[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 31 (Monday, August 9, 1999)]
[Page 1566]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Juvenile Crime Legislation

August 5, 1999

    Months after the tragedy at Columbine--and the day before they are 
set to recess--Congress will finally begin the conference on juvenile 
crime legislation. Let's show our children that when it comes to their 
safety, Washington will not take a break. I urge the conferees to stay 
in Washington and finish work on the bill during the August recess. This 
is a vital opportunity to take commonsense steps to keep guns out of the 
wrong hands, prevent youth violence, and steer young people away from 
crime. They should send me a balanced and bipartisan juvenile crime 
bill--with the Senate-passed gun provisions--so we can give our Nation's 
parents more peace of mind as our children return to school.