of funding the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms can 
devote to developing this technology.
  As a former police officer, I know how difficult criminal 
investigations can be. However, I know it has been as frustrating for 
me as it has for the rest of the Nation to witness the difficulty our 
law enforcement personnel have had in locating the second suspect in 
the Oklahoma City attack, John Doe No. 2 despite a nationwide effort to 
find him.
  It is time to give our law enforcement officials a valuable new tool 
in their arsenal. I would encourage my colleagues to join me as 
cosponsors of this important legislation thereby taking a small step 
toward making sure another such terrorist attack does not occur.
  Finally, as a Member of Congress who hails from New York City, the 
site of the World Trade Center Bombing 2 years ago, I know the fear and 
loss which these cowardly acts can have on a community. While the 
devastation which occurred in Oklahoma City is far greater than that 
which New York sustained, I know the people of New York have a special 
affinity for the suffering families and friends of the victims of this 
most recent tragedy. Our hearts go out to the people of Oklahoma City 
in this time of tragedy.
  I think all Americans agree that this victimization of innocent 
people is a trend which we cannot allow to continue. While there will 
be many different proposals offered to address the threat of terrorism, 
I caution my colleagues to focus their attention on only those 
proposals which will hasten the punishment of criminals and not endorse 
initiatives which erode the freedoms and protections upon which our 
country was founded. We will not win the battle against terrorists who 
seek to tear our Nation apart by compromising the principles which 
define us.
  In that regard, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting 
meaningful legislation, the Explosives Fingerprinting Act, which will 
not only identify criminals but deter them, by securing information 
about the purchasers of explosive devices.


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