It’s seldom that a bill is introduced in Congress with such bipartisan fanfare as the omnibus anticrime legislation presented by Sens. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C. and Joseph R. Biden, D-Del. Titled “The Violent Crime and Drug Enforcement Improvement Act of 1982,” S. 2572 immediately went on the calendar amid a series of Senate speeches urging early debate and consideration. “The time for talking tough about crime has passed,” Thurmond told the Senate. “It is time to act.” The legislation, he said. is a “comprehensive attack on the crime problem,” consisting of a number of measures already approved or discussed by the Committee on the Judiciary. “Several titles in the bill now are separatei acts awaiting action on the calendar.” Rising crime statistics compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation have helped motivate the bill’s sponsors: There is a murder every 23 minutes in the United States; a woman is raped every 6 minutes; a robbery takes place every 48 seconds; a 4 burglary every eight seconds, With good reason, S. 2572 focuses strongly on drugrelated crime. The Drug Enforcement Administration told Congress in a statement accompanying its 1983 budget request: “Narcotics trafficking frequently involves violent crime; invariably breeds violence; it unquestionably causes acute misery and. in many instances. death, It also generates huge profits that can be used to avoid detection and finance further organized crime enterprises.” In 1981 the DEA seized cash and property valued at $161 million from A violators, accomplished by utilizing criminal forfeiture proceedings and increased use of civil forfeiture statues. “But that is only the tip of the iceberg,” Thurmond said, “‘1’he illegal profits from drug trafficking count into the billions of dollars.” ‘”As long as this magnitude of profit is inherent in this activity,” he continued, “there will be criminals who will continue to traffic in dangerous drugs. We must take the incentive away, and several titles in this legislation are directed specifically to achieving that goal.” Just last week, Sen. Lawton Chiles. D-Fla, and Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga. had introduced their own bill to strength the fight against crime and drug trafficking. But both spoke in behalf of the ThurmondBiden bipartisan package. Others who made speeches in-support of S. 2572 included Biden and Sens. Howard Baker, RTenn.. Senate majority leader. Orrin G. Hatch. RUtah; Ernerst F. Hollings, D-S.C.; Howell Heflin. DAla.: Max Baucus. DMont.’ and Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa. Thurmond said the package has the backing of the Reagan Administration and the Republican leadership in the Senate. He recognized the work of Sen. Edward Kennedy, DMass,, ‘particularly in phases related to sentencing and bail reform. Present bail laws are not equipped to deal with offenders who have unlimited resources as in the case of some drug traffickers who can put up large amounts of cash and be out on the streets within hours. The new legislation seeks to address this problem, It also bolsters support for victims and witnesses; increases penalties for violation of controlled substances acts; and revamps sentencing and parole procedures, Crime is a grim and continuing story. Strong, updated legislation, backed by effective enforcement. is vital to internal security. Congressional consideration of the ThurmondBiden legislation deserves high nrioritv.