[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 204 (Tuesday, December 19, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2416-E2417]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                BRINGING THE TERRORISM BILL TO THE FLOOR

                                 ______


                        HON. CHARLES E. SCHUMER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 19, 1995

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Republican leadership 
reversed itself again on the terrorism bill. Repeatedly, the leadership 
had promised to bring this legislation to the floor. First they said 
they would do it by Memorial Day. Then they said it would come up 
before August recess. Finally, they pledged a vote by the end of the 
year.
  Yesterday afternoon, however, the bill was abruptly yanked from this 
week's floor schedule.
  Yesterday, I also received a letter from Ms. Victoria Cummock of 
Coral Gables, FL. Ms. Cummock's husband was killed 7 years ago when Pan 
Am Flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland. As a victim of this 
random, senseless terrorist attack, she had dearly hoped that the House 
would finally move toward passage of the terrorism bill. Once again, 
her hopes have been dashed by the leadership's pandering to the far 
right.
  I would like to enter Ms. Cummock's statement in the Record, Mr. 
Speaker, to demonstrate to all of my colleagues how important this 
legislation really is. I share her hope that Congress will move 
urgently to pass the anti-terrorism bill right away, rather than 
waiting for another tragedy to spur action.
  I ask unanimous consent that her letter appear directly following 
these remarks:

[[Page E2417]]



                             Families of Pan-Am 103 Lockerbie,

                              Coral Gables, FL, December 13, 1995.
     Re H.R. 1710/sub/H.R. 2703 counter-terrorism legislation.

     Hon. Charles Schumer, 
     House Judiciary Committee,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Congressman Schumer: I am the widow of John Binning 
     Cummock, a 38 yr. old American father of three, who was 
     killed by terrorist, abroad Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie 
     Scotland. Additionally, I am the Vice President of the Pan Am 
     103 Families group representing over 180 next-of-kin. I am 
     writing in support of HR 2703 substatute for HR 1710. I feel 
     that this current legislation is the most comprehensive and 
     proactive approach to protect Americans from terrorism that I 
     have seen come out of Congress in the last seven years.
       After the bombing of the Murrah building in Oklahoma City, 
     Congress vowed to get tough and pass this legislation by 
     Memorial Day '95. Quick progress was made on the Senate side 
     but sadly the House seems to have come to a screeching halt 
     on debating this bill. Now that the media focus has faded 
     from the Oklahoma City bombing, my fear is that Congress will 
     recess before enacting this badly needed legislation. it is 
     imperative that Congress does not forget its responsibility, 
     not only to protect the American people, but to support the 
     law enforcement agencies who are trying to respond to the 
     escalating and changing threats.
       In less than seven years, I have looked into the faces of 
     hundreds of American families that have been devastated by 
     terrorism, after the bombing of Pan Am 103, the World Trade 
     Center and most recently after spending 11 days in Oklahoma 
     City under the sponsorship of the American Red Cross. I know 
     all to well what they have been sentenced to live with under 
     the current system. We owe it to our children and to future 
     generations to be able to live in a safe and secure America. 
     American children must now grow up feeling like they are 
     walking targets to potential terrorist attacks, both 
     domestically and internationally. Unfortunately, the children 
     of the victims of terrorism remember all too well the 
     questions of who is protecting them and where is justice? Let 
     us not afford more consideration and rights to illegal 
     aliens, felons or potential terrorists, than we do to our 
     children who daily pledge allegiance to the American flag.
       Specifically, for the Pan Am 103 families the FSIA 
     Amendment within Section 804 is of particular importance. 
     This will provide victims of terrorism an avenue to pursue 
     terrorist sponsoring Nations, where none existed before, by 
     waiving Sovereign Immunity for specific acts of terrorism 
     against American. Clearly, history has shown that the current 
     system, of diplomacy takes decades and only serves to re-
     victimize the victims' families by providing little or no 
     remedy. In our case, as the KAL 007 flight which occurred 
     over 12 years ago, no progress is in sight. A failure to 
     achieve swift and adequate resolution only to continues the 
     emotional pain, and anguish of the families especially the 
     children. Victims' families are not entitled to access the 
     mental health and other areas of support currently available 
     to other American victims of violent crimes. Hence, America 
     turns its back on the families of those who made the ultimate 
     sacrifice for being Americans. To potentially receive 
     compensation after 40 years can not buy back my children's 
     childhood, especially if they have been too traumatized to be 
     able to learn how to read or sleep through the night.
       I hope that we can count on your full support when this 
     bill is placed for a vote. I can be reached at (305) 667-7218 
     or Skypage 1 (800) 592-8770. My hope is that it will not take 
     another incident to refocus Washington's priorities on 
     counter-terrorism, and other Americans can be spared our 
     fate. Thank you very much for your consideration.
           Sincerely,

                                          M. Victoria Cummock,

                                        V.P. Pam Am 103 Lockerbie,
     Widow of John B. Cummock.

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