[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 27 (Friday, February 10, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E317]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               VIOLENT CRIMINAL INCARCERATION ACT OF 1995

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                               speech of

                            HON. JACK QUINN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 9, 1995

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 667) to 
     control crime by incarcerating violent criminals.

  Mr. QUINN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to legislation before 
the House of Representatives today, the Violent Criminal Incarceration 
Act. This measure is one of six crime bills that the House will 
consider to chart the Nation's course to fight crime.
  Although I oppose the overall measure, I support many of the 
provisions in this legislation. For example, I support the bill's 
provision to increase the incentives in last year's bill for the States 
to curtail early parole for violent criminals.
  It is about time that we encourage the States to require the courts 
to put criminals away for the full term of their sentence. Truth-in-
sentencing is long overdue.
  This legislation employs another well needed and long overdue 
measure. That is, to stop abusive prisoner law suits. Specifically, 
title II of H.R. 667 places certain restrictions on the ability of 
detained persons to challenge the constitutionality of their 
confinement. I strongly support that provision as well.
  Nevertheless, I oppose this legislation. The Violent Crime 
Incarceration Act boosts the State prison grants from $8 billion to 
$10.5 billion over 5 years at the expense of prevention measures like 
community policing.
  As written, therefore, H.R. 667 unravels the balance of the funding 
for police, prisons, and prevention, which I fought so hard for during 
the implementation of the Omnibus Crime Control Act of 1994.
  Last year's Crime Act clearly shows that community policing works. 
The communities throughout western New York asked for it and now there 
are 53 more policemen on the streets because of it.
  Furthermore, I supported the Scott amendment to reduce the bill's 
prison grants by $2.5 billion, back to last year's funding level of $8 
billion.


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