[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 18, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S5070]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     SENATE RESOLUTION 578--HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE DRUG 
    ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ON THE 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AGENCY

  Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself and Mrs. Feinstein) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 578

       Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration (referred to in 
     this preamble as the ``DEA'') was--
       (1) established by an Executive order on July 1, 1973; and
       (2) given the responsibility to coordinate all activities 
     of the Federal Government directly related to the enforcement 
     of the drug laws of the United States;
       Whereas the more than 8,900 men and women of the DEA, 
     including special agents, intelligence analysts, diversion 
     investigators, program analysts, forensic chemists, 
     attorneys, and administrative support staff, as well as more 
     than 2,700 task force officers and hundreds of vetted foreign 
     drug law enforcement officers--
       (1) serve the United States with courage; and
       (2) help protect the people of the United States from drug 
     trafficking, drug abuse, and related violence;
       Whereas, during the 45 years since the establishment of the 
     DEA, the agency has targeted and brought to justice numerous 
     criminals from around the world;
       Whereas, throughout the 45-year history of the DEA, the 
     agency has continually adapted to evolving trends of drug 
     trafficking organizations by targeting individuals involved 
     in the manufacturing, distribution, and sale of drugs, 
     including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, 
     ecstasy, controlled prescription drugs, and new psychoactive 
     substances;
       Whereas, during the past decade, DEA special agents--
       (1) seized--
          (A) more than 65,000 kilograms of heroin;
          (B) 1,240,000 kilograms of cocaine;
          (C) 3,240,000 kilograms of marijuana;
          (D) more than 191,000 kilograms of methamphetamine; and
          (E) more than 23,000,000 dosage units of controlled 
     prescription drugs; and
       (2) identified more than 600 new psychoactive substances, 
     including controlled substance analogues;
       Whereas the DEA has deployed enforcement and regulatory 
     tools and strategies to address the threat posed by new 
     psychoactive substances, including controlled substance 
     analogues, which--
       (1) mimic the effects of known licit and illicit controlled 
     substances, including fentanyl; and
       (2) are largely responsible for driving the opioid epidemic 
     that claimed the lives of more than 42,000 individuals in the 
     United States in 2016;
       Whereas, with 91 foreign offices located in 70 countries, 
     the DEA has the largest international presence of any Federal 
     law enforcement agency, facilitating--
       (1) close collaboration with international partners around 
     the world, including in the Republic of Colombia, the United 
     Mexican States, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and the 
     People's Republic of China, through information-sharing, 
     training, and technology; and
       (2) the provision of resources that have resulted in the 
     disruption or dismantling of 300 priority target drug 
     trafficking organizations in the Republic of Colombia, 226 in 
     the United Mexican States, 53 in the Islamic Republic of 
     Afghanistan, and 45 in the People's Republic of China;
       Whereas, throughout the history of the DEA, employees and 
     members of the agency's task forces have sacrificed their 
     lives in the line of duty, including Emir Benitez, Gerald 
     Sawyer, Leslie S. Grosso, Nickolas Fragos, Mary M. Keehan, 
     Charles H. Mann, Anna Y. Mounger, Anna J. Pope, Martha D. 
     Skeels, Mary P. Sullivan, Larry D. Wallace, Ralph N. Shaw, 
     James T. Lunn, Octavio Gonzalez, Francis J. Miller, Robert C. 
     Lightfoot, Thomas J. Devine, Larry N. Carwell, Marcellus 
     Ward, Enrique S. Camarena, James A. Avant, Charles M. 
     Bassing, Kevin L. Brosch, Susan M. Hoefler, William Ramos, 
     Raymond J. Stastny, Arthur L. Cash, Terry W. McNett, George 
     M. Montoya, Paul S. Seema, Everett E. Hatcher, Rickie C. 
     Finley, Joseph T. Aversa, Wallie Howard, Jr., Eugene T. 
     McCarthy, Alan H. Winn, George D. Althouse, Becky L. 
     Dwojeski, Stephen J. Strehl, Richard E. Fass, Frank 
     Fernandez, Jr., Jay W. Seale, Meredith Thompson, Juan C. 
     Vars, Frank S. Wallace, Jr., Shelly D. Bland, Rona L. Chafey, 
     Carrol June Fields, Carrie A. Lenz, Kenneth G. McCullough, 
     Shaun E. Curl, Larry Steilen, Royce D. Tramel, Alice Faye 
     Hall-Walton, Elton Lee Armstead, Terry Loftus, Donald C. 
     Ware, Jay Balchunas, Thomas J. Byrne, Jr., Samuel Hicks, 
     Forrest N. Leamon, Chad L. Michael, Michael E. Weston, James 
     Terry Watson, and Brent L. Hanger; and
       Whereas many other DEA employees and task force officers 
     have been wounded or injured in the line of duty, including 
     14 who have received the DEA Purple Heart Award: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the Drug Enforcement Administration on 
     the occasion of its 45th anniversary;
       (2) honors the heroic sacrifice of the employees of the 
     agency who have sacrificed their lives or who have been 
     wounded or injured in the service of the United States; and
       (3) gives heartfelt thanks to all the men and women of the 
     Drug Enforcement Administration for their past and continued 
     efforts to protect the people of the United States from the 
     dangers of drug abuse.

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