[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 80 (Monday, May 15, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S6701]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       ANTITERRORISM LEGISLATION

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I want to join today with President Clinton 
and with all of America in honoring the 157 law enforcement officers 
who were killed last year in the line of duty. These brave men and 
women paid the ultimate sacrifice so that all Americans may continue to 
live in freedom and peace Today, and every day, our thoughts and 
prayers are with the victims and their families.
  Unfortunately, President Clinton could not resist the temptation to 
score some political points when he chose today's memorial ceremony to 
criticize congressional efforts to enact meaningful antiterrorism 
legislation. In his remarks, the President claimed he sees ``disturbing 
signs of the old politics of diversion and delay.'' And just yesterday, 
the White House Chief of Staff made the untenable statement that 
antiterrorism legislation is not moving in Congress ``because there is 
this diversion going on to try to create attention on the Waco 
incident.'' Mr. Panetta even went so far as to describe as 
``despicable'' the idea that congressional oversight should be brought 
to bear on the Waco tragedy.
  I know there has been a lot of talk recently about paranoia. But, 
judging by these remarks, it appears that the paranoia bug has infected 
the White House. Contrary to what President Clinton may believe, there 
is no hidden conspiracy on the Hill to divert or delay consideration of 
antiterrorism legislation. And Mr. Panetta may be disappointed to learn 
that
 we have not concocted a secret plot to focus attention on Waco as a 
means of diverting attention from the administration's own 
antiterrorism plan.

  Just look at the record: We have had 3 days of hearings, including 
hearings on the administration's controversial proposal to amend the 
Posse Comitatus Act. We have introduced comprehensive legislation that 
incorporates many of the administration's own antiterrorism 
proposals. And we continue to press ahead. In fact, my staff has been 
meeting regularly, even today, with White House and Justice Department 
officials to review--and perhaps improve--all of the various 
antiterrorism proposals that are now on the table.
  So, as we move ahead on an ambitious legislative agenda here in the 
Senate, including an historic plan to balance the Federal budget by the 
year 2002, I hope the President and his Chief of Staff would show some 
restraint and patience.
  Yes, we will give the administration's proposal every consideration. 
Yes, we will pass tough antiterrorism legislation. But our resolve to 
confront the terrorist threat must also be tempered with wisdom and 
restraint. What we do this year must withstand the test of time. After 
all, nothing less than our constitutional liberties are at stake.
  One would think and hope that the President of the United States 
would understand this simple, but immensely important, point.
  Mr. President, we have indicated to the President we would try to 
have a bill on his desk by the end of this month. That is still our 
hope. There have been a lot of delays, but we believe we can meet that 
challenge.
  But I must say, we want to be very careful and not do something based 
on the emotion of the moment. We want to take a look at this 
legislation a year from now, 2 years from now, 5 years from now, to 
make certain we have not trampled on someone's constitutional rights, 
some group or some individual, down the road.
  I think it is very important that we move prudently and we will do 
that, as we indicated and promised the American people.
  I hoped the President would be working with us, instead of taking 
shots at us based on misinformation. I assume somebody gave him bad 
information; otherwise, I am certain he would not make a statement like 
that.
  I yield the floor.

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