    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book II)]
    [August 13, 1994]
    [Pages 1466-1467]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    August 13, 1994

        Good morning. As I'm sure you know, a couple of days ago the House
    of Representatives had a chance to pass the toughest attack on crime in
    our history, and they tried to take the easy way out. But the terrible
    threat of crime and violence is too great for us to let them get away
    with it. The easy way out is not an option.
        Two hundred and twenty-five Members of Congress participated in a
    procedural trick orchestrated by the National Rifle Association and
    intensely pushed by the Republican congressional leadership, a trick
    designed with one thing in mind: to put the protection of partisan and
    special interests over the protection of ordinary American families.
    They ought to be ashamed of themselves.
        The American people have been very clear on this. The most important
    job is to keep the streets and the neighborhoods of America safe. The
    first responsibility of Government is law and order. Without it, people
    can never really pursue the American dream. And without it, we're not
    really free. And the American people have said over and over again,
    today they're worried about crime. They're fighting for their personal
    security.
        The House of Representatives has a responsibility to do something
    about it, but this week the House walked away from that responsibility.
    They had a vote on law and order, and law and order lost. But that can't
    be the end of this fight. The hard-working, law-abiding citizens of the
    United States deserve better.
        Yesterday I went to Minnesota where I addressed the National
    Association of Police Organizations. This group represents more than
    160,000 police officers across the country. They strongly support the
    crime bill. Earlier in the week, I met with the heads of every major law
    enforcement group in America. Together they represent over a half-
    million law enforcement officers. They don't walk away from their
    responsibility. They put their lives on the line every day for us. And
    we can't let Congress walk away from them.
        The crime bill we're fighting for is a crime bill America's police
    officers and law enforcement officials want. Our prosecutors, our
    teachers, our principals, our parents, our attorneys general, our
    community leaders, they've all joined these police organizations in
    endorsing this crime bill. For 6 years, Congress has bickered and
    battled over a crime bill when the average violent felon only serves 4
    years in prison.
        This crime bill departs from all those labels of the past, from
    liberal or conservative or tough or compassionate. This crime bill
    emphasizes punishment, police, and protection.
        Some people in Congress say it's time for their August vacation.
    Well, the crime plaguing ordinary Americans is not about to take a
    vacation, and it's only fitting that Congress stay in Washington until
    they get this job done. They can't walk away on a procedural trick.
        I want a crime bill that puts 100,000 new police officers on the
    street, one that makes ``three strikes and you're out'' the law of the

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    land, one that builds prisons to lock up violent criminals where they
    belong, one that takes handguns away from minors, one that provides
    prevention programs that police officers demand to help steer our kids
    in troubled areas away from crime and drugs in the first place. And the
    bills must be paid for not by raising taxes but by cutting the Federal
    bureaucracy.
        I gave the Congress a plan to reduce the Federal bureaucracy by
    250,000 and more over the next 5 years, to bring the Federal Government
    to its lowest level in 30 years, and to put all the savings in a trust
    fund to pay for the crime bill. And let me be clear about this: The
    crime bill must ban the assault weapons that have no place on our
    streets.
        We don't need any more Washington, DC, games like the House of
    Representatives played last week. Up until that vote, this crime bill
    was bipartisan all the way, with Republicans and Democrats voting for
    everything that must be included. Now the Republicans say, well, there's
    too much money for prevention in this bill. They call it pork. Well, all
    I know is, all the police officers in this country know we need to give
    kids something to say yes to. I know that 65 Republicans voted for a
    bill that had even more prevention funds back in the spring, but only 11
    would stand up to the withering pressure of their leadership when the
    bill came back and was ready to pass just this week.
        The American people have to make it clear to Members of Congress
    from both parties that even if they disagree with a particular measure
    in this crime bill, the overall bill is the best, the smartest bill we
    have ever had in this country, and the American people need it. It's
    time to put politics aside and finish the job. Help our Nation's police
    officers make our streets safer.
        This fight is not over. I am continuing it. I want you to fight with
    me. Our children, our families, our future deserve no less.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:06 a.m. from Camp David, MD.