[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 29 (Tuesday, February 14, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E339]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


       LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAW ENFORCEMENT BLOCK GRANTS ACT OF 1995

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                               speech of

                         HON. BRIAN P. BILBRAY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 13, 1995

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 728) to 
     control crime by providing law enforcement block grants.

  Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Chairman, there was a resonant message in the 
November elections: Americans are tired of Washington telling them what 
is best for their families and their communities. The bill we will 
consider today provides a response to that message.
  The crime bill passed by the House last year is a perfect example of 
Washington passing a big government-knows-best, one-size-fits all 
solution. We know, as the American people do, that the most innovative 
and effective solutions to our crime problems are found and developed 
by those closest to the problem.
  Today, as we consider the Local Government Law Enforcement Block 
Grants Act, I urge my colleagues to remember and respect the local 
control that will be granted by this legislation.
  H.R. 728 provides local units of government with the resources to 
fight the crime problem that sweeps our Nation. However, this bill does 
not dictate how these resources must be used.
  Instead, it provides unprecedented flexibility to those law 
enforcement officials closest to the crime problem. Funds in this bill 
can be used in a variety of ways--from improving security at schools to 
hiring and equipping law enforcement personnel.
  We have heard a lot of rhetoric from the other side, and from 
President Clinton himself about our re-write of the crime bill. Here is 
what the Democrats had to say about the flexible funds available to 
localities in this bill: ``In short, these funds can--and no doubt will 
in too many cases--be used by local officials for ill-advised, 
wasteful, and even counterproductive uses.''
  Apparently, the liberals in Congress and the White House think only 
Congress is wise enough to tell localities how best to spend their 
money. The truth is, the American people were angry at the presumption 
of the 1994 crime legislation. They know that pork barrel spending on 
discredited social programs will not keep their children safer. That is 
one of the main reasons they sent us to Washington--to pass legislation 
that does not merely masquerade as crime control.




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