[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 69 (Thursday, May 22, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1035]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           SUPPORT FOR THE DRUG FREE COMMUNITIES ACT OF 1997

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BERNARD SANDERS

                               of vermont

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 22, 1997

  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Drug Free 
Communities Act of 1997, legislation which supports communities across 
the Nation in their efforts to reduce rising teenage drug abuse. 
Studies show that teenage use of marijuana, inhalants, cocaine, 
methamphetamine, LSD, heroine, and other drugs is on the increase--and 
it is among children that we are seeing the greatest increase in use. 
The Drug Free Communities Act of 1997 is an important step toward 
empowering communities to fight the growing phenomenon of drug abuse 
among our Nation's youth.
  I would like to add that I very much appreciate that the original 
cosponsors of this bill, Mr. Portman, Subcommittee Chairman Hastert, 
Mr. Levin, and Mr. Rangel, as well as the subcommittee ranking member, 
Mr. Barrett, were very willing to work with me to mold this legislation 
so that rural communities, as well as urban communities, are given the 
same chance to benefit from this Federal program. Because of our 
discussions, this bill now provides that antidrug coalitions in rural 
communities, communities under 30,000 people, will be given the 
opportunity to receive up to $100,000 in Federal matching funds. This 
puts rural communities at the same level as urban communities for 
receiving Federal matching funds.
  Mr. Speaker, let me emphasize that drug abuse is not only an urban 
problem, but is also a problem in the rural communities of this 
country. Drug pushers find a market for their drugs, not only in the 
schools of urban areas, but also in the schools of our rural areas. We 
are beginning to see gang activity in our rural communities and these 
gangs are largely centered around drug use. Presently, it is our rural 
areas which are ill-equipped to handle an influx of drugs because rural 
areas do not have access to the local resources which urban areas 
enjoy. Because of bipartisan cooperation which has taken place, rural 
anti-drug coalitions will be better able to deal with drug abuse 
problems.
  Again, I thank the gentlemen for their cooperation and willingness to 
accept my input on this bill, and I urge passage of this important 
legislation.

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