[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 31, Number 44 (Monday, November 6, 1995)]
[Pages 1961-1962]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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.

[[Page 1962]]

    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.