FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          AG
THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1995                             (202) 616-2777
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

                                 
         ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO ATTACKS HOUSE CRIME BILL
                    AND BORDER CONTROL CUTS

 "A Big Step Backward in Fighting Crime and Securing Our Borders"

     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Attorney General Janet Reno released the
following statement today following passage of the House Budget
Resolution:

     "Today's budget action in the House of Representatives
     would be a big step backward in fighting crime.  It would
     break the promise Congress made last year and slash the
     Crime Control Trust Fund by almost $5 billion over 5
     years and $9 billion over 7 years.  

     "It would mean fewer cops on our streets, fewer prison cells
     built, less assistance to states struggling to incarcerate
     criminal aliens, and less funding to fight violence against
     women.

     "The House budget would also jeopardize this Administration's
     efforts to secure our borders and would prevent the hiring of
     additional Border Patrol agents by cutting $497 million from
     the President's request for INS for FY 1996.

     "This Administration is strongly committed to reducing
     the deficit.  But we are equally committed to fighting
     crime, and today's action moves us away from that goal.

     "Cutting the Trust Fund to reduce the deficit is
     unecessary, since it is paid for by ongoing cuts in the
     size of the federal government, and new taxes or spending
     cuts are not needed to fund it."

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