[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 116 (Thursday, September 9, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H8002]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         PARDON FOR TERRORISTS

  (Mr. ROYCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ROYCE. Madam Speaker, I could not believe my eyes when I read the 
newspaper this morning that President Clinton had given clemency to 12 
imprisoned members of the Puerto Rican terrorist organization, the 
FALN.
  U.S. policy to terrorists has always been very consistent; it has 
always been very clear. We must make no concessions to terrorists. That 
has been the policy, not to pardon terrorists.
  We should be sending a strong message that terrorism would not be 
tolerated. As my friend, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant), has 
pointed out, the FALN was responsible for 130 bombings in the United 
States that killed six people, at least; injured scores of other 
Americans; three police officers were maimed for life; two were 
blinded; one lost a leg while trying to diffuse one of the bombs that 
the FALN planted in 1982.
  What does the President have to say to these victims and their 
families? What does Vice President Gore have to say about releasing 
these law breakers? All 12 terrorists given clemency were convicted on 
charges of seditious conspiracy and possession of weapons and 
possession of explosives. They belong in prison.

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