Gary Condit: “I rise today to express my strong support for an amendment offered by myself and my colleagues from West Virginia and…”

“I rise today to express my strong support for an amendment offered by myself and my colleagues from West Virginia and New Mexico. The purpose of our amendment is simple, but the message it sends is profound. Our amendment specifies that the anti-crime programs created by this bill are not intended to serve as a replacement for those already funded by the pre-existing Edward Byrne Memorial grant. The amendment also states that nothing in this bill shall be construed to exclude any Byrne participant from applying for a grant under any title created by this bill. Mr. Chairman, the Edward Byrne Memorial grant is one of the things that the Federal Government is going right in its attempt to combat crime and narcotics abuse and the social problems that arise from them. The administration requested no funds for this program in its budget request for fiscal year 1995. I think it is safe to say many Members were somewhat surprised by that.”