[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 109 (Wednesday, August 5, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1549-E1550]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




DEPARTMENTS OF COMMERCE, JUSTICE, AND STATE, AND JUDICIARY, AND RELATED 
                   AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. ESTEBAN EDWARD TORRES

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 4, 1998

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4276) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and 
     State, the Judiciary, and related agencies for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 1999, and for other purposes:

  Mr. TORRES. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment by 
Congresswoman Jackson-Lee to increase funding for the Community 
Relations Service (CRS).
  At a time when our Nation continues to see the damaging effects of 
racial tensions, gang violence, and hate crimes, the demand for skilled 
professionals trained in conflict mediation has reached a new height. 
We must acknowledge the services this division of the Department of 
Justice has brought to mayors, chiefs of police, school 
superintendents, and concerned citizens of the community. In my home 
city of Los Angeles, the Community Relations Service played a vital 
role in resolving the week-long turmoil of the LA riots in the early 
1990's. The recent events in Jasper, TX, proved another opportunity to 
employ these trained professionals to resolve conflict and prevent 
further tensions from rising. Without their interventions, the 
unresolved tensions of these conflicts will fester and could continue 
indefinitely, breeding further hate and violence.
  I believe all of my colleagues here can agree that our efforts to 
alleviate violence in schools and communities is not something we 
should choose to ignore. This is not an example of a duplicated 
federally funded program. This is the only Federal agency working to 
provide this type of assistance in times of need and attempt to prevent 
further outbreaks of violence and hate crimes. The demand for these 
services is growing and the Community Relations Service has proven 
itself successful in what has been deemed the most efficient and 
desirable approach to conflict resolution within the community; but at 
the current funding level they are unable to meet the demand for such 
services. The CRS was forced to decline 40 percent of all the requests 
for assistance that they received.
  We hear members on the other side of the aisle speaking of a more 
efficient government. The CRS is an example of not only an efficient 
agency, but one that is cost effective. We can choose to help resolve 
conflict or we can pay the price of the crimes and convictions that 
will inevitably follow. I say we must meet the need for this demand and 
fully fund the CRS.

[[Page E1550]]

  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the Jackson-Lee 
amendment.

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