    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book I)]
    [February 9, 1995]
    [Pages 190-191]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Congress Transmitting Proposed Legislation To Combat
    Terrorism
    February 9, 1995

    To the Congress of the United States:
        I am pleased to transmit today for your immediate consideration and
    enactment the ``Omnibus Counterterrorism Act of 1995.'' Also transmitted
    is a section-by-section analysis. This legislative proposal is part of
    my Administration's comprehensive effort to strengthen the ability of
    the United States to deter terrorist acts and punish those who aid or
    abet any international terrorist activity in the United States. It
    corrects deficiencies and gaps in current law.
        Some of the most significant provisions of the bill will:
        Provide clear Federal criminal jurisdiction for any
                international terrorist attack that might occur in the
                United States;
        Provide Federal criminal jurisdiction over terrorists who
                use the United States as the place from which to plan
                terrorist attacks overseas;
        Provide a workable mechanism, utilizing U.S. District Court
                Judges appointed by the Chief Justice, to deport
                expeditiously alien terrorists without risking the
                disclosure of national security information or techniques;
        Provide a new mechanism for preventing fund-raising in the
                United States that supports international terrorist
                activities overseas; and
        Implement an international treaty requiring the insertion of
                a chemical agent into plastic explosives when manufactured
                to make them detectable.
        The fund-raising provision includes a licensing mechanism under
    which funds can only be transferred based on a strict showing that the
    money will be used exclusively for religious, charitable, literary, or
    educational purposes and will not be diverted for terrorist activity.
    The bill also includes numerous relatively technical, but highly
    important, provisions that will facilitate investigations and
    prosecutions of terrorist crimes.
        It is the Administration's intent that section 101 of the bill
    confer Federal jurisdiction only over international terrorism offenses.
    The Administration will work with Members of Congress to ensure that the
    language in the bill is consistent with that intent.
        I urge the prompt and favorable consideration of this legislative
    proposal by the Congress.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    February 9, 1995.

    Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    February 10.

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