[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 108 (Monday, August 8, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                               CRIME BILL

                                 ______


                            HON. RON PACKARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, August 8, 1994

  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, Americans are horrified by crime and the 
violence that has spread throughout our society. The President promised 
the American people a ``get tough approach'' to solving this crisis. 
But the crime bill now before us fails to deliver.
  Law abiding citizens, held hostage by this crime epidemic, agree that 
violent offenders must be removed from our streets in order to make our 
neighborhoods prosperous and secure places in which to live.
  Statistics illustrate that a small percentage of criminals commit the 
vast majority of violent crimes. Approximately 4-7 percent of all 
violent offenders are responsible for committing more than half of all 
violent crimes. Keeping these people behind bars will reduce the 
incidence of violent crime.
  We know that incarceration works. But this bill underfunds prison 
construction and waters-down truth-in-sentencing guidelines for State 
prison funding. Only 40 percent of the prison funds are conditioned on 
States showing that they are working to enact and enforce longer 
sentences. There is no guarantee that the remaining 60 percent will be 
spent on locking up criminals--it can be used for alternative programs.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time to stop the charade. The American people need 
tough sentencing provisions to get these criminals off our streets. Law 
abiding citizens must have the tools necessary to reclaim our 
neighborhoods.

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