7194 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS April 12, 1994 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS TRIBUTE TO STEVEN L. HILL, JR. lenges in times of violence. At another vio­ nation of laws. We can do better, and we lent time in our history Abraham Lincoln must do better, for our young. warned that a house divided against itself If we sense that our ability to protect our HON. IKE SKELTON cannot stand. Lincoln knew firsthand the OF MISSOURI children is hopelessly slipping away, we will challenge facing a nation whose citizens had eventually come to question the very useful­ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES rejected anything short of violence to re­ ness of our laws and the value of those of us Tuesday, April 12, 1994 solve their differences. Lincoln's response who are given the awesome responsibility of Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I wish to rec­ was to challenge the country to find a higher enforcing them. purpose that one day might unite its people. Your friends and neighbors, fearful of the ognize an outstanding Missourian, Steven L. Today. our house-our nation-once again Hill, Jr., who was sworn in March 18, 1994 as stranger and the darkness, do not believe stands divided over crime. And once again, it ours is a nation of laws. U.S. attorney, western district of Missouri. Mr. is incumbent upon us to find a higher pur­ pose in answering this challenge. This lawlessness, of course, is not limited Hill was sworn in by Judge Joseph Stevens. to violent crime. Growing numbers of indi­ His comments that day reflect the type of Fortunately, some still believe that our country, our neighborhoods, our schools and viduals and companies pollute the air we service we can expect from his tenure. I enter our people live in a nation of laws. breathe, the water we drink and the soil we Mr. Hill's remarks on the occasion of his oath Unfortunately, an ever-growing number of call our own. Most often victimized are the of office: people have come to believe and to act as areas we call our poorest because they figure May it please the court. though ours is a nation of individuals, of they are safe to violate those areas. Judge Stevens, let me begin by thanking men and women free to live outside the law More and more, these polluters are heard you and the members of the court for mak­ without consequence. to say, "Well, if we get caught, it's just a ing these facilities available today. My fam­ There are countless tragic examples of our cost of doing business, and we'll pay." Those ily-Marianne, Mattie, Taylor and !-want society's rejection of its laws, but the most who live in our poorest neighborhoods, the to thank each of you for coming and joining troubling aspect to me-and what I hope is neighborhoods where polluters feel free to us on this special day. Ike and David, your the most troubling to all of you-is the com­ dump whatever they please, do not believe overly kind words remind me of Adali bination of guns and young people. Growing ours is a nation of laws. We can do better. Stevenson's admonition about praise-he numbers of children-boys and girls too Nothing has robbed the public of its faith said praise is like perfume-all right to smell young to drive-carry firearms because they in the system so completely as the notion as long as you don't swallow it. believe they can only be safe with them. that there is a different standard for public Among various friends here today, let me Countless studies demonstrate we are not officials and those with access to tax dollars. recognize those from the law firm of Smith, simply presented with the problem that our We will prosecute those who violate these sa­ Gill, Fisher and Butts and the men and society encourages young people that guns cred trusts. women of the U.S. Attorneys Office. I have and violence are acceptable. No instead it is Having set out these challenges we face, it found both of these groups to personify the far worse. Young people are regularly pre­ is clear the primary duty of the United very best of qualities in the legal profession. sented with the notion that it is acceptable States Attorney is to foster the public's con­ A special thank you to the Skeltons; Susie to use that gun they are carrying. This will­ and Ike. Long before Ike befriended me, fidence in its justice system. As we carry out ingness to use guns has had the most unfor­ our duties, we should ask ourselves what we Susie and my mother were friends at college. tunate consequences. Today. persons under As for Ike, I know I would not be here today must to do to restore the belief of every per­ 18 are 244 percent more likely to be killed by son that the justice system is accessible, fair as your U.S. Attorney without him speaking guns than they were in 1986. up on my behalf. I also know that I would A review of last year's crime statistics for and just. not have made it through the days following this city alone, particularly the numbers re­ First and foremost we have set out car­ my father's and younger brother's deaths flecting violent crime, demonstrates that if dinal tenets from which we never depart, re­ without Ike's friendship and support. you are young, African American and male, gardless of circumstances. Our first tenet is Two other friends from that summer, local you stand a disproportionate chance of being that we approach every matter-whether it lawyer Matt Keenan and a New Yorker the victim of a violent crime. is a-n. in:v.estigation, indictment or sentenc­ named Jimmy O'Connor, are also here today Across this district, from its major cities ing-by asking ourselves: What is the right and have always been there for me. They join to its small rural towns, our violent crime thing to do? numerous friends from law school by whom I problem is multiplied each day by individual A second tenet is that we must do what is have been most blessed. tragedies. This problem will only get worse necessary to bring justice to society; and not Let me say .thank you to my friend and until all of us choose to accept the premise simply what brings attention to ourselves. former partner David Oliver for his generous that childhood violence is a real problem In setting forth what we will do in the De­ introduction. So many people have asked that is everyone's responsibility. It is tempt­ partment of Justice and the U.S. Attorney's what has been the most difficult aspect of ing, but it would be wrong to trace all of the Office, we must also ask the question: Why my shift from private practice to the Depart­ problems of our youth to one individual, one does it have to be this way? ment of Justice. For a while J could not put policy or one administration. Our challenge Why is it acceptable that our young people my finger on it, but I now realize I miss very is deeper and broader. feel their world is so unsafe that they must much wandering down the hallway and talk­ Although the government cannot raise carry guns and plan their funerals? ing with David about a case or issue of mu­ every child, it should be our commitment We will provide leadership that specifically tual interest. He is a lawyer's lawyer who here and now that we as a people will do any­ addresses violent crime, particularly those long ago made the commitment to public thing necessary to protect our children. Be­ acts involving our youngest citizens. We will service and is a role model for all of us. fore we are able to honestly confront vio­ provide leadership in aggressively prosecut­ You must know this is a special day for my lence in our streets and homes, we must ac­ ing those who pollute our environment and family. My mother, brother and I are so knowledge that no person in our society is defraud our health care system. proud to be back in the Department of Jus­ safe if we cannot protect our children, the tice family. most innocent among us. Why is it acceptable that our most dis­ We gather today to observe a formal Ask yourself: If the numbers show that you advantaged neighbors are most often the change of leadership in the United States At­ were more likely than anyone around you to ones victimized by pollution and health care torney's Office and a renewal of our commit­ become a victim of a violent crime, perhaps fraud? We will not turn our heads and accept ment to the prinicples of justice. Some 60 even a murder, would there be any reason for these conditions simply because things were years ago, Justice Sutherland summed up you to believe ours is a nation of laws? It is this way before our turn came to lead. the terms of that commitment when he this basic agreement to honor and respect That these problems are hard is not an ac­ wrote the United States Attorney's interest the laws that ends up being rejected because ceptable reason to ignore them. To the con­ in a criminal prosecution is not that the the laws are seen as having failed their fun­ trary, that these problems are hard gives us United States win the case, but that justice damental purpose: to protect those who can­ every reason to start here, now, today, to ad­ shall be done.