[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 29 (Tuesday, February 14, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H1691-H1692]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     WE NEED COPS, NOT CONSULTANTS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Michigan [Mr. Stupak] for 4 minutes.
  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, yesterday we began the debate and amendment 
process on H.R. 728, the crime bill, the Republican crime bill. Those 
of us who opposed 728 believe all it is is one huge block grant 
proposal to cut and gut the Clinton program.
  Four months into this very successful program of putting police on 
the streets, Republicans want to gut the program for a block grant.
  Mr. Speaker, yesterday I took to this well, and I described the block 
grant program as ``pork of Christmas past.'' We learned from the abuses 
in the past, in the late 1960's and early 1970's, and because of the 
abuses in law enforcement block grant proposals in the bill, we put in 
amendments that said block grant money cannot be used for tanks, 
armored personnel carriers, fixed-wing 
[[Page H1692]] aircraft, limousines, real estate, and yachts.
  Well, we just started to debate yesterday and, guess what, we got 
``pork of Christmas present.''
  The gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. Watt] wanted to make sure that 
law enforcement block grant proceeds would not go to be used to build 
roads. His amendment says to improve public safety, that it not be 
interpreted to use any funds appropriated under this title for the 
construction or improvement of highways, streets, and roads. We are 
trying to stop past abuses.
  Guess what? The amendment failed. The Republicans want to use block 
grant money for law enforcement for anything they want. I looked into 
what the Speaker said 8 months ago: If we have to choose between paying 
for a direct purpose such as building prisons, I can defend that. What 
I cannot defend is sending a blank check for local politicians across 
the country for them to decide how to spend it.
  So we are going to give them money for roads and call it law 
enforcement. That is what we did yesterday. Past abuses that we found: 
One-third of every dollar went to consultants, not for law enforcement. 
In a $10 billion crime bill for block grants, that is $3.3 billion; 
367,000 less cops will take the streets if this proposal goes through.
  We want cops, not consultants. We want what Mr. Gingrich said 8 
months ago to hold up today and not use it so local politicians can use 
it for whatever they want. Eight months ago, or 8 hours into the 
debate, Republicans were already starting to use money to build roads 
instead of putting cops on the street.
  Now, as we all know the old saying, roads, The road to--is paved with 
good intentions.
  We do not need good intentions. We need cops on the street where they 
belong. We want cops to walk the beat, we want cops, we don't want 
consultants. We want cops, we do not want pork. We want cops, we do not 
want good intentions.
  Today those who say they support law enforcement will have the 
opportunity. Mr. Schumer and Mr. Conyers will offer an amendment that 
says the 100,000 cops program stays as it is.
  You will have a chance to redeem your ways, you will have a chance to 
change and put police officers on the street, not to build streets and 
roads.
  So I hope that my colleagues today on the Schumer-Conyers amendment 
will vote ``yes'' to keep 100,000 cops in H.R. 728. Support law 
enforcement, support the Clinton cops program. H.R. 728, as written, is 
opposed by all the major police organizations: The National Association 
of Police Organizations, the Fraternal Order of Police, the 
International Brotherhood of Police Officers, the Major Cities Chiefs, 
the National Association of Police Executives, the National 
Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, National Troopers 
Coalition, Police Executive Research Forum, the Police Management 
Association, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, National 
Black Police Association, National Sheriffs Association, and the Police 
Foundation.
  We are saying, leave the 100,000 cops program alone. Support the 
Schumer-Conyers amendment.


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