[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 45 (Wednesday, April 22, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H2124-H2125]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        FREE NEEDLE POLICY WRONG

  (Mr. BALLENGER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, what can we say about the Enabler in 
Chief, who has just announced a policy that will actually put the 
Federal Government in the business of handing out needles to illegal 
drug users?
  The government often does stupid things. The American people know 
that, and they despair at many of the dumb things the government tries 
to do. But the government should not be doing dangerous things, 
especially when people are at their most vulnerable, and they are the 
ones who will suffer the consequences.

[[Page H2125]]

  But here we have a government that is at its most misguided, most 
irresponsible, and most dangerous. The administration is using bad 
science done by left-wing radicals with an agenda, and basing national 
policy on a pack of lies. Adults with alcohol addiction do not need 
enablers who indulge their weakness for alcohol. Kids who take up 
smoking do not need enablers to provide them with low-tar cigarettes on 
the theory, well, they are going to smoke anyway.

                              {time}  1015

  Drug addicts do not need needle enablers who help them continue their 
illegal drug use by giving them free needles. Mr. Speaker, this policy 
is nuts.

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