[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 116 (Thursday, August 1, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S9442]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 S. 1729, THE INTERSTATE STALKING PUNISHMENT AND PREVENTION ACT OF 1996

  Mr. FAIRCLOTH. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the 
Interstate Stalking Punishment and Prevention Act of 1996. For far too 
long, the victims of stalkers have lived in fear and insecurity. This 
legislation, introduced by Senator Hutchison, will give them the 
protection they need and deserve. At this time, this bill is awaiting 
action in the Judiciary Committee. I urge my fellow Senators on both 
sides of the isle to support bringing it to the floor as quickly as 
possible. The safety of stalking victims can not be delayed.
  Experts estimate that there are close to 200,000 people who are 
currently stalking someone, and approximately 400,000 protective or 
restraining orders are issued each year. Currently, stalkers can follow 
their victims when they cross State lines, knowing full well that any 
restraining orders pertaining to them are rendered useless upon leaving 
the State that they were issued in. Common sense demands that this 
situation needs to be fixed.
  This bill will make it a felony for a person to cross State lines in 
order to harass or injure their victim. We are not decreasing the power 
or role of the State authorities by making stalking a Federal crime. 
Stalking will remain a State crime. This legislation will allow local 
and State authorities to work with the Justice Department and apply all 
of their resources in the apprehension and conviction of these 
criminals. A stalker convicted under this law will be subject to one of 
several penalties: 5 years if State lines are crossed, 10 years if the 
victim is seriously harmed, 20 years if the victim is permanently 
scarred, and life imprisonment if the victim is killed. I have 
and always will be an advocate of matching the punishment to the crime. 
The strong penalties within this bill are steps in the right direction 
in the war against crime.

  The Violence Against Women Act of 1993 defined a stalking victim as 
an ``intimate partner or spouse.'' This bill will change that term to 
``victim,'' allowing protection for all people who are stalked, whether 
by strangers or otherwise. Again, common sense will prevail. Of course 
the protection of stalking victims should be universal and apply to all 
victims, whether they are a wife, a girlfriend, a coworker, or a total 
stranger.
  Mr. President, this is a law that will protect stalking victims and 
allow them to travel, without fear, as all citizens should, throughout 
our country. With respect to family members, this bill will help ease 
their worries. I can only imagine the terror that families feel when 
one of their own is being stalked. With this thought, I urge my 
colleagues to stand with me in support of this bill and in support of 
all the victims who have suffered at the hands of stalkers.

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