The bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania are just the most recent reminders of how vulnerable we are to terrorist attacks. In a shockingly brutal attack, more than 250 men, women and children, were murdered in cold blood. Among those 250 victims were 12 of our fellow citizens. We mourn for them, and our hearts go out to their families and loved ones.

None of us can forget that it was only a few weeks before that there was another assault right here at home, in the Capitol itself.

We pay a terrible price for being the most powerful democracy in the world, which makes us a prime target for those who disagree with our policies. We want to keep the Capitol building and this Senate office building open to the public, so that the American people can freely come in and see how we are doing the job they sent us here to do. For the same reason, we must continue to keep our embassies open, so that they can be examples of the freedom that the United States offers, and not appear to be closed fortresses set in hostile territory.

The President responded to the terrorist bombing with a prompt, sharp blow against the terrorists and their facilities. The FBI responded with another prompt, sharp blow -- the identification and arrest of persons suspected to be involved in the bombings. I hope we never start to take the truly outstanding work of our federal law enforcement agents for granted, and I hope, Director Freeh, that you will pass on my warm congratulations and thanks to the agents in the field who broke this case.

The groundwork for this successful investigatory work has taken time and effort to put in place and is due, I believe, to the critical work of the Legal Attaches the FBI has in place around the world. These Legal Attaches develop the cop-to-cop relationships that help cut through red tape and bureaucracy, which can slow down assistance in times of crisis when quick reaction is most needed. The investigatory successes in this case show that the Legal Attaches are helping to develop the cooperative relationships with law enforcement agencies abroad that can prove to be so important to fighting terrorism.

President Clinton acted precisely as an American President should act and must act. We must protect and preserve American strength and credibility. We cannot tolerate the murder of Americans citizens or representatives of the United States government.

Now what? Unfortunately, we can expect further acts of terror. We remain a target. The witnesses today should be able to give us valuable information as to what we can expect, and how we can prepare. They can give us the benefit of their advice as to what the Congress can do to assist the President and the FBI and our armed forces in preparing for and responding to terrorism. We need to know whether our law enforcement and other agencies have the necessary resources to carry out their mission in protecting American citizens and interests both here and abroad from terrorism.

This is not a fight of one day, or one week or one year. Over 10 years ago, in May 1988, as chairman of the then Judiciary Subcommittee on Technology and the Law, I convened hearings on High Tech Terrorism, including terrorism with chemical and biological weapons and terrorist attacks on computer infrastructure. Mr. Woolsey was one of the witnesses then, and it is good to have his wise counsel again today.

We have made progress in those 10 years, but we need to do more. To cite one example, last year the Senate gave its advice and consent to ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which had been initiated by President Reagan, negotiated by President Bush, and signed on behalf of the United States by President Clinton.

The Senate also passed implementing legislation, which addressed complex technical and constitutional issues and about which there was great potential for delay. We were able to overcome that delay, however, and reach a sound consensus with admirable speed. The bill was referred to this Committee on April 17, 1997, and we held hearings and reported out the bill in just over a month and then passed by the Senate on May 23, 1997. It showed what we can do here when we put our minds to it.

Unfortunately, the implementing legislation for the Chemical and Biological Weapons Treaty remains stalled in the House, and the Republican leadership of the Congress has yet to conclude the legislative process on the bill passed by the Senate well over one year ago.

I raised the issue of House inaction in a statement at a hearing on Chemical and Biological Weapons Threats to America held before the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism, and Government Information of the Senate Judiciary Committee over four months ago. Still, the House has taken no action. There is very little time remaining in this session, and a continuing failure on the part of the House to act on this important legislation that is so obviously a pressing national priority, would be a great blow to the Nation and to the national security.

There is much we need to do, and the entire government needs to show the sense of urgency that the Senate showed in passing the chemical weapons implementing legislation, the sort of urgency and determination that the President showed in response to the bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. As we move ahead, our challenge is effectively to combat terrorism while we retain our respect for due process and free speech.

The threat posed by terrorism and the means available to counter terrorists are technically sensitive subjects, which must be approached with caution in a public hearing. Within those limits, I look forward today to learning more about what we are doing now, and what we need to be doing.