Congressional Record UNUM

E PLURIBUS

United States

of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 104th

 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.

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S5561 

Vol. 141 WASHINGTON, MONDAY, APRIL 24, 1995 No. 66 

House of Representatives 

The House was not in session today. Its next meeting will be held on Monday, May 1, 1995, at 12:30 p.m. 

Senate 

MONDAY, APRIL 24, 1995 

The Senate met at 12 noon and was 

called to order by the President pro 

tempore. 

PRAYER

The Chaplain, Dr. Lloyd John 

Ogilvie, offered the following prayer: 

Let us pray: 

Almighty God, our hearts are at halfmast with grief over the catastrophic 

bombing of the Federal building in 

Oklahoma City. We mourn for the victims, especially the children, of this 

senseless crime and reach out with profound empathy to their families. We 

ask You to strengthen them as they endure incredible suffering. Graciously 

grant physical and emotional healing 

to those who survived. Most of all, 

comfort the children who ask ‘‘why?’’ 

and give wisdom to parents as they 

search for words to answer. We all need 

help in understanding an ignominious 

act of tyranny like this. 

We only can imagine the agony of 

Your heart, Father. If our indignation 

burns white-hot, it must be small in 

comparison to Your judgment. You 

have given us freedom of will and made 

us responsible for the welfare of our 

neighbors. Our hearts break with Your 

heart over those who willfully cause 

suffering. Therefore, we boldly ask for 

Your divine intervention for the speedy 

capture and punishment of these traitors against our Nation and the sacredness of human life. As You have given 

us victory in just wars, now give us a 

strategy to defeat the illusive and dangerous forces of organized terrorism. 

Lord God of this Senate, we are never 

more of one mind and heart than when 

dealing with a threat to our national 

security or in responding to a catastrophe in any one of our States. We 

rally in support of Senators NICKLES

and INHOFE as they continue to care for 

their people. 

We press on to the issues of this day 

with the strong inspiration of the 40 

years of leadership of John Stennis in 

this Senate. May the memory of his 

faith in You and his courage in conflict 

give us determination to seek, as he 

did, to do our best. In the Lord’s name. 

Amen. 

f 

RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY 

LEADER 

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The 

able majority leader is recognized. 

f 

THE CHAPLAIN’S PRAYER 

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I thank the 

Chaplain for his timely and comforting 

words. 

f 

TRAGEDY IN OKLAHOMA CITY 

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, on behalf 

of all the Senate, I extend my sympathies to Senator NICKLES, Senator 

INHOFE, Members of the House Oklahoma delegation, Gov. Frank Keating, 

and, through them, to all the citizens 

of Oklahoma for the loss they suffered 

last Wednesday. 

Kansas and Oklahoma share a common border. And our citizens also share 

common values. Values like love of 

God. Love of family. Perseverance 

through tough times. And a commitment to help those in need. The citizens of Oklahoma displayed these values time and time again this past 

week, and in doing so, they inspired 

America and the world. 

While all the people of Oklahoma deserve our admiration, the citizens of 

Oklahoma City are worthy of special 

praise. It is their friends and family 

members who were lost as a result of 

this brutal crime. But while many of 

Oklahoma City’s buildings were shattered, its spirit has stood strong. 

I am reminded of the words of the 

great World War II journalist Ernie 

Pyle, who once wrote, ‘‘Oklahoma City 

is an especially friendly town. People 

there have a pride about their town 

* * * They just wouldn’t live anywhere 

else.’’ That pride has never left the 

people of Oklahoma City, and it will 

guide them during the difficult days 

ahead. 

I salute the firemen, the paramedics, 

the rescue workers, and all those who 

have generously volunteered their time 

and their labor to the relief effort; the 

members of the Red Cross and the Salvation Army. 

I commend President Clinton for the 

way he and his administration have responded to this tragedy. The criminal 

investigation has been thorough and 

swift, and the tone set by the President 

right on the mark: Those who have perpetrated this unspeakable evil are cowards. There is absolutely no justification, no excuse, for what took place 

last Wednesday in Oklahoma City. 

Killing innocent children and other defenseless citizens is the depraved act of 

depraved minds. 

I also want to commend Attorney 

General Reno for publicly stating that 

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