[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 36 (Monday, September 13, 1999)]
[Pages 1691-1692]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Letter to Congressional Leaders
on Juvenile Crime Legislation

September 3, 1999

Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. Leader:)

    As the Congress returns this coming week, I urge you to make it your 
first order of business to send me a juvenile crime bill that includes 
the Senate-passed gun measures.
    The time is long past due to complete work on this bill. Before the 
Congress went on its recess, I asked the conferees to meet during the 
break and finish work on the bill. A full month has passed since the 
conferees first met, and I urge you now to finish the job and act 
immediately on this vital legislation.
    The tragic shooting in Los Angeles just a few short weeks ago is the 
latest reminder that we must do all we can to keep guns out of the wrong 
hands. You have the opportunity to send me a balanced and bipartisan 
juvenile crime bill that helps prevent youth violence and includes the 
Senate-passed gun provisions to close the gun show loophole, require 
child safety locks for guns, and bar the importation of large capacity 
ammunition clips. These provisions will help save lives, and the 
Congress should make them the law of the land without further delay.
    As millions of our Nation's children return to school, we have a 
responsibility to do
everything we can, as quickly as we can, to

[[Page 1692]]

keep them safe. The American people are waiting: don't let another day 
pass.
    Sincerely,
                                            William J. Clinton

Note: Identical letters were sent to J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, and Trent Lott, Senate majority leader. This 
letter was embargoed for release until 10:06 a.m. on September 4. An 
original was not available for verification of the content of this 
letter.