[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 7 (Thursday, February 5, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S456-S457]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 173--RELATIVE TO THE PROTECTION OF REPRODUCTIVE 
                        HEALTH SERVICES CLINICS

  Mrs. BOXER (for herself, Mr. Chafee, Ms. Snowe, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. 
Jeffords, Mr. Lautenberg, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Kerrey, Ms. Collins, and Ms. 
Moseley-Braun) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 173

       Whereas there are approximately 1000 reproductive health 
     services clinics in the United States;
       Whereas violence directed at persons seeking to provide 
     reproductive health services continues to increase in the 
     United States, as demonstrated by the January 29, 1998, 
     bombing outside a reproductive health services clinic in 
     Birmingham, Alabama, in which 1 person was killed and 1 
     person was critically injured;
       Whereas the death that occurred at the Birmingham clinic 
     was the first bombing fatality at a reproductive health 
     services clinic in the history of the United States;
       Whereas organizations monitoring clinic violence have 
     reported over 1,800 acts of violence at reproductive health 
     services clinics, including bombings, shootings, arson, death 
     threats, kidnapping, and assaults;
       Whereas in 1997, reproductive health services clinics 
     reported an increase in the number of acts of violence over 
     1996;

[[Page S457]]

       Whereas in January 1997, reproductive health services 
     clinics in Atlanta, Georgia and Tulsa, Oklahoma were bombed, 
     resulting in several injuries;
       Whereas in December 1994, 2 workers at a reproductive 
     health services clinic were murdered and 5 others injured in 
     an assault in Brookline, Massachusetts;
       Whereas in July 1994, an abortion provider and his security 
     escort were murdered in Pensacola, Florida;
       Whereas in March 1993, a doctor providing abortion services 
     was shot and killed in Pensacola, Florida;
       Whereas Congress passed and the President signed the 
     Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1994, a law 
     establishing Federal criminal penalties and civil remedies 
     for certain violent, threatening, obstructive, and 
     destructive conduct that is intended to injure, intimidate, 
     or interfere with persons seeking to obtain or provide 
     reproductive health services, and for intentionally damaging 
     or destroying, or attempting to damage or destroy, the 
     property of a clinic because the clinic provides reproductive 
     health services;
       Whereas violence is not a mode of free speech, is not 
     entitled to constitutional protection, and should not be 
     condoned as a method of expressing an opinion; and
       Whereas on January 2, 1995, the President instructed the 
     Attorney General to direct--
       (1) the United States Attorneys to create task forces of 
     Federal, State, and local law enforcement officials to 
     develop plans to address security for reproductive health 
     services clinics located within their jurisdictions; and
       (2) the United States Marshals Service to ensure 
     coordination between reproductive health services clinics and 
     Federal, State, and local law enforcement officials regarding 
     potential threats of violence: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. SENSE OF THE SENATE.

       It is the sense of the Senate that the Attorney General 
     should--
       (1) fully enforce the law and protect from violent attack 
     persons seeking to provide or obtain, or assist in providing 
     or obtaining, reproductive health services; and
       (2) allocate the resources needed to accomplish the mission 
     of the Department of Justice, including the protection of 
     reproductive health services clinics, as described in the 
     instruction of the President on January 2, 1995.

     SEC. 2. EXPRESSIVE CONDUCT.

       Nothing in this resolution shall be construed to prohibit 
     any expressive conduct (including peaceful picketing or other 
     peaceful demonstration) protected from legal prohibition by 
     the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise to submit a resolution condemning 
last week's tragic bombing of a reproductive health services clinic in 
Birmingham, Alabama. This vicious and unprovoked attack killed a police 
officer and critically injured a clinic worker.
  Last week's attack was the first clinic bombing in the United States 
to cause a fatality, but unfortunately, it was far from the first 
bombing. In recent years, reproductive health services clinics have 
been the targets of an unprecedented terror campaign. Last year alone, 
clinics in Atlanta, Georgia and Tulsa, Oklahoma were bombed, resulting 
in many serious injuries.
  This reign of terror began with the murder of Dr. David Gunn in 
Pensacola, Florida in 1993. A second abortion provider and his security 
guard were shot and killed the following year in Florida. And on the 
bloodiest day of the anti-choice terror campaign, two clinic workers 
were killed and five injured in vicious, cold-blooded shootings in 
Brookline, Massachusetts.
  All told, over 1,800 violent attacks have been reported at 
reproductive health services clinics in recent years. I hope my 
colleagues are aware that the attacks and the level of violence in 
those attacks are increasing every year.
  Reproductive choice is a contentious issue. I know that many of my 
colleagues feel very strongly that abortion should be outlawed in 
America, and although I strongly disagree, I respect their views and I 
hope they respect mine. But this resolution is not about choice; it is 
about violence. I know that not a single one of my colleagues believes 
that murder, bombing, terror and acts of intimidation are appropriate 
ways to express political views.
  These bombings are a part of a terrorist campaign--a campaign 
designed to destroy a woman's right to choose through violence. The 
United States Senate must condemn these attacks as strongly and 
unequivocally as we condemn other acts of terrorism--both here and 
around the world.
  In addition to condemning the attack, this resolution expresses the 
Sense of the Senate that the Attorney General should fully enforce 
existing laws to protect the rights of American women seeking care at 
reproductive health services clinics.
  I am proud to be joined in this effort by a distinguished, bipartisan 
group of Senators. I hope the Senate can move quickly on this 
resolution and pass it as early as today.

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