    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [October 30, 1995]
    [Page 1700]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1700]]

    Statement on Signing Legislation Rejecting U.S. Sentencing Commission
    Recommendations
    October 30, 1995

        Today I reject United States Sentencing Commission proposals that
    would equalize penalties for crack and powder cocaine distribution by
    dramatically reducing the penalties for crack. The Sentencing Commission
    would also reduce the penalties for money laundering by combining the
    guidelines on money laundering with those on transactions in unlawfully
    acquired property. I am opposed to both of these changes.
        Since I took office, my Administration has fought to stop drug abuse
    and to stamp out the crime and violence that are its constant
    companions. We are battling drug traffickers at every level of their
    networks--from the very top to the very bottom.
        The Cali Cartel, which pumped drugs into America with seeming
    impunity, is now on the run. We have intensified our efforts to work
    with drug producing countries to stop drugs from coming into the United
    States and to capture major drug traffickers. We told criminals
    convicted time and again for serious violent crimes or drug trafficking
    that from now on, it's three strikes and you're out. And we established
    the death penalty for drug kingpins, because they should reap what they
    sow.
        We are putting 100,000 police officers on America's streets. We
    banned assault weapons because America doesn't want drug dealers to be
    better armed than police officers. We are helping schools to rid
    themselves of guns, and we are also helping schools to prevent teenage
    drug use by teaching children about the dangers of drugs and gangs. And
    we support schools who test student athletes for drugs.
        All of this is beginning to work. For the first time in a very long
    time, crime has decreased around the country. But we cannot stop now. We
    have to send a constant message to our children that drugs are illegal,
    drugs are dangerous, drugs may cost you your life--and the penalties for
    dealing drugs are severe. I am not going to let anyone who peddles drugs
    get the idea that the cost of doing business is going down.
        Trafficking in crack, and the violence it fosters, has a devastating
    impact on communities across America, especially inner-city communities.
    Tough penalties for crack trafficking are required because of the effect
    on individuals and families, related gang activity, turf battles, and
    other violence.
        Current law does require a substantial disparity between sentences
    for crack as compared to equal amounts of powder cocaine. Some
    adjustment is warranted, and the bill I am signing today, S. 1254,
    directs the Sentencing Commission to undertake additional review of
    these issues and to report back with new recommendations.
        Furthermore, the sentencing structure should reflect the fact that
    all crack starts as powder. When large-scale cocaine traffickers sell
    powder with the knowledge that it will be converted into crack, they
    should be punished as severely as those who distribute the crack itself.
    I have asked the Attorney General to immediately develop enforcement
    strategies to bring about this result. As I said before, we are going
    after drug traffickers at every level of their networks.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    October 30, 1995.

    Note: S. 1254, approved October 30, was assigned Public Law No. 104-38.