Tom Harkin: “I will be honored to have the distinguished chairman as a cosponsor of this amendment and will so add his name. Madam…”

“I will be honored to have the distinguished chairman as a cosponsor of this amendment and will so add his name. Madam President, my amendment will transfer the proposed $513 million increase for Star Wars to a critical public safety program, the Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Program and again to cut more wasteful spending and reduce the deficit further. If you were to ask a group of average Americans about their concerns for this country and what is uppermost in their minds, two words would be heard again and again. One is 'crime' and the other is 'deficit.' Madam President, we must take action to address these issues. I am proud to have supported the two most significant pieces of legislation addressing them in many years. First, the President's Budget Reconciliation Act, which has spurred the recent improvement in the economy and is bringing our deficit down day by day and week by week. I also supported the Senate crime bill, which addresses crime on a broad front. Unfortunately, Madam President, the budget resolution before us would eliminate a vital formula grant program that has helped hundreds of communities nationwide to fight crime and drugs.”