NCJ Number
149625
Date Published
1994
Length
151 pages
Annotation
This report compares significant provisions of crime, drug, and gun control legislation being considered by the second session of the 103d Congress.
Abstract
Bills included in this comparison are H.R.4092 as passed by the House on April 21, 1994, and S.1607 passed by the Senate on November 19, 1993. Both bills prohibit the transfer of handguns and ammunition to juveniles. The Senate bill regulates the possession and transfer of "assault weapons" and large capacity ammunition feeding devices. The House bill does not contain such provisions. Both bills impose life imprisonment for persons convicted of a Federal offense if they have previously been convicted of two or more serious drug or violent felony offenses. The House bill allows for modification of the sentence for inmates aged 70 or over or after 30 years of imprisonment, if the Bureau of Prisons deems the offenders to be of no risk. H.R.4092 authorizes $14.1 billion for building new prisons in the States. S.1607 authorizes $6.5 billion for prison, secure facilities, and "boot camp" construction and hinges State eligibility to commit inmates to new regional prisons on reform of sentencing laws affecting violent offenders, along with certain other related measures. H.R.4092 authorizes $6.9 billion for crime prevention programs that provide education, treatment, recreation, and job opportunities for at-risk youth. S.1607 authorizes $1.8 billion for fewer programs. Also, H.R.4092 authorizes $3.45 billion for State and local governments to hire additional police officers; S.1607 authorizes $8.995 billion for that purpose. S.1607 specifies cuts in current spending to finance the roughly $22 billion in new appropriations authorized; H.R.4092 does not specify a funding source and authorizes roughly $28 billion in new funding.