"I AM EXTREMELY PLEASED THAT THE JURY HAS FOUND TIMOTHY MCVEIGH GUILTY ON ALL ELEVEN COUNTS IN THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING FEDERAL TRIAL.

"THOUGH THIS VERDICT MAY CLOSE ONE PARTICULAR CHAPTER OF AN UNBELIEVABLE TRAGEDY, WE CANNOT LET THE REST OF THE COUNTRY FORGET THE 168 PEOPLE WHO BECAME VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM ON APRIL 19, 1995. WE CANNOT LET THEM FORGET THE FAMILIES OF THOSE VICTIMS WHO CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH THEIR LOSSES. AND WE CANNOT LET THEM FORGET THE CITY--OKLAHOMA CITY--THAT IS STILL IN DESPERATE NEED OF REPAIR.

(FOR A RECORDED STATEMENT FROM CONGRESSMAN LUCAS REGARDING THE BOMBING TRIAL VERDICT, PLEASE CALL 202/225-0006)

"AS I SAID ON APRIL 19, 1995, STANDING AMONGST THE RUBBLE OF THE ALFRED P. MURRAH FEDERAL BUILDING, THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ACT OF TERRORISM, MUST BE ARRESTED, CHARGED, CONVICTED AND PUT TO DEATH. TIMOTHY MCVEIGH IS DESERVING OF THE HARSHEST PENALTY OUR COUNTRY ALLOWS. THAT PENALTY IS DEATH.

"THE PEOPLE OF OKLAHOMA HAVE MAINTAINED A SENSE OF PATIENCE AND DIGNITY THROUGHOUT THIS ORDEAL. WE MUST NOW CONTINUE ON TO THE NEXT STAGE WITH THAT SAME CALM DETERMINATION THAT HAS TAKEN US THROUGH THE ROUGHEST POINTS.

"WE MUST BE WARY THAT THE SENTENCING PHASE OF THIS TRIAL WILL MOST LIKELY BE FOLLOWED BY AN APPEALS PROCESS ON BEHALF OF THE MURDERER. FORTUNATELY, CONGRESS HAS BEEN ABLE TO SHORTEN THAT APPEALS PROCESS IN DEATH PENALTY CASES TO ENSURE THAT JUSTICE IS SERVED IN A TIMELY FASHION.

"I HAVE SEEN THE OKLAHOMA SPIRIT AT ITS STRONGEST. HOLD ON OKLAHOMA. WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO RECOVERY."