[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 31 (Thursday, February 16, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E359-E360]
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. C.W. BILL YOUNG

                               of florida

                    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. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 
728, the Local Government Law Enforcement Block Grants Act. This 
legislation represents the final piece of the Taking Back Our Streets 
Act, 1 of the 10 points of the Republican Contract With America. 
Passage of today's bill marks the completion of this important 
legislation, and continues our efforts to radically rejuvenate our 
Nation's fight against crime.
  Today's legislation replaces major portions of the Violent Crime 
Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which set up a variety of 
[[Page E360]] categorical grants and programs intended to ameliorate 
poverty and prevent crime. Instead, the present bill establishes block 
grants to help units of local government improve public safety. Use of 
the funds can include, but is not limited to, hiring, training, and 
equipping law enforcement officers and support personnel; enhancing 
school security, and establishing crime prevention programs involving 
law enforcement officials. The grant money must not supplant State or 
local funds, but unlike last years legislation, the States and local 
governments are not required to provide matching funds.
  H.R. 728 authorizes $10 billion for law enforcement block grants over 
5 years, with $2 billion to be distributed in each of fiscal year 1996 
through 2000, and it specifies criteria for eligibility and 
distribution of the grants. In contrast to the 1994 Crime Control Act, 
H.R. 728 allows localities greater flexibility in responding to their 
own crime problems.
  Mr. Speaker, statistics paint a grim picture, illustrating clearly 
that the United States has failed to get a handle on its growing crime 
problem. According to the FBI, the rate of violent crime in the United 
States is worse than in any other Western developed country, with a 
murder occurring every 21 minutes, a rape every 5 minutes, a robbery 
every 46 seconds, and an aggravated assault every 29 seconds. Violent 
crime or property crime victimizes one in four U.S. households. Every 
year, nearly 5 million people are victims of murder, rape, robbery, or 
assault, and 19 million Americans fall victim to theft, burglary, or 
arson. Juvenile crime increased by 60 percent between 1981 and 1990, 
compared to an increase of 5 percent among adults, and the number of 
inmates convicted of drug offenses rose 14 percent from 1983 to 1989. 
On all fronts, the problem has become epidemic.
  This crime crisis is particularly severe among minorities and the 
poor. The U.S. homicide rate for black males between the ages of 15 and 
24 is 283 times that of males homicide rates in 17 other nations. 
Homicide is now the leading cause of death for blacks aged 15 to 34. 
One expert has estimated that a 20-year-old black male stands a greater 
chance of being murdered on the streets than a soldier in World War II 
stood of dying in combat.
  These figures are frightening, and proof positive that the current 
approach to battling this epidemic is a dismal failure. Last year's 
crime bill did little to address the fundamental crime problem in our 
country. Relying on expensive ``Great Societyesque'' programs, the bill 
attempted to do what all other big government social programs have 
failed to do; make individuals responsible for their actions and 
instill a sense of right and wrong in those with a propensity to commit 
a crime.
  Mr. Speaker, the overwhelming incidence of crime occurs within State 
and local jurisdictions, so State and local authorities bear the 
primary responsibility for combating this mounting crisis. They need 
help and support from the Federal Government, but not mandated 
prevention programs. The best thing the Federal Government can do is to 
try to assist State and local crime-fighters without getting in their 
way. This legislation will go along way toward that goal and I urge its 
support.


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