[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 45 (Thursday, April 21, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 21, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
URGING MEMBERS TO THINK MORE ABOUT LOCKING UP CRIMINALS AND LESS ABOUT 
                          LOCKING UP ELECTIONS

  (Mr. MENENDEZ asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, each of us here in the House knows that it 
is time to get serious about crime. That is why it is so astonishing 
when you uncover little tidbits like this one, from a letter circulated 
among House Republicans. In it, the writer says that if Republicans can 
defeat the crime bill, they can, ``give the crime issue back to 
Republicans for the upcoming elections.'' While the American people 
know that crime control is a matter of life and death, there is 
apparently a sympathetic audience among Republicans who think that it 
is just politics.
  We are free to disagree on what we think are the best ways to control 
crime in this country, but I think the American people would appreciate 
it if we would think a little more about locking up criminals, and a 
little less about locking up elections.
  We have an opportunity to deal with the crime issue head-on, by 
passing the crime bill--today. We are all ready to be tough on crime. 
The key, however, lies in being both though and smart. This crime bill 
is both.

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