[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 137 (Tuesday, October 25, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H9058-H9059]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPORTING THE GOALS OF RED RIBBON WEEK
Mr. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 485) supporting the goals of Red Ribbon Week.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 485
Whereas the Governors and Attorneys General of the States,
the National Family Partnership, Parent Teacher Associations,
Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and more than 100 other
organizations throughout the United States annually cosponsor
Red Ribbon Week during the week of October 23 through October
31;
Whereas a purpose of the Red Ribbon Campaign is to
commemorate the service of Enrique ``Kiki'' Camarena, a Drug
Enforcement Administration special agent who died in the line
of duty in 1985 while engaged in the battle against illicit
drugs;
Whereas the Red Ribbon Campaign is nationally recognized
and is in its twentieth year of celebration, helping to
preserve Special Agent Camarena's memory and further the
cause for which he gave his life;
Whereas the objective of Red Ribbon Week is to promote
drug-free communities through drug prevention efforts,
education, parental involvement, and community wide support;
Whereas drug and alcohol abuse contributes to domestic
violence and sexual assaults, and places the lives of
children at risk;
Whereas drug abuse is one of the major challenges our
Nation faces in securing a safe and healthy future for our
families and children;
Whereas emerging drug threats, such as the growing epidemic
of methamphetamine abuse, jeopardize the progress made
against illegal drug abuse; and
Whereas parents, youth, schools, businesses, law
enforcement agencies, religious institutions, service
organizations, senior citizens, medical and military
personnel, sports teams, and individuals throughout the
United States demonstrate their commitment to drug-free,
healthy lifestyles by wearing and displaying red ribbons
during this weeklong celebration: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the goals of Red Ribbon Week;
(2) encourages children and teens to choose to live a drug-
free life; and
(3) encourages all people of the United States to promote
drug-free communities and to participate in drug prevention
activities to show support for healthy, productive, drug-free
lifestyles.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Hampshire (Mr. Bass) and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bass).
General Leave
Mr. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H. Res. 485.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Hampshire?
There was no objection.
Mr. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 485, which would
resolve that the House of Representatives support the goals of Red
Ribbon Week during the week of October 23 through October 31 in order
to commemorate the services of DEA Special Agent Enrique ``Kiki''
Camarena, who died in the line of duty in 1985 while engaged in the
battle against illicit drugs.
I also understand that Red Ribbon Week encourages children and teens
to choose to live a drug-free life, and I understand also that this
resolution encourages all people of the United States to promote drug-
free communities and to participate in drug-free prevention activities
to show support for healthy, productive, drug-free lifestyles.
We know ultimately that education is the answer to drug abuse amongst
children. As the father of a 14-year-old and a 12-year-old, I can
assure you that education is key. What Red Ribbon Week does is
recognize nationally the importance of keeping our youth off of drugs,
and I am particularly pleased that we are commemorating this year and
through this resolution Special Agent Enrique ``Kiki'' Camarena.
Mr. Speaker, this is a great resolution. I urge Congress to pass it.
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 485, a resolution
supporting the goals of Red Ribbon Week, October 23 through October 31,
2005.
As mentioned, the original and most fundamental purpose of Red Ribbon
Week is to honor the memory of Enrique ``Kiki'' Camarena, a Drug
Enforcement Administration agent who was brutally murdered by drug
traffickers in 1985.
Now in its 20th year, Red Ribbon Week has grown into a national
campaign to promote drug-free communities by raising awareness,
particularly among our children, of the perils of drug use. During this
week, communities, school and home-based programs will convey important
drug use information to millions of our fellow citizens, particularly
the most vulnerable among our children.
I regularly participate in one of those celebrations in my own
district and appreciate the educational aspect of Red Ribbon Week. It
aims to prevent drug use. Red Ribbon Week is a useful part of what we
all acknowledge is a constant challenge in young lives.
Notwithstanding the many laudable aspects of Red Ribbon Week, it is
clear that we still have a lot of work to do. The most recent National
Survey on Drug Use and Health tells us that almost 8 percent of the
population over the age of 12 are current users of illicit drugs.
Current use of illicit drugs is even more prevalent among teens, almost
11 percent. While marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug,
methamphetamine use is spreading across the country at alarming rates.
The NSDUH report also notes significant use and abuse of alcohol,
tobacco and legal drugs such as pain relievers and tranquilizers.
Again, young people in their late teens and early twenties have use
rates in each of these areas that are significantly higher than the
overall average.
We need to bolster our efforts aimed at prevention and do more to
return our citizens to normal productive lives when their lives have
been overtaken by drug abuse. And we should steer our policies and
resources away from the overly militaristic and supply-side strategies
of recent years. They do not work, and the money would be better spent
on proven, effective ways to combat drugs and drug use.
While resolutions such as this are nice, and, in fact, they are
important, they do not provide the additional resources necessary to
provide prevention and treatment services for all who need them.
Nonetheless, Mr. Speaker, I would urge all of my colleagues to support
H. Res. 485, supporting the goals of Red Ribbon Week.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from Arkansas (Mr. Snyder).
Mr. SNYDER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me
time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution that was sponsored
by the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder) and the gentleman from
Maryland (Mr. Cummings) and others. The line I like in it the most is
it talks about encouraging children to choose a drug-free life, because
the reality is, as every parent knows, you cannot follow around your
kids for the rest of their life. They have to have the kind of honesty
and information and judgment that they make the right choice for the
rest of their life with regard to the use of drugs and the abuse of
alcohol.
Part of that honesty, of course, is to familiarize kids with the
brutality of the drug culture and what it has been like around the
world. This resolution pays tribute to Kiki Camarena and his brutal
death, but also brings attention to the fact the level of brutality and
violence that accompanies the drug trade.
In Arkansas tomorrow there is going to be a celebration of the 20th
anniversary of the Arkansans for Drug-Free Youth, the Red Ribbon Rally,
and the Teen Summit on Alcohol and Tobacco. Governor Mike Huckabee will
be there, along with 6,000 schoolchildren, 6,001 if you count TV
personality Craig O'Neill, who will also be there, to celebrate this
day in Arkansas.
[[Page H9059]]
As a family doctor, I have seen many times the ravages of addiction
to both drugs and alcohol. It is not only the health problems that
occur, but job loss and problems in families and child abuse and
spousal abuse. It is bad stuff that can come from drug addiction.
From the medical perspective, the infections we have seen, infections
that change lives and destroy lives, do bad things to people, there are
so many reasons we need to help these kids choose a drug-free life.
So thank you to the sponsors of this bill for proposing it. I know
that everyone in Congress supports the goals of giving kids the tools
they need to choose a drug-free life.
Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 485. Red
Ribbon Week is the annual campaign to prevent illegal drug use and to
promote drug-free communities.
All of our children have so much potential. All of our children
deserve a chance at life.
Caring for our children and making sure they do not get addicted to
drugs is all of our responsibility.
Mr. Speaker, 81 percent of teenagers ages 14 to 20 have used drugs.
One out of every four high school seniors has used illegal drugs in the
past 30 days; almost 30 percent of young adults have used marijuana in
the past.
This must change. Our children deserve better.
Better treatment and policing are essential to winning the battle
against drugs, but prevention is the foundation. Red Ribbon Week uses
community action to educate and help prevent drug abuse.
This community led movement started in Imperial Valley, California
and is changing lives across the Nation.
Throughout the United States, many of our schools are participating
in this program, informing our children to stay away from drugs.
As a father and a grandfather, I would like to state my personal
commitment to Red Ribbon Week, and to saving the lives of our children.
That is why I sponsored a bill supporting Red Ribbon Week in the
107th Congress, which passed unanimously.
I urge my colleagues to support Red Ribbon Week in the State of
California, and I ask for their support for Red Ribbon Week throughout
our Nation.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 485.
Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 485,
legislation commemorating Red Ribbon Week.
The week was created to pay homage to Agent Enrique Camarena, a man
who dedicated his career to and sacrificed his life for the war against
illegal drugs. Throughout his career as a Drug Enforcement
Administration agent, Agent Camarena worked on the front lines of the
drug war. His courage and dedication were admirable.
In 1985, while working undercover in Mexico, Special Agent Camarena
was brutally kidnapped, tortured, and murdered by drug dealers at the
age of 37. Although his death was tragic, it served as a catalyst for
the entire Nation to unite and formulate constructive ways to combat
illegal drugs.
Congressman Duncan Hunter and Henry Lozano, a friend of Camarena's in
his hometown of Calexico, CA, originally launched Camarena Clubs.
Hundreds of club members pledged to lead drug-free lives to honor the
sacrifices made by Camarena and other brave Americans. These coalitions
began to wear red badges of satin, red ribbons, as a symbol of
Camarena's memory. The Red Ribbon Week campaign emerged from the
efforts of these coalitions. Eventually, news about the week spread and
soon transformed Red Ribbon Week into one of the largest drug
prevention and education events in the country.
Today, Red Ribbon Week is nationally recognized and celebrated,
helping to preserve Special Agent Camarena's memory and to further the
cause for which he gave his life. The Red Ribbon Campaign also became a
symbol of support for the DEA's efforts to reduce demand for drugs
through prevention and education programs.
During the last week of October of each year, over 80 million
Americans participate by wearing red ribbons symbolizing a public stand
against illegal drugs. Wearing a red ribbon pays homage not only to
Special Agent Camarena, but to all men and women who have made the
ultimate sacrifice in support of our Nation's struggle against drug
trafficking and abuse.
Mr. Speaker, America's youth are the focus of the event, and
activities during Red Ribbon Week are planned to encourage adoption of
a firm stance against drug usage. The Week also serves an equally
important role as a day of remembrance of every American that has ever
been a victim of drug-related violence.
Now in its 20th year, Red Ribbon Week has accomplished remarkable
things. However, it is now our responsibility to build upon this
foundation in an effort to mitigate substance abuse in America.
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2004,
approximately 19.1 million Americans over the age of 12 were illicit
drug users. This number reflects 7.9 percent of the total population
and 10.6 percent of our youth population. This statistic is especially
alarming with the emergence of club drugs like ecstasy and the alarming
rise of crystal methamphetamine use. We must act now to ensure that
more attention and education is provided to America's youth about the
dangers of drugs and their deleterious effects.
Mr. Speaker, I believe drug treatment is key. Bringing it closer to
home, my district has at least 60,000 crack cocaine and heroin addicts.
In fact, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy,
Baltimore City continues to have one of the most severe heroin problems
and one of the highest drug-related homicide rates in the entire
nation. In 2004, 34,076 people received treatment in my district.
I believe emphasis on prevention, education and treatment amalgamated
in Red Ribbon Week has the ability to make a substantial impact in the
anti-drug movement. In fact, a recent study has shown that each dollar
invested in prevention totals a savings of 10 dollars in treatment. For
this reason, we should continue to push forward in this battle and
never give up on the hope that one day, we can win this war.
That is why I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 485. I applaud my
dear friend, Representative Mark Souder, Chairman of the Government
Reform Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources Subcommittee,
of which I am the Ranking Member for sponsoring this resolution. It is
my hope that increased awareness of Red Ribbon Week will aid our nation
in achieving a drug-free America. May the legacy of Special Agent
Camarena live on and may the message of Red Ribbon Week resound in the
hearts of all Americans.
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BASS. Mr. Speaker, this is a great resolution. I urge the
Congress to adopt it.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bass) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 485.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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