[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 128 (Tuesday, September 17, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H10496-H10497]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            TEENAGE DRUG USE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas [Ms. Jackson-Lee] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege in being 
home in the district to listen to the most important components of 
democracy and that is the people, the 18th Congressional District. We 
held a hearing in city council chambers in the 18th District on 
September 16 regarding the scourge of teenage drug use.
  The enlightening fact that I think should be evidenced around the 
Nation is that no one with good common sense, no one running for 
office, seeking reelection, running for the first time, rises to any 
podium, takes any microphone, goes to any newspapers, stands before any 
audience and says, I am glad and I am enthusiastic about increased use 
of drugs by teenagers. So for us to make this a partisan issue during 
this election year makes us miss the point. The real issue is, how do 
we respond to our young people who have lost their way and begin to 
think that the frivolity of drug use is the way of the future?
  I would offer to say to you that the hearing that we held in Houston, 
listening to the U.S. attorney for the southern district of Texas, the 
special agent in charge of the DEA, the FBI, the Harris County medical 
examiner, juvenile court judge and a myriad of community leaders and 
individuals who have hands-on experience with drug usage. First of all, 
they rebut and they clearly indicate that building more Federal 
prisons, giving political year gimmickry and loud talking will not be a 
solution. Housing juveniles with adults will not be a solution. 
Suggesting that you can single-handedly as a politician cut teenage 
drug use in half is not a solution.
  What these individuals said, which was a directed comment on the fact 
that it does take a family, a community, a village, a State, a Nation 
to raise the future generation, was that parents must become more 
involved in the concept of moral leadership, indicating that it is not 
the right thing to do to experiment with drugs. I know there is a study 
that says that those parents who are of the baby boomer generation are 
a little bit intimidated. Well, a parent is a parent. I refuse to 
accept that.
  As I listened to those who are on the battlefield on this issue, 
individuals who raise concerns about making sure that those who wanted 
to be treated for drug addiction could have treatment on demand, a 
reasoned response so that those drug addicts would not be lost, that 
would also provide parents with education to help them be able to teach 
their children against the evils of drugs but also the dangers of 
drugs, one thing that we have not done with the prevention programs 
dealing with drugs is to include the wide net of teachers and as well 
parents. That is an important issue.

  We have not responded to those who have been rehabilitated to create 
jobs, but yet the Presidential candidate who is now running, who seeks 
the Presidency, believes that he can raise points and raise opportunity 
with political rhetoric of incarcerating those who might use drugs. 
This is not a political issue. It is an issue of family and children. 
It is an issue that needs a collective mind-set.
  So I come to the floor of the House to say that I will be supporting 
legislation that encompasses parents in educational opportunities to 
encourage them and give them support and in giving their children the 
right instruction, teachers and schools. I will be supporting 
legislation and sponsoring legislation that says that the Federal Drug 
Forfeiture Asset Act should include more opportunity for its usage by 
taking some of those funds that are captured from those who sell drugs, 
the property of those who sell drugs, and provide those funds for AIDS 
research, for treatment and prevention of those using drugs.
  We need to get down to the bottom line and the bottom line is that we 
do have a crisis in this Nation. I hope more of my colleagues will go 
home to their districts, listen to the people who are on the front 
line, listen to parents and teachers and, yes, listen to rehabilitated 
drug addicts who said to me last evening, I am prepared to work with 
you every step of the way. Provide us with jobs, give us treatment on

[[Page H10497]]

demand. Give us the opportunity to turn the heads of children who would 
experiment with designer drugs, causing the loss of life of a very dear 
teen in our community, a bright athlete. We are prepared to work with 
you in the real solutions. We just want the political rhetoric to stop.
  I am here on the floor of the House today on September 17 to say, I 
agree with you 100 percent. The political rhetoric will stop and those 
of us who want to get to work will get to work and stem the tide of 
drug use among teenagers in this Nation.

                          ____________________