WASHINGTON, D.C.–Senators Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden announced today that they will introduce legislation to pursue equal justice under the law for all Americans murdered or maimed by terrorists overseas.

In August 2002, Oregonian Ted Burgon was one of two Americans killed in an ambush in Papua, Indonesia; four other Oregonians, including a six-year old Sunriver girl, were injured. No indictments have been issued by U.S. or Indonesian authorities in relation to this attack.

Smith and Wyden are moving to introduce the bill in the wake of last week’s terrorist attack in Haifa, Israel in which 14-year old Abigail Litle, an American girl from New Hampshire was killed. The bill will be named after 13-year old Koby Mandell of Silver Spring, Maryland, who was stoned to death by terrorists who remain at large in Palestinian administered areas of Israel.

“More than three dozen Americans have been killed by terrorists in Israel and the Palestinian controlled areas alone since 1993,” said Smith. “The pursuit of justice for Americans should not stop at our borders. With the cooperation of foreign governments, we can fight to bring those responsible for killing Americans to justice and prevent heinous acts of lawlessness and cowardice against our citizens.”

“Families who lose a loved one in foreign countries should not lose their right to justice under the law,” said Wyden. “This legislation will ensure the vigorous pursuit of those who kill Americans overseas, which may help to discourage these violent acts before they happen.”

The Act creates the Office of Equal Justice for American Victims of Terrorism Overseas within the Department of Justice to ensure that all terrorists who attack Americans overseas are pursued with equal vigor, regardless of the nationality or current residence of the terrorist.

The Office’s responsibilities include:

• Assume administration of the “Rewards for Justice” program, which is currently maintained by the Department of State
• Monitor whether terrorists who have harmed American citizens overseas are serving in local police or security forces and alert other U.S. agencies to halt assistance to such forces
• Undertake a comprehensive assessment of the pattern of U.S. indictments and prosecution of terrorists who have harmed Americans overseas
• Monitor public actions by foreign governments relating to terrorism against Americans
• Coordinate the transfer to the United States of terrorists who have harmed Americans overseas, have been released from incarceration overseas, and are eligible for further prosecution inside the U.S.

Senators Smith and Wyden expect to introduce the legislation next week.

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