[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 29 (Monday, March 10, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2087-S2088]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. WARNER:
  S. 418. A bill to close the Lorton Correctional Complex, to prohibit 
the incarceration of individuals convicted of felonies under the laws 
of the District of Columbia in facilities of the District of Columbia 
Department of Corrections, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
the Judiciary.


              THE LORTON CORRECTIONAL COMPLEX CLOSURE ACT

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, it is a great pleasure today that I 
introduce the Lorton Correctional Complex Closure Act. For, while a 
small penitentiary with 60 inmates might have been acceptable in rural 
Fairfax County in 1916, when the prison was first established as a 
farming work force, to have over 7,000 inmates in the middle of the 
heavily populated modern area of Fairfax today, this Senator finds 
totally

[[Page S2088]]

unacceptable, legally, environmentally, and in terms of public safety.
  The facts about Lorton clearly demonstrates that it should be 
removed. I say that, Mr. President, having worked on it for some 18 
years that I have been here in the Senate. These facts clearly 
demonstrate that it must be removed in a reasonable period of time, 
recognizing that such removal requires careful planning, not only 
taking into consideration the needs of the people in the communities of 
Virginia, but many other considerations, among them humanitarian needs.
  The current facility is inadequate and unsafe. The facilities now 
lack any institutional control, certainly not that measure of control 
that should be accorded an institution of this importance.
  Also, on the question of rehabilitation, I do not think this facility 
today is serving to rehabilitative purpose, which is a very vital and 
important part of the ability to take people who have finished their 
sentences and equip them to return to society.
  The antiquated management and physical structures mean the taxpayers 
in the District of Columbia get a very poor return on their investment, 
and a considerable part of the cost is directed to the citizens of the 
District of Columbia. With its far too many escapes and disastrous 
pollution record, this facility has continually degraded the quality of 
life for those living in the immediate area. This is the combination of 
facts that compels Congress, in my judgment, to end this unfairness to 
Virginia.
  Now, part of the plan that the President of the United States is 
considering to revitalize the District includes Federal assumption of 
the District's correctional facilities, including those at the Lorton 
Prison Complex in Northern Virginia. The present proposal anticipates 
massive renovation of the existing prison and new construction, as well 
as a cost of nearly $1 billion to the Federal taxpayer.
  Now, Mr. President, that is just not going to happen. I have 
consistently advocated the closing of Lorton prison in its entirety 
throughout my 18 years of Senate service. Several years ago, Mr. 
President, I participated with others on both sides of the aisle, and 
with the House of Representatives, and we secured legislation and 
included initial appropriations to start the relocation of the Lorton 
facility. The mayor at that time and other District of Columbia 
officials refused even to make the first steps toward a site selection. 
We were stonewalled even though Congress had spoken, even though 
Congress had anted up the necessary funds to conduct that site 
selection and to begin the relocation.
  I know of one community in a nearby State that was more than anxious 
to participate in the construction of a major modern facility. District 
officials looked the other way. I do not intend, and I say this 
respectfully to the Senate and the President and his efforts, and I am 
not known around here as one to make threats, but I do not intend to 
abandon my goal to relocate Lorton. I say that again. I do not intend 
to abandon my effort to relocate the Lorton facility.
  I wish to be fair and constructive. Consequently, I wish to make it 
clear that I will be a constructive working partner on the President's 
proposals as they relate to other aspects of the District of Columbia, 
because I believe the Nation's Capital needs the help on a wide range 
of issues. It is my hope to vote in support of a broad relief plan, 
provided, however, that the proposal contains a clear provision which 
is binding on D.C. officials, a provision that has a binding obligation 
on the part of those in the executive branch, the Federal Bureau of 
Prisons and others, to work with the District, to work with other 
jurisdictions on the relocation, if that is necessary. There could be a 
site right in the District: I know of one site that lends itself more 
than adequately to relocation. But unless those clear and binding 
provisions are in there for a relocation within a stipulated and 
reasonable time--and that timetable should be laid out--then I will 
fight this. I will fight this.

  I wish to advise my colleagues that absent such clear plans to remove 
this facility, then I, the senior Senator from Virginia, would be 
forced to utilize to the fullest extent all rules of the U.S. Senate to 
block any proposal relating to the District of Columbia. It is as 
simple as that. I fervently hope I shall not do it, and I will work 
industriously to include that provision.
  I look forward, as I say, to working with my colleagues in the 
Virginia delegation to have Congress finally put Lorton on the road for 
removal and relocation. I will work very closely with my good friend, 
the distinguished Representative from Virginia, Congressman Tom Davis, 
chairman of the Subcommittee on the District of Columbia of the House 
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, who has shown incredible 
leadership on this issue. I cannot recall any Member of Congress on 
either side of the aisle who has worked more diligently and more 
conscientiously with very little return, if any, to him politically or 
otherwise, but nevertheless has plowed ahead to show leadership on 
resolving the tough issues relating to the Nation's Capital. Tom Davis 
is to be saluted and commended. I know Senator Robb and Representatives 
Frank Wolf and Jim Moran from Virginia, as well, and the Governor and 
attorney general of Virginia, will do their best. The present Governor 
and attorney general, and hopefully their successors, will do their 
best to make the removal of Lorton a reality in the near future.

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