[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 119 (Saturday, August 20, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 20, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
            LEGITIMATE CONCERNS VOICED ABOUT THE CRIME BILL

  (Mr. WISE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WISE. Mr. Speaker, there is a lot of controversy over the crime 
bill right now. There is even controversy about whether or not there 
are enough votes to pass it, and there is a lot of negotiation going 
on.
  As one of those who has not supported the version of the conference 
report that has come to the House, let me first say a couple of things 
about the bill. Some of us are concerned, yes, about a symbolic but 
largely useless battle over the so-called ban on assault weapons. Some 
of us are concerned about 60 new death penalties. Some of us are 
concerned about taking traditionally State and local offenses and 
making them Federal offenses and not giving the Federal Government more 
resources to handle them. Some of us are concerned about some of the 
controversial spending in the bill.
  But let me point out something to the American people, Mr. Speaker. 
There has been a crime bill that deals with the guts of what I think 
people want done. If we want more police on the streets, Mr. Speaker, 
that bill passed. It passed a few days ago when many of us voted to 
pass and send to the President the Commerce, State, Justice bill.

                              {time}  1230

  That was a downpayment on fighting crime. Money for new cops on the 
street, money for the Byrne Program that provides assistance to local 
law enforcement that some wanted to abolish just a few short months 
ago. Happily many of us worked to get that passed as well. That is real 
crime fighting. That is on the way to the President.

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