[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 112 (Friday, August 3, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8899-S8900]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          WE NEED A DRUG CZAR

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, in the last several days, I have 
received a copy of the most recent PRIDE survey of youth drug use in 
this country. The numbers are not encouraging. In fact, the numbers 
over the last several years

[[Page S8900]]

have not been encouraging. Drug use among teenagers since 1992 has 
risen sharply. This is true for use of more traditional drugs, like 
heroin. It is true for the newer or more recently popular designer 
drugs, like meth and now ecstasy.
  I have spoken about these trends frequently here and in hearings. The 
Caucus on International Narcotics Control, which I co-chair, has held a 
number of hearings on these dangerous trends and their consequences. No 
one who is familiar with the details can be anything but concerned 
about what is happening. No one that is except those who seek to 
legalize drugs in our society and make them even more available than 
they now are.
  The legalizers, of course, do not admit that this is their intent. 
But it is like the old magician's trick, watch the birdie. They cloak 
their efforts to legalize with various disguises. They want marijuana 
for sick people. They want treatment not prisons. They want compassion 
not punishment. But it's an old game. It's just a variation on the 
useful lie: I am for a good cause so I don't have to be honest. Well, 
as the old saying has it, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice 
shame on me.
  And they are trying to fool people again. The goal this time is to 
stop the nomination of John Walters to be the nation's drug czar. Their 
effort is a purely cynical one trying to portray Mr. Walters as some 
kind of stone age, Neanderthal throwback who is out of step with the 
needs of real drug policy. But the policy they really advocate is to 
make drugs more widely available. What they object to is that Mr. 
Walters does not accept that. So they have begun a campaign to impugn 
his character, misstate his views, and misrepresent the facts and their 
own goals. They do not want strong leadership on this issue.
  They are trying to portray Mr. Walters as a total supply side 
advocate who cares nothing about treatment or prevention. They are 
relying on the hope that people will read what they have to say about 
his record rather than look at his record. Remember, watch the birdie. 
They hope to block his nomination in order not to help stop drug use 
but to clear the way for their efforts to legalize.
  The main voices against him have come from groups funded by 
billionaire advocates for drug legalization. It is coming from a number 
of journals and organizations that are on record favoring drug 
legalization. They would have us believe that their motive for opposing 
the President's candidate to be the drug czar is out of concern for 
treatment and prevention. This is like the wolf expecting Little Red 
Riding Hood to believe it is really grandma in the bed.
  Some facts. When Mr. Walters was the chief of staff for Bill Bennett, 
the first Drug Czar, Walters was a key player in helping to ensure that 
we had a serious demand reduction effort as part of our policy. In the 
Bush years, demand reduction resources doubled. In 4 years of that 
administration, the rate of funding for demand was higher than in the 8 
years of the last administration. Mr. Walters was a player in making 
that happen in the first Bush administration. It is true he spoke out a 
lot on supply reduction. That too was part of the President's strategy 
and he was responsible for helping to implement that as well. He also 
became the Deputy Director for Supply at ONDCP. It was his job to speak 
on these issues. There was a Demand Deputy. It was his job to speak on 
demand issues. You will not find a lot of supply talk in Dr. Kleber's 
public comments. As the demand guru it wasn't the focus of his job. You 
won't find a lot of demand comments in Mr. Walters' statements. Why do 
you think that is?

  In the years after he left ONDCP, Mr. Walers made numerous public 
statements. Many of these were before Congress. He was asked by 
committees in Congress responsible for dealing with supply issues to 
speak on them. Is it any wonder that most of those concern supply 
reduction? It isn't a mystery, but, remember, watch the birdie.
  Let's be clear. The objection to Mr. Walters is not that he is a 
supply sider or a hawk on demand. It is that he believes we need a 
serious drug policy that is comprehensive. That is what Congress wants 
and funds. The President has made it clear that that is what he wants 
and expects. It's the President's policy. As a member of the 
President's Cabinet, Mr. Walters will be a strong voice, a forceful 
advocate. We need that. The major demand groups in this country 
recognize that and support him.
  Mr. Walters is not a drug legalizer. He is a man committed to 
stopping the flow of illegal drugs across our borders and into our 
schools and neighborhoods. He is committed to prevention and effective 
treatment. He has children of his own. He is determined to help protect 
them in their schools from the drug pushers among us. He cares 
passionately about this issue.
  That is why I believe the Senate needs to move quickly on his 
nomination. We need leadership. We need commitment. We need passion. 
Mr. Walters can supply those needs in working with Congress to 
accomplish a common goal. The only people who benefit from blocking 
this nomination are the legalizers. We should not become their 
unwitting allies.
  I support this nomination. I urge my colleagues to join me. It is 
late in the year. The August recess is almost upon us. We need to give 
Mr. Walters a speedy hearing and a quick confirmation so that he can 
get about the Nation's business.

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