Political Quotes

“In America, Mr. Speaker, more violent crime is committed by juveniles ages 15 to 19 than in any other age group. If present trends continue, juvenile arrests for violent crime will more than double by the year 2010. Under the juvenile crime control bill, which creates a $1.5 billion grant, only 12 States would qualify to receive the Federal funds necessary to fight juvenile crime. In the United States of America, Mr. Speaker, four cities, in four cities one-third of all juvenile crimes occur: in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and in Detroit. Yet under this juvenile crime bill, Mr. Speaker, grant money would not find its way into the neighborhoods of Chicago, the barrios of Los Angeles, or in downtown Detroit. It could, however, find its way in Jackson Hole, WY, and in Stowe, VT. Mr. Speaker, major cities in fact will lose money under this legislation. The local law enforcement block grant which provided $18 million to the city of Chicago could be lost under this legislation. The city credits this program for a 18-percent decrease in homicides, a 19 percent decrease in robberies, and a 24-percent decrease in narcotics. Mr. Speaker, we need the resources to fight crime at the local level. Those resources ought to be in those areas where crimes occur.”