[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 32 (Tuesday, March 21, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E360]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMENDING ANTI-DRUG EFFORTS OF STATIONS KEZI, KMTR, KVAL, KEVU AND 
                                  KLSR

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PETER A. DeFAZIO

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 21, 2000

  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to call attention to an 
unprecedented cooperative campaign by several television stations in my 
congressional district. Earlier this year, stations in Eugene, OR, set 
aside competition and simulcast a half-hour documentary on the effects 
of drug abuse, ``Drug Wars: One Family's Battle.'' The documentary was 
produced by Medford Oregon-based Crime Prevention Resources.
  In addition, three stations--KEZI, KMTR and KVAL--also sponsored and 
simultaneously broadcast a special 1 hour town hall meeting that 
featured individual stories, a panel of experts and telephone call-ins, 
all discussing the impacts of drug abuse and methods to combat the 
problem. This locally simulcast townhall was a first in our community 
and possibly the nation.
  I congratulate and commend these stations and the community on this 
collaborative and innovative endeavor to combat the serious problem of 
drug abuse. By saturating our local airwaves for a short time, they 
were able to ensure this anti-drug message reached the widest possible 
audience. This impressive feat should be a model for the nation.
  Winning the war on drugs requires an extraordinary effort from the 
grassroots level up. I encourage my colleagues to pursue a similar 
effort with television stations in their respective congressional 
districts. It is a unique and rewarding opportunity to work together 
towards the common goal of ending drug abuse in our communities.
  Again, I salute the efforts of these television stations on their 
historic effort.

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