[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 126 (Friday, September 24, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H8661]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      CLEMENCY FOR FALN TERRORISTS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I am disappointed that the House did not get 
an opportunity earlier this week to discuss the Senate's resolution 
condemning the President's decision to grant clemencies to members of 
the FALN.
  I draw Members' attention to the USA Today's headline, ``FALN Brought 
Bloody Battle Into America's Streets.'' Let me read part of this 
newspaper article.

       The Puerto Rican separatist group FALN exploded into public 
     view on January 24, 1975, by attacking an icon of American 
     history. It quickly became the most feared domestic terrorist 
     group operating on U.S. soil.
       The 1975 bombing of the Fraunces Tavern in New York City, 
     where General George Washington bid farewell to his troops in 
     1783, left four dead and 54 wounded. It was the deadliest of 
     more than 130 attacks linked to this group from 1974 to 1987, 
     when most members were jailed.

  Some Members here feel we are wasting our time talking about an issue 
that is already a fait accompli because the President has in fact 
signed the clemency and they are out of jail. They say we should be 
discussing social issues important to the American people.
  Let me tell the Members, that is exactly what we are doing here in 
discussing the clemencies for FALN Members. We are talking about 
whether we should be a society that tolerates violence or a society 
that condemns it. It seems to me the people who propose more gun 
control measures, and some of it was discussed here today, as a 
solution to prevent future tragic acts of violence are the same ones 
who preach forgiveness and understanding for past acts of violence.
  Following this twisted logic, we should create new gun control laws 
and then offer clemency to the people convicted of violating those 
laws.
  It sounds like a bizarre scenario to me. But anyone who supports the 
President's decision to offer clemency to Members of the FALN is not 
serious about locking up those who violate our Nation's existing gun 
laws.
  Of the 16 terrorists offered clemency by the President, 12 were 
convicted of the following violations of Federal firearm laws:
  Possession of an ``unregistered firearm,'' a machine gun or sawed-off 
rifle or shotgun. Twelve were convicted of those crimes.
  Nine were carrying a firearm during the commission of a seditious 
conspiracy and interference with interstate commerce by violence.
  Nine were arrested and convicted for interstate transportation of 
firearms with the intent to commit seditious conspiracy and 
interference with interstate commerce by violence;
  Three, conspiracy to make a ``destructive device'', such as a pipe 
bomb;
  Two, possession of a firearm without a serial number.
  These are people we let out of jail last week. For anyone who thinks 
that these terrorists will now be model citizens, let me share with 
them the 1997 statistics from the Bureau of Justice. Of the 108,580 
persons released from prisons in 11 States in 1983, representing more 
than half of all released State prisoners that year, an estimated 62.5 
percent were rearrested for a felony or serious misdemeanor within 3 
years, 46 percent were reconvicted, 41 percent returned to jail. A high 
recidivism rate, I would assume.
  Maybe those same people we let out last week will have a chance to 
display their good citizenship, as they did when they maimed, injured, 
and killed others.
  I do not care if those offered clemency actually pulled the trigger, 
detonated the bomb, or drove the get-away car. The fact is they were 
active members of a terrorist organization dedicated to violence. Now 
they are free by an act of this president. That is more than a shame, 
it is tragic.
  Let me also read, because people say that it is time for healing, 
time to get along, time to accept their apologies, time to recognize 
they have said they are sorry. Let us let them out of jail.
  Jailhouse statements of FALN Members given clemency contrast with 
their recently stated claims to have renounced violence.
  In October, 1995, for example, Luis Rosa, Alicia Rodriguez, and 
Carlos Torres told the Chicago Tribune that they have nothing to be 
sorry for and have no intention of renouncing armed revolution.
  Another FALN member granted clemency, Ricardo Jimenez, told the judge 
in his case, ``We are going to fight. Revolutionary justice will take 
care of you and everyone else.'' I think that is a fairly strong 
threat.
  Talk about four killed, 54 injured.
  On October 26, five bombings in downtown New York City, more than $1 
million in damage.
  December 11, New York police were called to an upper east side 
building to collect a dead body. A booby-trap was set for them. A 
police officer was injured and lost an eye.
  June 15, two bombs detonated in Chicago's loop area.
  February, 1973, Merchandise Mart in Chicago bombed, damage totaled 
$1.3 million.

                              {time}  1330

  August 3, 1977, Mobil Oil employment office in New York bombed, one 
killed, several injured; November 1979, two Chicago military recruiting 
offices and an armory bombed; March 1980, FALN members seized the 
Carter-Mondale campaign office.
  My colleagues, these people should not have been released. This is an 
outrage, and the citizens of America should recognize it for what it 
is. It was a political act and not a just act.

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