[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 58 (Friday, April 15, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E491]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN RECOGNITION OF TOM BOWERS

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. H. MORGAN GRIFFITH

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 15, 2016

  Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I submit these remarks in recognition of 
Tom Bowers, Commonwealth Attorney for Salem, Virginia, who today in a 
formal awards ceremony at Federal Bureau of Investigation Headquarters 
is receiving the Richmond FBI's 2015 Director's Community Leadership 
Award for his efforts to organize a Heroin Prevention Initiative in the 
Roanoke, Virginia area.
  According to the Washington Post, in the first three quarters of last 
year, 244 people in Virginia died of heroin overdoses. This is an 
increase from 239 deaths the year prior. More locally, in a study by 
the Roanoke Area Youth Substance Abuse Coalition of middle and high 
school students, one in 14 students admitted to using heroin.
  Regrettably, the growing epidemic of heroin use is a plague on 
communities throughout the United States. Addressing this nationwide 
problem will require expanded coordination and involvement by local, 
state, and federal governments as well as law enforcement agencies and 
health care professionals.
  I applaud Commonwealth Attorney Bowers and those working with him on 
the Heroin Prevention Initiative for their efforts to combat the heroin 
epidemic by bringing awareness to the pervasiveness of prescription 
drug and heroin use among youth in the Roanoke area and helping to 
alleviate damage to our community. Others involved in this initiative 
include the Roanoke Area Youth Substance Abuse Coalition, the 
Prevention Council of Roanoke County, the Virginia State Police, the 
City of Roanoke Police Department, the Vinton Police Department, and 
the Roanoke County Police Department.
  Congratulations to Commonwealth Attorney Bowers on being presented 
the Richmond FBI's 2015 Director's Community Leadership Award. I 
commend him and others on the front line of the ongoing fight against 
heroin and prescription drug abuse in our community.

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