[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
[June 16, 1998]
[Pages 968-970]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]
Remarks on Signing the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act and the
Care for Police Survivors Act
June 16, 1998
Captain, thank you very much for your
remarks and even more for your service. I think it's fair to say that
everyone in America followed the harrowing trail that you were part of
just a few months ago and grieved the loss of those two troopers and the
others who were killed. And we thank you for your presence here.
Thank you, Mr. Vice President, for all
the work you've done over the last 5\1/2\ years. And thank you, Attorney
General Reno, for doing a superb job of one of
the things I asked you to do when we first talked about your becoming
Attorney General, and that is being a genuine
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advocate for local law enforcement officials throughout this country.
I thank all the Members of Congress who are here and the
extraordinary bipartisan support for actually two pieces of legislation
that I will sign today, the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act and
the Care for Police Survivors Act.
All the Members of Congress have been introduced, but I think I
should note, because not all the sponsors are here, that the Bulletproof
Vest Partnership Act was cosponsored in the Senate by Senators
Campbell and Leahy, and in the House by Representatives Visclosky and LoBiondo. The Care
for Police Survivors Act was cosponsored in the Senate by Senators
Hatch and Biden, and in the House by Congressman Schumer and Congressman McCollum. I
thank them and all the others who are here.
This is a time of progress and prosperity for our country. We're
grateful to have the lowest unemployment rate in 28 years and about to
have our first balanced budget in 29 years. And we just learned that
crime dropped in 1997, as the Vice President said, for a virtually
unprecedented sixth year in a row. Murders have declined more than 25
percent, overall crime by more than 15 percent.
In many ways our country is seeing a return to personal
responsibility--the welfare rolls are the smallest percentage of our
population in 29 years--and to respect for the law--the crime rate last
year dropped to a 25-year low. That makes a real difference in the lives
of Americans. Our neighborhoods are safer; our families are more secure.
Americans actually feel more free, and they are.
There has been a lot of debate in the country about the reasons for
the drop in the crime rate. Of course, a better economy helps, and so do
the neighborhood watch groups and all the efforts being made in
communities across the country to keep kids away from crime, from school
uniforms and curfews to after-school programs and tough truancy
enforcement. But one thing is absolutely clear: A huge factor in the
declining crime rate has been more police and better policing.
Across the country these men and women in uniform whom we honor here
today are putting their lives on the line by joining their communities,
getting out of the squad cars, protecting people. And America owes them
a tremendous debt of gratitude.
When we passed the crime bill in 1994 we said in 6 years we would
put 100,000 police on the street. I'm pleased to report that already
we've helped to fund 76,000 of those 100,000. We're ahead of schedule
and under budget. And I'm very proud of that because it makes all the
Members of the Congress who have supported this partners in your fight
against crime.
Just yesterday, for example, local officials and Federal agents
together swept into one of the most troubled areas in Philadelphia as a
part of Operation Sunrise. Working with local residents, they're
targeting crimes and drugs, even graffiti. I applaud their efforts and
hope they'll be replicated.
A crucial part of our 5\1/2\ year effort to make the Federal
Government a partner with you for a safer America has been making sure
that police officers have the tools to do the job. There are few tools
more important than the body armor or bulletproof vests we see behind
us. Over the past decade, body armor has saved the lives of more than
2,000 officers. The FBI estimates that the risk of a gun-related
fatality is 14 times higher for an officer--let me say that again--14
times higher for an officer who does not wear a vest than for one who
does.
The Vice President told you about Officer Margiotta and his vest. He's actually here today, and I'd like
to ask him to stand, along with any other officer here who has ever been
shot wearing a bulletproof vest. Will the others stand, please?
[Applause]
The line of fire will always be a dangerous place. People can get
hit in the leg in the wrong way and bleed to death. It will always be
dangerous. But today we are making it less dangerous for those who are
brave enough to walk that line. Every day all of you in uniform protect
us; it's good to know that every once in a while there's something those
of us on this end of the line can do to help to protect you.
So I'm proud to sign the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act.
Twenty-five percent of the State and local law enforcement officers
don't have this body armor to protect their lives. This legislation will
help police departments provide it to them. It is a critical investment
in the safety of those who have to be in harm's way.
Let me also say that as we do everything in our power to make police
work a little less
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dangerous, we have to recognize that every year there are all too many
officers who do make the ultimate sacrifice for safe streets and
children's futures. That is why I am also proud to be signing here the
Care for Police Survivors Act, which supports counseling for families
who have lost a loved one in the line of duty.
Last fall I also proposed to provide--help provide college
scholarships for the children of slain officers. And again, I say, that
I hope the Congress will pass that. That's an important investment and a
small enough one to make in the children of those who give their lives
to protect our children.
Community police are making children safer in our neighborhoods, and
let me just say, once again recent events have reminded us of that in
our schools. Just yesterday, I'm sure we all saw the story of a student
who shot two people in a Richmond, Virginia, high school. They're
expected to make a full recovery, and we thank God for that. And
fortunately, the assailant was chased down several blocks and
apprehended by Officer Ron Brown. Officer
Brown was assigned to the school because of the COPS program our
community policing program helped put in there. The COPS program is a
good start, and I'm proud that he was a part of it, especially
yesterday. Officer Brown is here today, and I'd like to ask him to
stand. Thank you very much for your service, sir. [Applause]
Today I am asking Attorney General Reno and
Secretary of Education Riley to report back
to me before the start of the school year on ways that we can help to
provide more police in our schools, just as we have provided more police
for our communities. Congressman Jim Maloney has proposed legislation to do that, and I urge Congress
to pass his bill as a back-to-school special for America's children.
America is grateful for the hard work that all of you in uniform and
all of those whom you represent throughout this country do. Every day,
as you make our lives safer and our people more free and our children's
future brighter, we know that you're there, and we're grateful. We
understand, too, that you can't always do it alone. All of us as parents
and leaders must teach our children right from wrong and turn them away
from violence. But by working together and giving you the tools to do
your job, we will make this a better and a safer nation in the 21st
century.
Thank you, and God bless you all. Thank you.
I would like to ask all the Members of Congress to come up here for
the bill signing. Officer Brown, why don't
you come on up, and why don't we ask these police officers to come up
with us today.
Note: The President spoke at 3:37 p.m. in the East Room at the White
House. In his remarks, he referred to Marc Metayer, captain, Vermont
State Police; and Henrico County, VA, police officer Andrew Margiotta.
S. 1605, the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 1998, approved
June 16, was assigned Public Law No. 105-181. H.R. 3565, the Care for
Police Survivors Act of 1998, approved June 16, was assigned Public Law
No. 105-180.