[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 50 (Wednesday, April 29, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H2595]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   LET US NOT PLAY POLITICS ON SUBJECT OF LEGAL AND ILLEGAL DRUG USE

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I hope this morning we can 
start afresh and not play politics with illegal drug use. My Republican 
friends know full well that both Democrats and Republicans have been 
strong against the illegal use of drugs. We understand that along with 
talking about being against illegal use of drugs comes prevention and 
intervention.
  The needle exchange program has nothing to do with supporting the 
illegal use of drugs. It is plain common sense, folks. People who use 
drugs are addicted, they are sick, they need intervention, they need 
prevention, they need treatment.
  The use of clean needles saves lives, it prevents the spread of HIV, 
it keeps from killing our children, wives, husbands, family members, 
Americans, and we need to get off this politics on the illegal use of 
drugs and comparing that to clean needle exchange.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will stop playing politics with 
tobacco and help prevent the use of tobacco with our young people, and 
I hope they will stop fooling around with a life-and-death matter of 
clean needles to save lives for Americans. Let us get down to the 
business of doing what the American people want us to do.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to move swiftly on 
tobacco legislation.
  A new report by the surgeon general shows that teen smoking rose 
dramatically among African-Americans and Hispanics. For example, 
smoking among African-American high school students was up by a 
startling 80 percent. The report shows that smoking is also a major 
cause of death and disease among all minority and ethnic groups. And 
African-American men bear the greatest health burdens from lung cancer. 
Mr. Speaker these numbers are disturbing and it underscores the need 
for comprehensive tobacco legislation. Smoking is devastating to our 
children, especially because of its addictive nature. We need to focus 
on early intervention so our kids can kick the habit before they get 
hooked.
  I urge my colleagues to make tobacco legislation a top priority, so 
our kids will lead healthy lives.

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