*Delivered on US Senate Floor*

                            Mr. President, this Friday will be the first anniversary of the brutal and
                            cowardly bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah federal building in
                            Oklahoma City. One hundred and sixty-nine Americans, including 19
                            children tragically lost their lives in this terrible act of domestic terrorism.

                            A year later, that terrorist bombing continues to tear at the nation's soul.
                            As we continue to mourn the loss of so many innocent lives, our hearts
                            go out to the survivors, the families of the victims and the courageous
                            residents of Oklahoma City who have already begun the difficult healing
                            process. 

                            However, part of the process of healing begins with the pursuit of
                            justice. And for the past year, law enforcement officials have tirelessly
                            labored to see that the full force of the law is brought to bear on the
                            guilty parties. And soon, the trial against the alleged bombers will begin.
                            But, as we continue the process of providing answers to this terrible
                            tragedy -- the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil -- we must
                            find new and innovative ways to prevent such acts in the future. That's
                            what this bill is all about. 

                            While no one will argue that this legislation, or for that matter any
                            legislation, will finally and completely end terrorism, we must take the
                            necessary steps to deter terrorists from their deadly actions. We must
                            make it more difficult for them to kill and injure. And we must ensure
                            that they are swiftly brought to justice. 

                            President Clinton deserves praise for moving forcefully in that direction
                            by submitting a comprehensive counter-terrorism proposal to Congress,
                            after the Oklahoma bombing. Unfortunately, in the year since the
                            president introduced that proposal, Congress has dragged it's feet on
                            this legislation. What's worse, I believe, many of the strongest elements
                            of this bill have been watered down or eliminated by the House of
                            Representatives.  

                            Several provisions that would make it easier for law enforcement
                            agencies to utilize multi-point and emergency wiretaps against suspected
                            terrorists were removed. The failure to include these wiretap provisions
                            in the final conference report create a situation where it is easier for the
                            FBI to tap the phone of someone they suspect of bribing a bank officer
                            than someone who may be prepared to engage in a terrorist act. 

                            What's more, this conference report prevents the Attorney General
                            from requesting technical and logistical support from the military if our
                            nation faced an emergency involving biological and chemical weapons.
                            This provision was deleted even though I think everyone in this body
                            would agree that the military has far more expertise in matters of
                            chemical and biological weapons than our law enforcement agencies. 

                            It's particularly disheartening that while these provisions were
                            overwhelmingly agreed to by the Senate, they were removed from the
                            final conference report because of the intransigence of the other body.
                            Similarly, while we need to find ways to prevent prisoners from abusing
                            the legal process, by filing meritless appeals, we must ensure that those
                            people who have been unfairly convicted have some legal recourse. 

                            Unfortunately, I believe that the habeus corpus reform measures in this
                            bill are ill-advised. They limit the ability of inmates to raise claims of
                            innocence based on newly discovered evidence and also require federal
                            courts to defer to state courts on issues of federal constitutional law
                            raised by these claims. 

                            However, while I feel this legislation could be further strengthened if it
                            were recommitted to the conference, there are enough positive elements
                            in the bill that allow me to vote for it. 

                            This counter-terrorism legislation provides federal law enforcement
                            officials with the proper means to investigate and prevent terrorism. It
                            establishes new federal offenses to ensure that terrorists do not elude
                            justice through gaps in the current law. 

                            Similarly, it increases penalties for terrorist actions. And it gives new
                            assistance to victims of terrorist attacks, including provisions that will
                            make it easier to bring lawsuits against states that sponsor or promote
                            terrorism. Combined, these steps will give law enforcement important
                            new tools to use in the fight against terrorism. 

                            Although it is not perfect, this bill will not only help the nation prevent
                            terrorist acts but it will also help hold terrorists accountable for their
                            actions.  
                            The bombing in Oklahoma made clear just how vulnerable we all are to
                             these terrible acts of violence. And ultimately, I believe this legislation
                               will make Americans safer from the scourge of international and
                                                domestic terrorism.