[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 29 (Tuesday, February 14, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H1694]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              H.R. 728 TERMED A ``PORK BLOCK GRANT BILL''

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 4, 1995, the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Olver] is 
recognized during morning business for 4 minutes.
  Mr. OLVER. Mr. Speaker, last year I voted for the Crime Control Act 
of 1994 which promised Americans who live in fear of crime 100,000 more 
cops on the beat in community policing.
  Already, 17,000 cops have been provided to more than 8,000 large 
cities and small towns. In my district alone 67 cops will make my 
constituents safer.
  Today we are debating H.R. 728 the pork block grant bill which 
eliminates the Community Policing Program.
  Community policing is not some new untried approach. It has been used 
in many places across the country. Putting cops on the street makes 
people safer.
  Community policing puts police on our streets who know the 
neighborhoods and work with residents to reduce crime. Officers who 
take the time to build relationships with citizens. Officers who get 
leads from contacts who see crime committed. Officers who understand 
the community's crime problems, and know the needs of the neighborhood.
  Community policing takes cops out from behind their desks and puts 
them back on the beat to prevent crime, if possible, and to punish 
criminals.
  Community policing does not simply add more police, it creates 
community leaders. These officers serve as role models, advisors, and 
assistants to the citizens they serve.
  In my district, the Cleghorn neighborhood in the city of Fitchburg 
was deteriorating because of increasing crime. A community policing 
program started 4 years ago in Cleghorn caused a dramatic drop in 
crime. Here is what happened after 4 years of community policing: 25 
percent decrease in assaults; 55 percent decrease in burglary; 55 
percent decrease in weapons possession; 23 percent decrease in domestic 
violence; and 67 percent decrease in disorderly conduct.
  The mayor of Fitchburg says there is no substitute for a consistent 
police presence in a troubled neighborhood. Community policing has 
helped make that neighborhood safe for families again.
  And Fitchburg has received seven added cops under the 1994 Crime 
Control Act of 1994 to expand the Cleghorn experience to other troubled 
neighborhoods in that city.
  But this pork block grant bill, H.R. 728, means fewer police officers 
catching criminals, fewer officers patrolling neighborhoods, fewer 
officers building partnerships based on trust, and fewer people safe in 
their neighborhoods.
  In my district, violence and street crime are not just city problems. 
Community policing funds cops in small cities and towns.
  The ``COPS FAST'' Program was designed specifically to help rural 
communities and smaller towns. In many of my communities, just one or 
two additional officers can make a world of difference.
  Communities in my district and throughout the country have made 
decisions based on the commitment we made last year. We cannot walk 
away from this commitment. Community policing works. Now is not the 
time to break the promise we made to our citizens who live in fear.
  Mr. Speaker, we, Republicans and Democrats, agreed that we need more 
cops on the beat to keep people safe. So why does the Republican 
contract cut funds for new police?
  Under this pork block grant, the cops on the beat program would no 
longer exist. There the block grant does not guarantee a single new 
police officer would be added. The block grant would not ensure that 
the hardest hit communities get help.
  The block grant in H.R. 728 permits pork-barrel spending in broad 
categories without guaranteeing any more police on our streets.
  Police will have to compete with street lighting, tree removal, and 
other pet projects.
  H.R. 728 ignores the demonstrated effectiveness of community policing 
and does nothing to stop crime before it starts.
  This bill promises everything to everybody and delivers nothing to 
nobody. It makes the communities in my district less safe than they 
were under last year's crime bill.
  Wake up, America, the pork block grant in H.R. 728 is a sham.
  It is not smart. It is not savings.
  I urge my colleagues to vote against H.R. 728.
  

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