[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 144 (Thursday, October 6, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 6, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
              SANTA FE FIGHTS DRUNK DRIVING AND WINS AWARD

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                          HON. BILL RICHARDSON

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 6, 1994

  Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in 
recognizing the city of Santa Fe as a grand prize winner of the 1994 
National Cities Challenge to Stop Drunk Driving, which is a program of 
the U.S. Conference of Mayors. With the help of Mayor Debbie Jaramillo, 
Santa Fe took top honors in the category for cities with a population 
under 100,000.
  The State of New Mexico chronically suffers from one of the highest 
alcohol-related fatality rates in the Nation. By winning this award, 
Santa Fe has shown its commitment to reversing this trend. The city 
created a Driving While Intoxicated [DWI] task force which dealt with 
numerous problems, the most important one being public unawareness. 
This task force worked with involving the community through innovative 
programs such as Faith Community Initiative and ``adopt-a-holiday.'' 
These different approaches have helped Santa Fe to reduce the number of 
drunk driving fatalities and injuries.
  I encourage every city to get involved with fighting DWI through 
education and tougher enforcement, especially when it comes to minors. 
It is only through public participation that the fatality rates will go 
down. I am proud of those who work hard at pursuing efforts to stop 
drunk driving in Santa Fe and I hope other cities in the Nation will 
follow Santa Fe's lead in fighting against drunk driving.

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