[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 40 (Thursday, April 14, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 14, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                    GET SERIOUS ABOUT FIGHTING CRIME

  (Mr. PRICE of North Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, this past Monday I convened 
a field hearing of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, 
Justice, State and Judiciary in Raleigh, NC, to learn more about what 
is working in the fight against crime and what more we need to do. 
There are a lot of people in North Carolina and this country working 
hard to fight crime, to prevent crime, to assist the victims of crime, 
and they deserve our support.
  We heard from a 15-year-old young man who committed a serious crime 
and is now incarcerated. There was silence in the room as he stated 
that in his life it has been easier to get a gun than to get a tutor.
  He noted his dyslexia was not discovered until he landed in the 
juvenile detention center. That is not early intervention. We must 
reach kids like this, connect them to society, and make sure they know 
we care for them and help them before crime even becomes an option.
  We also must intervene more effectively with young people who get 
into trouble. We heard from North Carolina's boot camp commandant, who 
testified about the success he has had at turning around at-risk youths 
in that boot camp program.
  Mr. Speaker, the crime bill not before us is a positive effort both 
to stiffen punishment and to get serious about preventing crime. We 
have had enough of the stalling tactics from those who would rather 
have an issue than a bill. We have had enough of the hot button 
politics. We have had enough overheated rhetoric. It is time to get 
serious and do something that seriously matters in our national fight 
against crime. Pass the crime bill.

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