[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 129 (Friday, September 21, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S6631]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 578--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF RED RIBBON 
                               WEEK, 2012

  Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Moran, and Mr. 
Begich) submitted the following resolution; which was:

                              S. Res. 578

       Whereas the Red Ribbon Campaign was established to 
     commemorate the service of Enrique ``Kiki'' Camarena, a 
     special agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration for 11 
     years who was murdered in the line of duty in 1985 while 
     engaged in the battle against illicit drugs;
       Whereas the Red Ribbon Campaign was established by the 
     National Family Partnership to preserve the memory of Special 
     Agent Camarena and further the cause for which he gave his 
     life;
       Whereas the Red Ribbon Campaign has been nationally 
     recognized since 1988 and is now the oldest and largest drug 
     prevention program in the United States, reaching millions of 
     young people each year during Red Ribbon Week;
       Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration, established in 
     1973, aggressively targets organizations involved in the 
     growing, manufacturing, and distribution of controlled 
     substances and has been a steadfast partner in commemorating 
     Red Ribbon Week;
       Whereas the Governors and attorneys general of the States, 
     the National Family Partnership, Parent Teacher Associations, 
     Boys and Girls Clubs of America, PRIDE Youth Programs, Young 
     Marines, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and hundreds of 
     other organizations throughout the United States annually 
     celebrate Red Ribbon Week during the period of October 23 
     through October 31;
       Whereas the objective of Red Ribbon Week is to promote the 
     creation of drug-free communities through drug prevention 
     efforts, education, parental involvement, and community-wide 
     support;
       Whereas drug abuse is one of the major challenges that the 
     United States faces in securing a safe and healthy future for 
     families in the United States;
       Whereas drug abuse and alcohol abuse contribute to domestic 
     violence and sexual assault and place the lives of children 
     at risk;
       Whereas emerging drug threats and growing epidemics demand 
     attention, with a particular focus on prescription 
     medications, the second most abused drug by young people in 
     the United States, and synthetic drugs;
       Whereas, since the majority of teenagers abusing 
     prescription medications get the medications from family, 
     friends, and home medicine cabinets, the Drug Enforcement 
     Administration will host a National Take Back Day on 
     September 29, 2012, for the public to safely dispose of 
     unused or expired prescription medications that can lead to 
     accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse;
       Whereas synthetic marijuana, also known as ``K2'' or 
     ``Spice'', has become especially popular, particularly among 
     teenagers and young adults, and in 2011 poison centers across 
     the United States responded to about 6,960 calls related to 
     synthetic marijuana, up from approximately 2,900 calls in 
     2010;
       Whereas Congress recently enacted the Food and Drug 
     Administration Safety and Innovation Act (Public Law 112-144; 
     126 Stat. 993), which adds 26 synthetic drugs to the 
     Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), including 
     the drugs commonly found in products marketed as K2, Spice, 
     and bath salts; and
       Whereas parents, young people, schools, businesses, law 
     enforcement agencies, religious institutions, service 
     organizations, senior citizens, medical and military 
     personnel, sports teams, and individuals throughout the 
     United States will demonstrate their commitment to healthy, 
     productive, and drug-free lifestyles by wearing and 
     displaying red ribbons during the week-long celebration of 
     Red Ribbon Week: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of Red Ribbon Week, 2012;
       (2) encourages children and teenagers to choose to live 
     drug-free lives; and
       (3) encourages the people of the United States--
       (A) to promote the creation of drug-free communities; and
       (B) to participate in drug prevention activities to show 
     support for healthy, productive, and drug-free lifestyles.

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