H. Con. Res. 254 Agreed to October 21, 1998

One Hundred Fifth Congress

of the

United States of America

AT THE SECOND SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,

the twenty-seventh day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight

Concurrent Resolution

Whereas on May 2, 1973, Joanne Chesimard and 2 friends were

stopped in their vehicle by New Jersey State Troopers James

Harper and Werner Foerster on the New Jersey Turnpike;

Whereas while being questioned, Ms. Chesimard and the driver

opened fire with automatic pistols striking Trooper Werner

Foerster twice in the chest and Trooper James Harper in the

left shoulder;

Whereas the suspects then turned Trooper Foerster’s own weapon

on him firing an additional two bullets into his head execution

style;

Whereas this heinous and premeditated act resulted in the tragic

death of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster;

Whereas Trooper Foerster left behind a wife, Rose Foerster, and

family;

Whereas in 1977, after a 6 week trial, a jury found Ms. Chesimard

guilty of first-degree murder for the slaying of Trooper Foerster,

a respected New Jersey State Trooper;

Whereas as a result of this conviction Ms. Chesimard was sentenced

to life in a New Jersey State prison;

Whereas in 1979, Ms. Chesimard broke free from a maximum

security cell at the Reformatory for Women in Clinton, New

Jersey, with the help of 4 men who took a guard and prison

van driver hostage;

Whereas after escaping prison, Ms. Chesimard fled to Cuba for

political asylum;

Whereas the Federal Bureau of Investigation lists 77 felony

fugitives known to have been granted safe haven by the Cuban

Government, including Robert Vesco, Frank Terpil, and Victor

Gerena, wanted for, or convicted of, violent crimes, including

murder, robbery, kidnapping, air piracy, and terrorism;

Whereas these individuals have been indicted or convicted of criminal offenses in the United States and have not paid their debt

to society;

Whereas people in New Jersey were shocked and outraged to see

television interviews showing Ms. Chesimard living freely in

Cuba, portraying herself as the victim and denying any crimes

against Trooper Foerster;

Whereas the Governor of New Jersey, Christine Whitman, has

requested Federal assistance from Attorney General Janet Reno

for the return of Ms. Chesimard; and
H. Con. Res. 254—2

Whereas Members of Congress have petitioned Secretary of State

Madeleine Albright requesting that the Department of State do

everything in its power to have Joanne Chesimard, and all other

individuals who have fled the United States to avoid prosecution

or confinement for criminal offenses and who are currently living

freely in Cuba, returned to the United States in order for them

to face prosecution or confinement in the United States: Now,

therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that—

(1) the Government of Cuba should return to the United

States convicted murderer Joanne Chesimard in order for her

to complete her life sentence for the murder of New Jersey

State Trooper Werner Foerster;

(2) the Government of Cuba should return to the United

States all other individuals who have fled the United States

to avoid prosecution or confinement for criminal offenses and

who are currently living freely in Cuba in order for them

to face prosecution or confinement in the United States; and

(3) the return from Cuba to the United States of all individuals who have fled the United States to avoid prosecution

or confinement for criminal offenses and who are currently

living in Cuba should be a top priority for the United States

Government.

Attest:

Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Attest:

Secretary of the Senate.