FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                 AG
THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 1994                                  (202) 514-2007
                                                      TDD (202) 514-1888

ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO TO CONFER WITH REPUBLICAN AND
DEMOCRATIC MAYORS AS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR CRIME BILL GROWS

                   (**Media availability afterwards**)

     WASHINGTON, D.C. --  As Congress prepares to vote on the Administration's
crime bill, Attorney General Janet Reno will meet with Republican and
Democratic mayors to underscore their bipartisan, nationwide support for the
measure.  The Attorney General will meet with Mayor Paul Helmke (R) of Ft.
Wayne, Indiana, Mayor Paul Soglin (D) of Madison WI, and perhaps others.  After the meeting, Attorney General Reno and the mayors will hold a briefing for the
media.

     Mayors Helmke and Soglin will endorse the crime bill on behalf of the
Republican and Democratic Conferences of Mayors, respectively, as well as the
U.S. Conference of Mayors.

     The Administration's crime bill has been approved by a Congressional conference committee, with final action expected soon from the House and Senate.  The bill has been endorsed by leading municipal and county organizations:  the
National Conference of Republican Mayors and Municipal Elected Officials, the
National Conference of Democratic Mayors, the National Association of Counties, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the National League of Cities.