[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 108 (Wednesday, September 6, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9036-S9037]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NOMINATION OF JAMES O'GARA
Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, prior to the August recess, the Senate sent
the nomination of James O'Gara to be the Deputy Director for Supply
Reduction at the Office of National Drug Control Policy back to the
White House for reconsideration. Mr. O'Gara's nomination was strongly
opposed by Senators on both sides of the aisle, which prevented it even
from being reported out
[[Page S9037]]
of the Judiciary Committee. Unfortunately, the White House has returned
Mr. O'Gara's nomination for confirmation. As such, I am using this
opportunity to, again, remind the President of the objections that law
enforcement and many Members of this body have to the policies and the
leadership at the Office of National Drug Control Policy. In so doing,
it is my hope that the administration will change course and develop
and implement strategies that will address the drug problems facing our
communities, such as the spread of methamphetamine.
More than 20 years ago I began working to create an Office of
National Drug Control Policy because I believed then, as I believe now,
that we needed a Cabinet-level official who would coordinate Federal
drug policy and be publicly accountable for developing and implementing
an effective national strategy. I believe the Office of National Drug
Control Policy is an important office, and I take matters related to it
very seriously.
When our current drug czar, John Walters, came for a vote before this
body in 2001, I opposed his nomination because I did not believe he was
the right man for the job.
Unfortunately, my fears have been borne out. During his tenure, John
Walters has been reticent to acknowledge the methamphetamine problem
that is plaguing small communities nationwide, preferring to focus
almost exclusively on marijuana. He recommended to the President that
the highly popular and highly effective High Intensity Drug Trafficking
Area Program, which funds drug enforcement task forces, be cut by 56
percent and relegated to the Department of Justice. And under his
leadership, the Office of National Drug Control Policy has essentially
walled itself off from consultation and dialogue with external drug
policy experts including treatment professionals, prevention
specialists, and State and local law enforcement officials.
Those are just a few of the many examples of Mr. Walters' missteps.
Under him, the office operates like an ivory tower rather than the
command center for our national drug control policy.
This past year, together with many of my Republican colleagues, I
fought to prevent James O'Gara--a colleague of Mr. Walters since 1989--
from becoming the Deputy Director for Supply Reduction. Together, they
have coauthored policy articles expressing their shared drug policy
views. Given the misgivings that many of us have about how Mr. Walters
has run the Office of National Drug Control Policy, I would likely have
a difficult time voting to give a promotion to any member of his inner
circle. But that is not the only reason why many of us opposed Mr.
O'Gara's nomination.
Perhaps most troubling is that Mr. O'Gara, who was nominated for a
position which has authority over international drug control, foreign
and domestic drug intelligence, and interdiction, does not have the
confidence of law enforcement.
In letters to Senator Specter and Senator Leahy expressing their
strong opposition to the O'Gara nomination, law enforcement has
expressed its strong opposition. The National Narcotics Officers
Association wrote that:
Mr. O'Gara lacks an operational understanding of a critical
issue involved in supply reduction, has no operational
background in supply reduction or drug control, and most
importantly is not trusted by his constituents in the drug
enforcement, prevention and treatment fields. All of this
makes him unqualified and unable to effectively lead the
coordination of supply reduction initiatives in accordance
with the National Drug Control Strategy.
The letter from the HIDTA Directors states that:
Based on our collective 1,000+ years of law enforcement
experience, we believe Mr. O'Gara lacks the qualifications
and abilities necessary to coordinate our nation's supply
reduction initiatives effectively. We believe his lack of
experience and inability and/or unwillingness to collaborate
with a variety of stakeholders has resulted in the
formulation of three National Drug Control Strategy documents
that do not provide adequate guidance to law enforcement,
treatment, and prevention professionals; lack specific and
measurable objectives; and insufficiently address some of the
most pressing drug threats facing our country today,
including methamphetamine.
By returning this nomination, it is my hope--together with many of my
Republican colleagues--that the administration will reconsider and
rescind this nomination.
State and local law enforcement accounts for more than 90% of drug-
related arrests. During a time when assistance for State and local law
enforcement has been slashed, it is essential that the leadership of
the Office of National Drug Control Policy have the confidence of local
officials. Mr. O'Gara lacks this support. Moreover, Mr. Walters and Mr.
O'Gara have alienated State and local law enforcement, drug prevention
and treatment professionals, as well as many members of Congress.
As the scourge of methamphetamine continues to ravage middle America,
it is essential that the policies adopted and the personnel appointed
by the administration have the confidence of the drug enforcement
community. President Bush could take a huge step in this direction by
rescinding the nomination of Mr. O'Gara and consulting with local law
enforcement to appoint an individual who could win the bipartisan
support of the Senate.
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