[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 246 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 246

 Honoring the men and women of the Drug Enforcement Administration on 
                  the 50th anniversary of the agency.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 13, 2023

   Mr. Moran (for himself and Mrs. Shaheen) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

                             July 18, 2023

             Committee discharged; considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Honoring the men and women of the Drug Enforcement Administration on 
                  the 50th anniversary of the agency.

Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration (referred to in this preamble as the 
        ``DEA'') was--

    (1) established on July 1, 1973 by Reorganization Plan Numbered 2 of 
1973 (87 Stat. 1091; 5 U.S.C. App.); and

    (2) given the responsibility to coordinate the whole of the Federal 
Government approach related to the enforcement of the Controlled Substances 
Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.);

Whereas the more than 10,000 men and women of the DEA, including special agents, 
        intelligence research specialists, diversion investigators, program 
        analysts, forensic chemists, attorneys, and administrative support 
        staff, as well as more than 3,000 task force officers, representing 
        hundreds of State and local law enforcement agencies across the 
        country--

    (1) serve the United States with courage; and

    (2) are committed to serving and protecting public safety, public 
health, and the national security of the United States from drug 
trafficking, drug misuse, and related violence;

Whereas, during the 50 years since the establishment of the DEA, the agency has 
        targeted and dismantled transnational drug trafficking organizations and 
        brought to justice the most dangerous and prolific drug trafficking 
        criminals from around the world;
Whereas, throughout the 50-year history of the DEA, the agency has continually 
        adapted to evolving trends of major transnational drug cartels, 
        targeting the organizations involved in the manufacturing, trafficking, 
        and distribution of drugs, including fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, 
        heroin, controlled prescription drugs, and other synthetic opioids;
Whereas the DEA has deployed enforcement and regulatory tools and strategies to 
        address the threat posed by new synthetic opioid substances, which--

    (1) mimic the effects of known licit and illicit controlled substances, 
including fentanyl;

    (2) are largely responsible for driving the opioid epidemic that 
claimed the lives of more than 107,000 individuals in the United States in 
2021; and

    (3) present the most significant threat to public health, public 
safety, and the national security of the United States;

Whereas, with 93 foreign offices located in 69 countries, the DEA has the 
        largest international presence of any Federal law enforcement agency, 
        facilitating--

    (1) close collaboration with international partners around the world 
through information sharing, training, and technology; and

    (2) the provision of resources that have resulted in the disruption or 
dismantling of hundreds of transnational criminal organizations around the 
world;

Whereas, throughout the history of the DEA, employees and members of task forces 
        of the agency have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty, including 
        Emir Benitez, Gerald Sawyer, Leslie S. Grosso, Nickolas Fragos, Mary M. 
        Keehan, Charles H. Mann, Anna Y. Mounger, Anna J. Pope, Martha D. 
        Skeels, Mary P. Sullivan, Larry D. Wallace, Ralph N. Shaw, James T. 
        Lunn, Octavio Gonzalez, Francis J. Miller, Robert C. Lightfoot, Thomas 
        J. Devine, Larry N. Carwell, Marcellus Ward, Enrique S. Camarena, James 
        A. Avant, Charles M. Bassing, Kevin L. Brosch, Susan M. Hoefler, William 
        Ramos, Raymond J. Stastny, Arthur L. Cash, Terry W. McNett, George M. 
        Montoya, Paul S. Seema, Everett E. Hatcher, Rickie C. Finley, Joseph T. 
        Aversa, Wallie Howard, Jr., Eugene T. McCarthy, Alan H. Winn, George D. 
        Althouse, Becky L. Dwojeski, Stephen J. Strehl, Richard E. Fass, Frank 
        Fernandez, Jr., Jay W. Seale, Meredith Thompson, Juan C. Vars, Frank S. 
        Wallace, Jr., Shelly D. Bland, Rona L. Chafey, Carrol June Fields, 
        Carrie A. Lenz, Kenneth G. McCullough, Shaun E. Curl, Larry Steilen, 
        Royce D. Tramel, Alice Faye Hall-Walton, Elton Lee Armstead, Terry 
        Loftus, Donald C. Ware, Jay Balchunas, Thomas J. Byrne, Jr., Samuel 
        Hicks, Forrest N. Leamon, Chad L. Michael, Michael E. Weston, James 
        Terry Watson, Brent L. Hanger, Jorge R. DelRio, Stephen C. Arnold, 
        Michael G. Garbo, and Jody W. Cash; and
Whereas many other DEA employees and task force officers have been wounded or 
        injured in the line of duty, including 79 individuals who have received 
        the DEA Purple Heart Award: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) congratulates the Drug Enforcement Administration on 
        the occasion of its 50th anniversary;
            (2) honors the heroic dedication of the employees of the 
        Drug Enforcement Administration who have paid the ultimate 
        price and sacrificed their lives or have been wounded or 
        injured in the service of the United States; and
            (3) gives heartfelt thanks to all the men and women of the 
        Drug Enforcement Administration for their past and continued 
        efforts to protect the health and safety of the people of the 
        United States from transnational criminal networks and drugs 
        causing harm, violence, and death in the communities of the 
        United States.
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