[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 42 (Monday, October 23, 2000)]
[Page 2498]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on the 1999 Uniform Crime Report

October 15, 2000

    The final 1999 Uniform Crime Report released today by the FBI 
confirms that for the 8th year in a row--and for the longest period ever 
recorded--crime has fallen all across the country, improving the quality 
of life and safety of American families. The report shows that overall 
crime, as well as violent and property crime, fell more than 7 percent 
from 1998 and 1999. Crime is down in communities of every region and 
size across the nation.
    Crime rates rose steadily through much of the 1980's. Since Vice 
President Gore and I took office, our Nation has come together to 
reverse those trends. Our administration focused on giving communities 
more and better tools to improve public safety, including 100,000 more 
police for our streets, stronger gun laws, and smart prevention. 
Combined with the dedication of police and communities across the 
country, these tools are making a major difference. The overall crime 
rate is at a 26-year low; the murder rate is at a 33-year low; and the 
violent crime rate is down to its lowest point in over two decades. We 
must do more to ensure that these downward trends continue. Today I call 
on Congress to reauthorize the COPS program to hire up to 50,000 more 
community police officers, send me a budget that funds our COPS program 
and other vital crime-fighting initiatives, and pass commonsense gun 
legislation to keep guns out of the wrong hands. By working together, we 
can continue our Nation's unprecedented success in reducing crime and 
make America's streets even safer.

 Note: This statement was made available by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on October 13 but was embargoed for release until 6 p.m., 
October 15.