Don Nickles: “I rise today on behalf of victims of the Oklahoma City bombing and their families, as well as other victims of crime, to…”

“I rise today on behalf of victims of the Oklahoma City bombing and their families, as well as other victims of crime, to introduce the Victims Rights Clarification Act of 1997. The purpose of this legislation is to clarify the rights of victims of crime to attend and observe the trials of the accused and testify at the sentencing hearing. I want to express my sincere thanks to Senators Hatch, Leahy, Inhofe, Grassley, and Kennedy for their hard work in crafting this bipartisan legislation. During my tenure in the Senate, I have worked to ensure victims of crime have equal standing under the law with those who have violated the public trust. Progress has been made. The Victims' Bill of Rights, approved by Congress in 1990, guarantees that victims of crime may be present at public court proceedings, providing that a victim's attendance does not materially affect his or her testimony. In 1996, as part of the antiterrorism Bill, I included a provision based on my Crime Victim Restitution Act, which entitles victims of crime to receive full financial compensation directly from the criminal in the form of mandatory restitution. Too often, however, the rights of victims are sacrificed or forgotten. The Victims Rights Clarification Act of 1997 clarifies the intent of Congress with respect to the rights of victims to be present at trial and be heard during the sentencing phase of the proceedings.”