[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 111 (Thursday, August 11, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 11, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
            SUPPORT THE CONFERENCE REPORT ON THE CRIME BILL

  (Ms. PELOSI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, today the House will take up the crime bill. 
That is good news for the American people.
  Before we do, we will have to vote on the rule. I myself will vote 
``aye'' on the rule reluctantly, because I am opposed to the death 
penalty, and I am opposed to the ``three strikes and you are out'' 
provisions in the legislation.
  However, having made that point, I will be supporting the rule and 
the bill most enthusiastically, the bill because of its provisions to 
fight crime in our country and send a message of comfort and hope to 
the American people. Those provisions include initiatives to reduce the 
incidence of violence against women, and very importantly, it provides 
a civil rights cause of action for the victims of gender-motivated 
violence. The bill gives judges more discretion in sentencing first-
time nonviolent offenders, a loosening up of the mandatory minimum 
sentences that are crowding our prisons.
  In terms of violence against children, it strengthens Federal 
penalties against people convicted of assaulting children 16 years and 
under.
  I particularly wish to commend Mr. Schumer and the House leadership 
for their commitment to a ban on assault weapons.
  The list goes on and on with provisions which will help reduce crime 
in our country.
  I urge our colleagues to support the rule in spite of reservations 
that you may not like the bill 100 percent. On balance, it is a great 
bill.

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