[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 16 (Wednesday, February 23, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 23, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
      THE TRUTH ABOUT THE ``THREE STRIKES AND YOU'RE OUT'' SLOGAN

  (Mrs. BYRNE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, it is not surprising that slogans like 
``Three Strikes You're Out'' are suddenly popular. Indeed, it is 
seductive and politically savvy at this time.
  I applaud my colleagues for taking the initiative--but wonder are we 
addressing the problem?
  What kind of message are we sending by locking away someone for mail 
fraud yet allowing the rapist to go free?
  I urge my colleagues to seriously look at what they are supporting 
and consider where this debate is taking us.
  Let's look beyond the slogans.
  Indeed how many criminals can Uncle Sam put away when only 5 percent 
of crimes are prosecuted federally?
  Today, I will introduce legislation that will empower our States to 
target the most violent criminals without giving them repeated chances 
to do more violence.
  My bill is simple. We will make sure that States who make a 
commitment to incarcerate violent criminals will have the necessary 
prison space.
  We cannot accept mandatory life in prison without parole lightly--yet 
we must accept its necessity for certain criminals.
  This approach is both tough and smart.

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