[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 43 (Tuesday, April 19, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                               CRIME BILL

  (Mr. GRAMS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GRAMS. Mr. Speaker, May 15 is opening day for fishing season in 
Minnesota. Catch and release may work well for Minnesotans out on the 
lake, but the catch and release of drug criminals does not work for 
Minnesotans and all Americans who are scared to leave their homes, 
safely walk their streets, or confidently send their children to 
school.
  The so-called reform of the mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines, 
H.R. 3979, typifies the superficial nature of the crime bill.
  This bill allows Federal judges to retroactively drop mandatory 
penalties for individuals who sell, possess, or import drugs if five 
criteria apply.
  The supporters of this measure just do not get it. Drugs are 
dangerous; drugs kill; drugs leads to gang wars. When someone snorts 
cocaine, they might as well be putting a .45 up their nose and pulling 
the trigger. Drug criminals are culpable. Simply put, drug criminals 
are killing our youth.
  By letting an estimated 16,000 drug offenders off the hook, what kind 
of message are we sending to criminals and youth? For years we have 
tried to steer kids away from drugs by drilling the expression, ``Just 
Say No'' into their heads. Now along comes a crime bill that stomps all 
over those efforts.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to vote against this measure and listen 
to the demands of all our constituents by supporting tough, substantive 
crime reform.

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