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 crimi-
nal 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 concur-
ring), 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 individ-
uals 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.