[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 27 (Friday, March 11, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 11, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                 DRUG EDUCATION AND INTERDICTION WORKS

                                 ______


                        HON. GERALD B.H. SOLOMON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 11, 1994

  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, no one can deny the progress we made in the 
war against drugs during the Reagan-Bush years. Overall usage of 
illicit drugs dropped dramatically between the years of 1980 and 1992. 
Cocaine use in children between the ages of 12 to 17 went from 
approximately 225,000 users in 1988 to 55,000 users in 1992. This 
progress was due in large part to the direction taken by these 
administrations in the area of education and interdiction. It was their 
serious commitment to reducing the supply of illegal drugs coming into 
the United States and educating the American public about the dangers 
of illegal drug use that reduced the demand for illegal drugs.
  Sadly enough, this same progress cannot be claimed by the Clinton 
administration as they literally slash and burn those Federal programs 
involved in putting an end to this deadly trade. As we can all 
remember, one of the first moves President Clinton made when he came to 
the White House was to virtually dismantle the Office of National Drug 
Control Policy [ONDCP] by reducing its staff by 80 percent. 
Consequently, with policies such as this, we have seen an increase in 
drug usage among our Nation's youths and a corresponding increase in 
the public fear of crime.
  However, even with the facts staring him in the face, President 
Clinton is determined to cut much-needed staff in such important 
interdiction agencies as the DEA, FBI, INS, ATF, IRS, and the Coast 
Guard. The President claims the cuts will save taxpayers more money, 
but cuts of this magnitude will not be beneficial. In addition, the 
President would like to reduce over 100 U.S. attorneys' drug 
prosecution positions. How will the judicial system prosecute drug 
dealers? President Clinton claims he is increasing funding for 
international drug efforts, but what he fails to mention is that his 
fiscal year 1995 budget request is close to $100 million less than the 
fiscal year 1993 request under President Bush.
  We need action, not political rhetoric and as the old saying goes, 
``an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.''

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