The politics of policy: crime bill '93
During the days before the next vote, Republicans adopted a strategy of attacking smaller provisions in the crime bill (instead of just the assault weapons-ban and prevention programs.) One of the provisions attacked was the safety valve. Members of Congress spoke on the floor of the House and Senate about the "10,000 dope dealers" who would be "released" from prison under the retroactive safety valve.
Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Texas), Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kans.), Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), and Rep. Rick Lazio (R-N.Y.) were among the most vocal critics of the safety valve. Opposition to the safety valve provision intensified, fueled by television ads of the National Rifle Association (NRA) that featured Charleton Heston and lobbying by the National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys (NAAUSA). Finally, the only way to keep the safety valve in the bill was to drop a provision for to make it retroactive.
When the crime bill cleared the House and was sent to the Senate for passage, the Senate had to vote for it as a whole package without alteration. After a week of political infighting, the Senate passed the Omnibus Crime Control Act, 61 to 38, on August 25, 1994.