Us Department Of Justice Official Release - 03402-481 Txt

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1995

AG (202) 616-2777 TDD (202) 514-1888

ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO ATTACKS CONGRESSIONAL EFFORTS TO WEAKEN LAW ENFORCEMENT In response to last night's vote by the Senate Appropriations Committee, Attorney General Janet Reno released the following statement today: "One year ago today, President Clinton signed the toughest, smartest crime bill in American history. It offered a balanced program of policing, punishment and prevention to fight crime. "Last night, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted to undercut the 1994 Crime Act, a move that would weaken our nation's crime fighting effort if enacted. "The Senate bill would result in fewer cops on the beat, more addicts on our streets, and more domestic violence and rape victims on their own with nowhere to turn. "This bill is a stinging rebuke of our nation's major police organizations, who unanimously agree that this is the one crime program that is working to make our streets safer. "That's why the President has threatened to veto any attempt to kill the COPS program and undo the work of the past year. "We can't go back now, just as the Crime Act is beginning to work. And by eliminating the Community Relations Service -- which does so much to keep the peace and defuse tense situations -- the Senate would be taking away one of the most effective anti-crime tools we have." ### 95-481