Omnibus Counterterrorism Act of 1995
Encyclopedia
Omnibus Counterterrorism Act of 1995, US Senate bills S.390 and S.761. Senator Joe Biden
introduced the bill on behalf of the Clinton Administration on Feb. 10, 1995. The bill was co sponsored by Senators Alfonse D'Amato, Dianne Feinstein
, Robert J. Kerrey, Herb Kohl
, Jon Kyl
, Barbara A. Mikulski and Arlen Specter
. Representative Chuck Schumer sponsored the bill (H.R. 896) in the US House of Representatives. Following closely on the heels of Executive Order 12947
, prohibiting transactions with terrorists, President Clinton described the bill as a "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" and requested "the prompt and favorable consideration of this legislative proposal by the Congress".
It contained the following seven provisions:
Title I: Substantive Criminal Law Enhancements
Title II: Immigration Law Improvements
Title III: Controls Over Terrorist Fund-Raising
Title IV: Convention on the Marking of Plastic Explosives
Title V: Nuclear Materials
Title VI: Procedural and Technical Corrections and Improvements
Title VII: Antiterrorism Assistance
According to the summary by President Clinton, the bill was intended to establish federal criminal jurisdiction over acts of international terrorism. Civil liberty advocacy groups opposed the bill on the grounds that it would violate fundamental civil liberties, including the right to confront one's accuser. Another source of opposition was the Government's ability to use evidence from secret sources in deportation proceedings for suspected terrorists. During the debate over the Patriot Act of 2001 then Senator Joe Biden compared this bill to its 2001 counterpart stating "I drafted a terrorism bill after the Oklahoma City bombing
. And the bill John Ashcroft sent up was my bill."
Joe Biden
Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. is the 47th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President Barack Obama...
introduced the bill on behalf of the Clinton Administration on Feb. 10, 1995. The bill was co sponsored by Senators Alfonse D'Amato, Dianne Feinstein
Dianne Feinstein
Dianne Goldman Berman Feinstein is the senior U.S. Senator from California. A member of the Democratic Party, she has served in the Senate since 1992. She also served as 38th Mayor of San Francisco from 1978 to 1988....
, Robert J. Kerrey, Herb Kohl
Herb Kohl
Herbert H. "Herb" Kohl is the senior U.S. Senator from Wisconsin and a member of the Democratic Party. He is also a philanthropist and the owner of the Milwaukee Bucks National Basketball Association team...
, Jon Kyl
Jon Kyl
Jon Llewellyn Kyl is the junior U.S. Senator from Arizona and the Senate Minority Whip, the second-highest position in the Republican Senate leadership. In 2010 he was recognized by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world for his persuasive role in the Senate.The son...
, Barbara A. Mikulski and Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter is a former United States Senator from Pennsylvania. Specter is a Democrat, but was a Republican from 1965 until switching to the Democratic Party in 2009...
. Representative Chuck Schumer sponsored the bill (H.R. 896) in the US House of Representatives. Following closely on the heels of Executive Order 12947
Specially Designated Terrorist
A Specially Designated Terrorist is any person who is determined by the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury to be a specially designated terrorist under notices or regulations issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control ....
, prohibiting transactions with terrorists, President Clinton described the bill as a "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" and requested "the prompt and favorable consideration of this legislative proposal by the Congress".
It contained the following seven provisions:
Title I: Substantive Criminal Law Enhancements
Title II: Immigration Law Improvements
Title III: Controls Over Terrorist Fund-Raising
Title IV: Convention on the Marking of Plastic Explosives
Title V: Nuclear Materials
Title VI: Procedural and Technical Corrections and Improvements
Title VII: Antiterrorism Assistance
According to the summary by President Clinton, the bill was intended to establish federal criminal jurisdiction over acts of international terrorism. Civil liberty advocacy groups opposed the bill on the grounds that it would violate fundamental civil liberties, including the right to confront one's accuser. Another source of opposition was the Government's ability to use evidence from secret sources in deportation proceedings for suspected terrorists. During the debate over the Patriot Act of 2001 then Senator Joe Biden compared this bill to its 2001 counterpart stating "I drafted a terrorism bill after the Oklahoma City bombing
Oklahoma City bombing
The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19...
. And the bill John Ashcroft sent up was my bill."