[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 169 (Friday, December 7, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2224-E2225]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     INTRODUCTION OF H. CON. RES.--

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 6, 2001

  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution 
condemning the over 500 anthrax hoaxes perpetrated against women's 
health care providers and abortion clinics since October 14th. This 
resolution also urges

[[Page E2225]]

the Administration, local law enforcement, and related government 
agencies to continue to make their best efforts to bring all those who 
commit acts of domestic terrorism to justice.
  Throughout the nearly three decades since the Roe v. Wade decision 
legalized abortion in 1973, reproductive health centers and abortion 
clinics across the United States have been under attack by anti-choice 
extremists. These are individuals who firmly believe that it is better 
to murder, harass, and threaten doctors who provide reproductive health 
services, than to live and act within the confines of the law.
  One of the most horrific acts of anti-choice violence occurred 3 
years ago in Amherst, New York--a town just outside my district. Dr. 
Barnett Slepian was tragically shot and killed in his home by an anti-
choice extremist lying in wait in his back yard. As a result of this 
cowardly act, our region lost a courageous and talented doctor; his 
family lost a loving husband and father. Dr. Slepian's death marked the 
seventh murder at the hands of an anti-choice extremist since 1993.
  Unfortunately, this type of vicious domestic terrorism remains at 
large. According to the National Abortion Federation, since 1977, there 
have been 7 murders, 17 attempted murders, 41 bombings, 165 arsons, 122 
assaults, 343 death threats, 100 butyric acid attacks, and now, as of 
October 14, more than 500 anthrax threats perpetrated against abortion 
providers in North America. Considering this laundry list of violent 
acts, it is hard to imagine how some abortion providers can walk into 
work in the morning.
  With the help of law enforcement officials and others, I firmly 
believe we can put an end to the violent acts that threaten some 
members of our medical community. I am pleased to report that 
yesterday, December 5, the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested 
Clayton Lee Waagner, the suspected author of anthrax hoax letters sent 
to abortion clinics nationwide, in a copy store outside Cincinnati, 
Ohio. I would like to commend the law enforcement officials who 
captured Waagner and urge them to launch a similar campaign to 
apprehend others who have perpetrated similar incidents of violence.
  In addition to the work of law enforcement officials, however, we 
must also raise awareness about this type of domestic terrorism. In an 
effort to accomplish that goal, I am proud to introduce this resolution 
today. It is the strongest measure to date that condemns the terrorism 
against health clinics and abortion providers and strongly urges the 
law enforcement community to take these threats seriously and to pursue 
these criminals vigorously. This resolution sends an important signal 
to criminals that the United States Congress will not tolerate this 
type of domestic terrorism any longer.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Reps. Morella, DeGette, Greenwood and 
myself, I am proud to introduce this resolution and urge my colleagues 
to support it.

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