105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. CON. RES. 254
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Whereas on May 2, 1973, Joanne Chesimard and 2 friends
were stopped in their vehicle by New Jersey State Troop-
ers James Harper and Werner Foerster on the New Jer-
sey Turnpike;
Whereas while being questioned, Ms. Chesimard and the driv-
er opened fire with automatic pistols striking Trooper
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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 maxi-
mum security cell at the Reformatory for Women in Clin-
ton, 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;
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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 deny-
ing 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
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 sen-
tence 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 confine-
ment for criminal offenses and who are currently liv-
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ing freely in Cuba in order for them to face prosecu-
tion 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 of-
fenses and who are currently living in Cuba should
be a top priority for the United States Government.
Passed the House of Representatives September 14,
1998.
Attest:
Clerk.