Joe Biden: “of all the priorities included in the Budget Resolution now before the Senate, I believe that none is more important…”

“of all the priorities included in the Budget Resolution now before the Senate, I believe that none is more important than continuing our fight against violent crime and violence against women. To a great extent, this Budget Resolution meets this test--but, in at least one area of this crime front, I believe the Budget Resolution must be clarified. The amendment does exactly that--by clarifying that it is the sense of the Senate that the Violent Crime Control Trust Fund will continue through fiscal year 2002. First, let me point out that it is Senator Byrd who, more than anyone, deserves credit for the crime law trust fund. Senator Byrd worked to develop an idea that was simple as it was profound--as he called on us to use the savings from the reductions in the federal workforce of 272,000 employees to fund one of the nation's most urgent priorities: fighting the scourge of violent crime. Senator Gramm was also one of the very first to call on the Senate to 'put our money where our mouth was.'”