U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr., Chairman _______________________________________ www.house.gov/judiciary News Advisory For immediate release Contact: Jeff Lungren/Terry Shawn November 13, 2001 202-225-2492 Crime Subcommittee Hearing and Markup Wednesday on Terrorism-Related Bills What: Legislative hearing on: H.R. 3275, the "Implementation Legislation for the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings and the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism," followed immediately by Markup of H.R. 3275 and H.R. 3209, the "Anti-Hoax Terrorism Act of 2001." Who: Subcommittee on Crime - Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tex.), Chairman When: 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, November 14, 2001 Where: 2237 Rayburn Building H.R. 3275 is legislation implementing two international treaties cracking down on terrorism that have been signed by the United States and are expected to be ratified by the Senate in the very near future. The International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings requires parties to the treaty to criminalize the act of terrorist bombing aimed at public or governmental facilities, or public transportation or infrastructure facilities and to either prosecute or extradite any person within their jurisdiction who engages in these bombings. Violators would be subject to up to life in prison, and if death results from the violation, up to life in prison or the death penalty. The International Convention for the Suppression of Financing of Terrorism requires nations to criminalize the act of collecting or providing funds with the intention that they will be used to support acts of international terrorists. The Convention imposes binding legal obligations upon nations either to prosecute or extradite any person within their jurisdiction who unlawfully and willfully provides or collects funds with the intention that they should be used to carry out various terrorist activities. H.R. 3275 subjects violators to up to twenty years in prison and fines of at least $10,000. Witnesses: Mr. Michael Chertoff, Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division, U.S. Justice Department; others TBA. H.R. 3209 would make it a felony for an individual who engages in a hoax with the intent to convey false or misleading information that there is or will be a chemical, biological, nuclear or weapon of mass destruction attack. Violators would be subject to up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. ##30## Terry A. Shawn Press Secretary Committee on the Judiciary U.S. House of Representatives 202-225-2492