[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 67 (Thursday, May 25, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S5259]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 495--DESIGNATING JUNE 8, 2006, AS THE DAY OF A 
                    NATIONAL VIGIL FOR LOST PROMISE

  Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Mr. Biden, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Specter, Mr. 
Durbin, Mr. Talent, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Dodd, and Ms. Murkowski) submitted 
the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 495

       Whereas over 26,000 citizens die from the effects of drug 
     abuse each year;
       Whereas the damage from drugs is not limited to drug 
     abusers, the collateral damage from drugs is enormous, and 
     drug abuse costs society over $60,000,000,000 in social costs 
     and lost productivity;
       Whereas drugs rob users, their families, and all the people 
     of the United States of dreams, promises, ambitions, talents, 
     and lives;
       Whereas drug abuse affects millions of families in the 
     United States;
       Whereas the stigma of drug abuse and the cloak of denial 
     keep many individuals and families from dealing with the 
     impact of drugs;
       Whereas many friends and families are ashamed to 
     acknowledge the death of their loved ones caused by drug 
     abuse;
       Whereas all the people of the United States can benefit 
     from illuminating the problem of drug abuse and its impact on 
     families, communities, and society;
       Whereas the futures of thousands of youth of the United 
     States have been cut short because of drug abuse, including 
     the life of--
       (1) Irma Perez, who suffered and died of an Ecstasy 
     overdose at age 14;
       (2) David Manlove, who wanted to be a doctor, but died from 
     inhalant abuse at age 16;
       (3) David Pease, an articulate debater, who died of a 
     heroin overdose at age 23;
       (4) Ian Eaccarino, a college student who died of a heroin 
     overdose at age 20;
       (5) Jason Surks, who was studying to be a pharmacist, but 
     died of prescription drug abuse at age 19;
       (6) Kelley McEnery Baker, who died of an overdose of 
     Ecstasy at age 23;
       (7) Ryan Haight, who died of an overdose of prescription 
     drugs he had purchased over the Internet at age 18; and
       (8) Taylor Hooton, a high school baseball star whose life 
     was cut short by steroids at age 16;
       Whereas these deaths represent only a small sample of the 
     lost promise that drug abuse has cost the future of the 
     United States;
       Whereas law enforcement, public health and research 
     organizations, community coalitions, drug prevention outreach 
     organizations, individual parents, siblings, friends, and 
     concerned citizens are joining together on June 8, 2006, in a 
     Vigil for Lost Promise, to call public attention to the 
     tremendous promise which has been lost with the deaths of 
     those affected by drugs: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates June 8, 2006, as the day of a National Vigil 
     for Lost Promise; and
       (2) encourages all young people to choose to live a drug-
     free life;
       (3) encourages all people of the United States to work to 
     stop drug abuse before it starts and remain vigilant against 
     the far reaching loss of promise caused by deaths from drug 
     abuse;
       (4) encourages all citizens of the United States to 
     remember the lost promise of youth caused by drug abuse on 
     this day.

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