[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 105 (Wednesday, August 3, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 3, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
        CRIME AND VIOLENCE HAVE BECOME A CRISIS IN THIS COUNTRY

  (Mr. RICHARDSON asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, understandably, the Republicans are mad 
today because once again the Democrats beat them in the annual 
congressional baseball game. But in reality, Mr. Speaker, I think the 
Republicans are mad because the Democrats and President Clinton have 
stolen the crime issue from them. Here is what they are going to vote 
against when they vote against the crime bill: three strikes and you're 
out; more cops on the beat; death penalty expansion; sentencing 
reforms, and forcing States to have their criminals serve 85 percent of 
their sentences.
  Now, here are the social programs they are railing against: Programs 
to keep kids out of gangs; summer school programs; special drug courts; 
special programs for violence against women; money for training judges 
and prosecutors; pro-arrest policies; and funds for increased security.
  Mr. Speaker, these are not social programs, these are important 
programs to deal with our Nation's youth. These are important programs 
that illuminate a good strategy on the crime bill, more cops, more 
prevention, and more punishment.
  Mr. Speaker, crime and violence have become a crisis in this country 
because:
  The family values that prevent kids from adopting a life of crime in 
the first place have broken down.
  We have a revolving door justice system that puts criminals back on 
the street long before their sentences are up.
  We allow anyone to buy military-style assault weapons, including 
convicted felons, spouse abusers, and mental patients.
  We have too few police on the streets, protecting our neighborhoods.
  We fought to close the revolving door by passing a law that will:
  Give three-time violent criminals life in prison with no possibility 
of parole and force States to make violent criminals serve at least 85 
percent of their sentences before they are put back on the streets.
  To make sure the police are not outgunned by the criminals, and to 
start to reduce the level of violence in our neighborhood, we fought 
successfully:
  To ban military-style assault weapons.
  To pass the Brady bill to require a 5-day waiting period before 
buying a handgun.
  To put 100,000 more cops on the street nationwide, to patrol our 
neighborhoods and arrest those who commit crimes.
  The crime bill also includes:
  Smart prevention.--The bill includes midnight sports, programs to 
keep young people out of gangs, programs for summer school programs and 
afterschool programs.
  Youth crime.--The bill includes boot camp style incarceration for 
young offenders, and special drug courts that use intensive court 
supervision to help young people beat drug addiction.
  Violence against women.--The crime bill provides substantial money 
for a grant program to support increased security; training for judges 
and prosecutors; pro-arrest policies; and other initiatives. It also 
allows victims of gender-based violence to pursue civil remedies in 
Federal court with assistance from prosecutors.

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