[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 35 (Thursday, March 24, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 24, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
          ROME IS BURNING AND POLITI-CIANS CONTINUE TO FIDDLE

  (Ms. SLAUGHTER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, despite the best efforts that many of us 
have put forth here in Congress, last night parliamentary games kept us 
from passing the crime bill. We will go back to our districts without 
it. We get back from the district work period on April 12, and, even if 
we pass the crime bill that day, and we will not if these parliamentary 
games continue, but based on the crime rate, Mr. Speaker, in that time 
more than 800 people will be shot and killed, more than 200 children 
will be killed by guns, more than 4,000 women will be raped.
  Thomas Scott, President of the Detectives Endowment Association, said 
in a letter he wrote to us:

       To put it bluntly, we in law enforcement are tired, 
     frustrated and totally dismayed with most politicians 
     regarding the passage of this much needed bill. Rome is 
     burning, and politicians continue to fiddle. We saw some fine 
     fiddling last night; didn't we? Let's pass the bill now. We 
     will be watching closely, and we hope we can count on your 
     support.

  That was written on January 27, Mr. Speaker, and the fiddling 
continues. Parliamentary maneuvers have made it impossible for us to go 
home with the crime bill we promised.

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