Arlen Specter: “in the Veterans' Affairs Committee, which I chair, we have been considering the situation of Mr. Timothy McVeigh, who…”

“in the Veterans' Affairs Committee, which I chair, we have been considering the situation of Mr. Timothy McVeigh, who has certain entitlements as a veteran. Curiously, the committee has concluded that a conviction for murder in the first degree does not significantly affect Mr. McVeigh's entitlements or benefits as a veteran. Veterans who are convicted of certain criminal offenses forfeit their benefits. Those offenses, however, are limited to convictions for mutiny and aiding the enemy; spying; certain national security crimes, such as treason, sabotage, disclosing classified or defense information, interfering with the Armed Forces during a time of war, communications of classified information by a Government employee to an agent of a foreign government; and certain nuclear material crimes, such as the unauthorized possession or transfer of nuclear material or receipt and communication of restricted data. Surprisingly, my staff on the Veterans' Affairs Committee has concluded that Mr. Timothy McVeigh would be entitled to veterans benefits, notwithstanding his conviction on 11 counts including the murder of some 168 people in the Oklahoma City bombing of the Federal building. He remains eligible for such benefits, including burial benefits, since he was not convicted of any of the crimes I just listed. Because of that, I now introduce legislation which would deny veteran benefits to any person who is convicted of a State or Federal capital offense.”