[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 25 (Monday, June 22, 1998)]
[Pages 1135-1137]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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 
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 6th 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

[[Page 1136]]

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 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.

[[Page 1137]]

    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.