[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 127 (Tuesday, September 13, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 13, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
 FURTHER CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 3355, VIOLENT CRIME CONTROL AND LAW 
                        ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 1993

                                 ______


                               speech of

                         HON. DAN ROSTENKOWSKI

                               of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Sunday, August 21, 1994

  Mr. ROSTENKOWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3355, 
the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. People continue to 
fear crime in their neighborhoods and, while there are real limits to 
what the Federal Government can do in this area, this crime legislation 
makes a positive step.
  This is a tough, comprehensive initiative to stem the rising tide of 
crime in this country. The bill strikes a balance between punishment 
and prevention. It's tough on criminals. It puts 100,000 more police in 
our neighborhoods while also creating much-needed prison space. And it 
imposes a long overdue ban on ownership of certain types of 
semiautomatic weapons that have turned some of our urban neighborhoods 
into war zones.
  The bill helps keep violent repeat offenders in jail and provides 
essential funding to combat violence against women. The three-strikes-
you're-out provision mandates life imprisonment for three-time violent 
offenders. The death penalty is expanded to include over 60 violent 
crimes, including the killing of law enforcement officers.
  In addition, programs are emphasized that keep youth away from crime 
such as midnight sports leagues, law enforcement scholarships, and a 
police corps, which provides money for education in return for a 4-year 
commitment to police work.
  The conference report before us today represents a bipartisan 
compromise. Each of us could name a part of the original report that we 
felt would be the most effective. For my part, I was a strong advocate 
of my proposal to increase the number of boys and girls clubs in public 
housing. For the young people growing up in public housing projects, 
one of the only safe havens from gang violence, drug abuse, and crime 
is their boys and girls club. Many of the most pressing problems of our 
inner cities are magnified and intensified in public housing 
developments. Young people living in this environment must be provided 
alternatives and hope for their future. We are all familiar with this 
organization's outstanding track record in helping high-risk boys and 
girls. Instead, to save money, my proposal was rolled into the $380 
million local crime prevention block grant program.
  But as we all now know, the legislative process is such that no one 
interest receives all that it wants. Each gains a little and gives a 
little. But the final result is vastly better than the current 
situation. As elected officials, it is our responsibility to heed the 
concerns of the American people. The American people are critically 
worried about the rising crime rate in their communities. This 
legislation responds effectively to that very real concern. I urge my 
colleagues to support this bill and take an important step in the fight 
against crime.

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