[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 118 (Monday, September 13, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1848]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE CONGRESS THAT THE PRESIDENT SHOULD NOT HAVE 
                     GRANTED CLEMENCY TO TERRORISTS

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                               speech of

                       HON. CAROLYN C. KILPATRICK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 9, 1999

  Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H. Con. 
Res. 180, a concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress that 
the President should not have granted clemency. This resolution is 
largely another attempt to smear the policy of an Administration that 
has been under scrutiny for quite some time now. I will not support 
transferring a battle regarding our Administration's scruples into 
attempts to reflect a similar suspicious light on our Administration's 
policy.
  This resolution was not reviewed by the Judiciary Committee, which is 
the Committee of referral. In fact, the resolution was not even 
submitted until one day before the vote. Most of the Puerto Rican 
nationalists who were granted clemency have already served at least 19 
years of their sentences. Our Constitution clearly states that the 
President has the sole and unitary power to grant clemency. It does so 
because the President is uniquely positioned to consider the law and 
facts that apply in each request for clemency. We, as individual 
Members of Congress, have neither the time nor the staff to 
individually review the Administration's belief that the sentences were 
out of proportion with the offenses. For this precise reason, bills are 
referred to the committees that can provide such expertise. It is a 
shame that we would not take the time to allow expert evaluation of the 
level of merit behind this resolution and refer this resolution to the 
Judiciary Committee.
  This is neither the time nor the topic for political pandering. 
Terrorism and clemency are matters to be taken very seriously. They are 
not to be used for political games. I will not support turning the 
fight against terrorism into a political game, and that is why I am 
voting against this bill on final passage.

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