[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 172 (Thursday, November 2, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S16595]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIME AND DRUG TRAFFICKING

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I want to welcome President Clinton to 
the effort to deal with international organized crime. In his recent 
speech to the United Nations, he noted the rising influence of these 
groups worldwide and the cost they exact from all nations, costs that 
are borne most heavily by their unfortunate victims. In his remarks he 
called for greater international efforts to fight criminal 
organizations. In sounding this theme he is picking up on something 
that Congress urged the administration to pursue over a year ago in a 
Senate resolution to the 1994 crime bill.
  Whether it is trafficking in drugs or people. Whether through 
extortion, murder, and corruption. Whether it is the threat of 
trafficking in chemical, biological, or nuclear agents. Or whether it 
is massive fraud aimed at banks, businesses, and governments, organized 
criminal groups exact billions of dollars in damage. And the human 
costs are even greater. The drug-blasted lives, the fear, the 
distortion of economics, and the erosion of decent government in many 
parts of the world are the product of criminal gangs that have fastened 
onto social life like leeches. These facts have lead a number of 
governments to declare criminal organizations to be national security 
threats. As the crises in Italy and Colombia, the challenges to 
democracy in Russia, and brazenness of Mexican Mafias show, no country, 
developed or developing is immune to the cancer of criminal actions.
  And these groups are developing a global reach. They have become 
multinational thug empires that will stop at nothing to turn an illegal 
profit. No single government is able to deal with these groups 
singlehandedly, not even the United States. That is why the Congress 
has held numerous hearings in the past several years on the threat from 
these groups and has called upon the administration to take the problem 
seriously. If we are going to respond to these groups and to their 
corruption of decent life, we must develop the range of responses that 
can put these people out of business and in jail.
  In this regard, we need the intelligence capabilities to target key 
groups and their leaders. We need to help other countries strengthen 
their legal frameworks and their police capabilities to combat 
transnational criminal groups. We need to tighten up our financial 
control capabilities to prevent these groups from abusing our financial 
and banking systems. And we need international awareness and a common 
effort to bring these thugs to justice. That is why the Congress 
enjoined the administration last year to pursue an international 
convention that would deny these groups safe havens and the benefits of 
their plunder.
  President Clinton has indicated he believes we face a serious 
challenge. If he intends to translate his rhetoric into deeds, then he 
will find support in Congress for his efforts. I hope that we shall see 
serious proposals from the President that will move us down the path of 
meaningful and sustained action.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Abraham). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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