[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 140 (Wednesday, October 2, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1906]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               H.R. 2703

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                           HON. BOBBY L. RUSH

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 2, 1996

  Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today disillusioned and greatly 
saddened by acts of cowardice violence that continue to beset our 
Nation. To the great dismay of many citizens, the growing 
sophistication and fearlessness of criminals and vigilantes have made 
it necessary for law enforcement to be granted greater means and 
authority with which to pursue and capture those who seek to do harm.
  And the unfortunate price that law-abiding citizens must pay for 
these extra security measures is to compromise their civil liberties. 
Therefore, I rise today as a reluctant supporter of the antiterrorism 
legislation contained in H.R. 2703.
  Certainly, there is an unfortunate pressing need for harsher punitive 
measures against those who burn churches or assault the citizenry with 
bombs and other weapons of destruction. And certainly our law 
enforcement officials must be given new tools to crack down on and 
fight both foreign and domestic terrorism. As a nation, we must give 
clear, strong signals that such acts will simply not be tolerated and 
if individuals seek to test our will, they must understand that their 
actions will be met with equally forceful consequences.
  Despite such obvious need for this bill, I have great reservations 
about the affect of this measure on our civil liberties. Increased 
access to our personal records and wiretap surveillance by law 
enforcement and the Government allows for great temptations for abuse. 
There is great potential that this bill will have the unintended affect 
of victimizing innocent, law-abiding citizens and allowing improper 
behavior by law enforcement to go unchecked.
  Furthermore, this bill unfairly penalizes minorities, particularly 
African-Americans, due to the new restrictions it places on appeals by 
death row prisoners. It is well-known that the death row population is 
disproportionately African-American. And it is this community and this 
community alone that will bear the brunt of this unnecessarily harsh 
provision.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a sad day in America when our only recourse to 
protect the lives of some is by restricting the rights of others.

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