[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 26, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: January 26, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]


                              {time}  1220
 
                CRIME BILL IS NO PLACE FOR PARTISANSHIP

  (Mr. RICHARDSON asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise his remarks.)
  Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, the reviews on the State of the Union 
message are in. President Clinton hit not just a home run but a 400-
foot home run.
  Why did the biggest ovation last night go to the New York City cop 
with the tough beat and when the President endorsed the ``three 
strikes, you're out''? That is because the American people want us to 
make fighting violent crime our top priority.
  Let us get the partisanship out of the crime issue. Why we may have 
honest differences on health care and welfare reform, surely we can get 
together and pass a crime bill as soon as possible.
  Mr. Speaker, the public wants us to pass mandatory minimum sentences 
for violent offenses and cut down on parole. They want more cops on the 
beat and more resources to fight crime in their own neighborhoods.
  Mr. Speaker, let us get the partisanship out of the crime issue.
  Last night President Clinton came to the Congress and showed the 
American people what it takes to be a leader. He presented his 
priorities to the country and, in the opinion of most Americans, they 
overwhelmingly agreed.
  The President knows that the people are demanding action on crime 
with tough sentencing and effective prevention.
  They are demanding we pass a health care plan providing universal 
coverage that can't be taken away or denied due to preexisting 
conditions.
  And the people want us to get to work on reforming the welfare 
system, as the President said last night, to make welfare a second 
chance, not a way of life.
  The President and the American people can demand action, but its the 
Congress that must act. Public opinion shows that the American people 
don't think we can put their interests above partisan politics. Now is 
the time for us to prove them wrong.

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