[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 163 (Thursday, October 27, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1957]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  ON THE OCCASION OF THE TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TROY COMMUNITY 
                               COALITION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GARY C. PETERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 27, 2011

  Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on the auspicious occasion of 
the Troy Community Coalition's twentieth year of service to the 
residents of Troy to recognize the profound impact of its members on 
efforts of communities across the Nation to combat and prevent 
substance abuse.
  Born out of grass roots organizing by residents concerned with the 
rising incidence of underage drinking, the Troy Community Coalition, 
TCC, and its sister coalitions across the country have become the chief 
advocates in promoting the importance of preventing substance abuse. 
Like many of its younger counterparts, when the TCC was organized in 
1991, its members focused on the need to educate area residents on the 
deleterious effects of substance abuse on their community. As the TCC 
grew, it assembled a broad alliance of community stakeholders and 
gradually shifted its mission from education to changing the 
environment and public policy of Troy to prevent substance abuse.
  As one of the first community coalitions, the TCC has been a model 
for coalitions across the country. Thanks to the advocacy of its 
members, in 1998 federal legislation was passed creating the Drug Free 
Communities program, which provides important resources to seed 
developing coalitions. Recognizing the innovation and knowledge base 
created by the TCC, its Executive Director at the time, Ms. Mary Ann 
Solberg, was tapped to be Deputy Director of the Executive Office of 
National Drug Control Policy in 2002.
  Being a model coalition, the TCC has been the originator of many 
novel and innovative programs that have been implemented by its sister 
coalitions. The TCC's staff has even been tapped by the Community Anti-
Drug Coalitions of America, a national advocacy group, to provide 
instruction to coalitions from around the country. Locally, the TCC has 
also gone on to mentor other area coalitions that are now recipients of 
Drug Free Communities resources.
  Mr. Speaker, as families across my state of Michigan and the Nation 
feel the increasing pressures of our current economic environment, the 
work of community coalitions, like the TCC has become increasingly 
important to prevent individuals in crisis from turning to illicit 
substances. The TCC regularly engages thousands of members in the Troy 
community in activities which promote the strength of families and mold 
our youth into independent leaders of their generations. I congratulate 
the Troy Community Coalition and its members on twenty years of success 
in the fight to save the lives of youth across our community and I know 
its members will continue to lead the national dialogue in this 
important endeavor.

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