EXPLANATION: The Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act of 1995 would give Federal law enforcement officials expanded legal authority and monetary funds to fight terrorism. The act includes provisions that increase penalties for terrorist acts, authorize $2.1 billion of funding over five years for agencies to fight terrorism, and require tracing materials be added to explosives. The act also prevents groups associated with terrorism from fundraising in the United States, allows federal law enforcement agents to more easily perform roving wiretaps in terrorist investigations, facilitates the deportation of illegal aliens suspected of terrorism, and limits the appeals of death row inmates.

RELEVANT COMMITTEES: The Senate version of the terrorism prevention bill (S 735) received a public hearings in the Senate Terrorism, Technology, and Government Information Subcommittee and the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. The House Judiciary Committee has begun mark up of its version of the bill (H.R. 1710).

STATUS: The Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act of 1995 passed the Senate (91-8) on June 7, 1995. On June 12, 1995, the House Judiciary Committee took up its version of the counterterrorism act. The House version of the act is similar to the Senate's, but Clinton is pushing for five provisions that are in the Senate's measure, but are not yet in the House's version. Also, the House Judiciary Committee is debating the definition of, and what is considered, terrorism.

SPONSORS: Sen. Robert Dole (R-KS) and 8 cosponsors (Senate version) Rep. Henry J. Hyde (R-IL) and 6 cosponsors (House version)

PRO: Supports of the Terrorism Prevention Act say that bill will greatly enhance the ability of law enforcement agents to prevent, fight, and prosecute terrorist activity. They point to the World Trade Center and Oklahoma City bombings as examples of why this legislation is needed.

"This legislation will give law enforcement the tools it needs to do everything possible to prevent this kind of tragedy (Oklahoma City bombing). It will also help us prosecute and punish terrorists more effectively. I urge the House to do its part and get a bill on my desk without delay."--President Clinton.

CON: Opponents fear the legislation may trample on civil liberties and Constitutional rights. The main objections over the act are that it limits death row appeals to one, its extended use of wiretaps, its allowance for greater access to consumer credit reports, and its broad definition of terrorism.

"This bill goes far beyond terrorism, and far beyond Federal prisoners. It severely limits the ability of any state prisoner--not just terrorists, but any state prisoner--to seek Federal review of Federal constitutional rights. This is a highly controversial, very complicated proposal, and it is wrong to sneak it into an anti-terrorism bill that all of us want to pass as quickly and as responsibly as we can."--Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA).

WHAT'S NEXT: After the House marks up its terrorism prevention bill, debate on the House floor could begin by the Fourth of July. If so, President Clinton could receive a terrorism prevention bill by the middle of the summer.