[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 112 (Friday, August 12, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 12, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
       A CALL FOR A COOPERATIVE EFFORT TO PASS A TOUGH CRIME BILL

  (Mr. LEWIS of California asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, my colleague from New York, Mr. 
Schumer, has been on the airwaves saying that yesterday's defeat on the 
crime bill reflects a pincer movement between the NRA and the 
Republican leadership of the House. Mr. Schumer's intrepetation could 
not be farther from the truth.
  It may be that Mr. Schumer's New York City district is much different 
than my district in California. It may be his people were crying out 
for the millions of dollars in spending in new untested social 
programs. It may be that they are not concerned about the provisions in 
that bill which provide for the early release of thousands of convicted 
drug traffickers.
  The people in my district in California know that drug traffickers 
are a key and driving force behind the crime impacting our communities. 
My district is interested in a crime bill that truly deals with the 
repeat criminals in our society.
  So I have come to the floor to agree with my colleague, Mr. Schumer, 
about two things. First, he is right: If the people effectively 
communicate with Members across the country, they will be heard, and 
telephone calls and letters can make a difference. Second, we should 
bring a crime bill back to the floor. So, let's do so by one simple 
action: Provide an open rule that will allow amendments to the bill 
that would truly reflect people's concerns. I am confident that open 
debate on such amendments would lead to a tough crime bill that would 
help guarantee safety in the cities and on the streets in neighborhoods 
in America.
  Mr. President, I urge you to call upon the bipartisan leadership of 
this House to allow open debate through an open rule concerning crime 
in America.

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