Political Quotes

“I am encouraged that the conference report includes important provisions that I proposed back in June 1995, when the Senate began consideration of antiterrorism legislation. These provisions were adopted by the Senate and then passed as part of the original S.735 and passed a second time last year by the Senate as part of H.R. 665, our version of the mandatory victim restitution legislation. They are now included as sections 231 and 232 of the conference report. It is astonishing that at the time I added these provisions to the bill there were no victims-related measures in any antiterrorism legislation. When the bomb exploded outside the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City last year, my thoughts and prayers, and I suspect that those of all Americans, turned immediately to the victims of this horrendous act. It is my hope that through this legislation we will proceed to enact a series of improvements in our growing body of law recognizing the rights and needs of victims of crime. We can do more to see that victims of crime, including terrorism, are treated with dignity and assisted. The conference report incorporates the provisions of the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act, which will accomplish a number of worthwhile objectives. They include a proposal to increase the availability of assistance to victims of terrorism and mass violence here at home. We, in this country, have been shielded from much of the terrorism perpetrated abroad.”