[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 6 (Tuesday, February 1, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 1, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                     DRUG USE STILL NATIONAL CRISIS

  (Mr. KYL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KYL. Mr. Speaker, a new survey released by the Department of 
Health and Human Services of 51,000 high school students and eighth-
graders shows drug use on the rise for the first time in over a decade. 
The Clinton administration has sent a confusing message about drugs, 
and our Nation's teenagers are paying the price. The administration 
must make it clear that drug use is dangerous and Congress needs to 
back that message up with tough legislation.
  During the past year, through letters to drug czar Lee Brown and to 
President Clinton, and through House Government Operations Committee 
hearings on crime, I have urged the administration to commit greater 
resources to fighting the war on drugs.
  The priorities of the Clinton administration unfortunately do not 
include promoting a tough, active antidrug strategy--the administration 
did not even appoint a drug czar until July last year and cut staffing 
for ONDCP by 80 percent.
  The administration is trying to cut back on drug interdiction--last 
year it proposed cutting $200 million for Department of Defense drug 
interdiction efforts--particularly efforts to catch cocaine smuggled 
into this country from South America. This also sends the wrong message 
and places undue burden on State and local police who are trying to 
wage a war on drugs with scarce resources.
  Meanwhile, hardcore drug use is up and cocaine and other drugs 
continue to flow across our borders. Instead of sending a message of 
retreat, our Nation needs to reinvigorate our war against drugs. Along 
with other Republicans, I have introduced the Crime Control Act, which, 
among other anticrime initiatives, enhances sentences for drug-related 
crimes, will help keep drug dealers off the street and will impose the 
death penalty for drug kingpins. We owe our Nation's youngsters no 
less.

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