[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 43 (Thursday, April 6, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3217-S3218]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SPECTER (for himself, Mr. Biden, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Grassley, 
        and Mr. Levin):
  S. 2560. A bill to reauthorize the Office of National Drug Control 
Policy; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. SPECTER. Madam President, I further introduce the reauthorization 
for the Office of National Drug Control Policy Act of 2006. Senators 
Hatch, Biden, and Grassley have worked with me on this issue. This is 
the office to establish our drug policy. Since 2001, according to the 
ONDCP--the Office of National Drug Control Policy--the combined use of 
illicit drugs by 8th, 10th, and 12th graders has decreased by some 19 
percent. We have seen a serious problem with methamphetamine. This 
agency is very important to carry out the administration's policy to 
try to reduce drug usage.

[[Page S3218]]

  I ask unanimous consent that the full text of my prepared statement 
be printed in the Record.

   Introductory Statement--``Office of National Drug Control Policy 
                     Reauthorization Act of 2006''

       Mr. President, to reiterate I seek recognition today to 
     introduce the ``Office of National Drug Control Policy 
     Reauthorization Act of 2006'' and ask for the support of my 
     colleagues for this important legislation concerning the war 
     on illegal drugs.
       This bill re-authorizes the Office of National Drug Control 
     Policy--(``ONDCP'')--the Administration's office responsible 
     for establishing policy and objectives to reduce illicit drug 
     use, manufacturing, and trafficking, drug-related crime and 
     violence, and drug-related health consequences. Senators 
     Biden, Hatch and Grassley have worked diligently with me in 
     crafting this bill to provide authorization for ONDCP and its 
     programs, and maintain a high level of Congressional 
     oversight. I appreciate their consistent leadership.
       Since 2001, according to ONDCP, the combined use of illicit 
     drugs by 8th, 10th, and 12th graders has decreased 19 
     percent. This amounts to roughly 700,000 students who are not 
     using drugs. ONDCP has prepared a National Drug Control 
     Strategy that seeks to build on this progress and attain the 
     President's goal of a 25 percent reduction in 5 years. I want 
     to see the President's 25 percent reduction goal become a 
     reality, and this bill will assist the Administration meet 
     this objective.
       Drug use and abuse--particularly among our youth--has a 
     profoundly negative impact that spreads among our society 
     like ripples made in water. Drug use leads to increased crime 
     and violence, lowers educational standards, and has a 
     destructive impact on the family unit. We need to take 
     affirmative steps to provide the Executive Branch with the 
     tools it needs to confront the problem of drugs and the 
     negative consequences that follow from their abuse. This bill 
     seeks to do just that.
       We have seen over the last few years an epidemic involving 
     the abuse of methamphetamine--a highly addictive drug that 
     has been particularly damaging to our youth. This is a drug 
     that can be cooked in low-tech labs with ingredients that can 
     be purchased at most convenience stores. As a result, we 
     included in the USA Patriot Act--which was recently signed 
     into law--provisions that: (1) restrict the sale and 
     distribution of chemical ingredients that make 
     methamphetamine; (2 ) provides critical resources to state 
     and local law enforcement; and (3) enhances international law 
     enforcement of methamphetamine trafficking. Congress 
     affirmatively responded to this problem and acted by passing 
     the Combat Meth Act. We seek to continue these efforts with 
     this legislation.
       Once again, the President's 2007 budget seeks to shift 
     funding of High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA's) 
     from ONDCP to the Department of Justice as a separate entity 
     within the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force--
     (OCDETF). The HIDTA program was created by Congress to exist 
     within ONDCP, and has successfully grown from 5 HIDTA's in 
     1990 to 28 HIDTA's that currently exist across the United 
     States. HIDTA's enhance and coordinate drug control efforts 
     among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, and 
     provides agencies with equipment, technology, and additional 
     resources to combat drug trafficking and their harmful 
     consequences in critical regions of the United States. This 
     bill keeps the HIDTA program within ONDCP where Congress 
     intended it to remain.
       I am hopeful the provisions in this bill meet the goals set 
     by the President and reduce the overall use and abuse of 
     illegal drugs in our country.
                                 ______