[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 118 (Wednesday, September 9, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1675]
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 Department 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 Spring of 1992. 
The recent events in Jasper, Texas 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. Yet, at the current funding 
level CRS is unable to meet the demand for such services. Last year, 
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.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the Jackson-
Lee amendment.

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