[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 183 (Tuesday, October 19, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H5650-H5651]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DRUG-FREE COMMUNITIES PANDEMIC RELIEF ACT
Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 654) to provide the Administrator of the Drug-Free
Communities Support Program the authority to waive the Federal fund
limitation for the Drug-Free Communities Support Program, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 654
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Drug-Free Communities
Pandemic Relief Act''.
SEC. 2. WAIVER OF FEDERAL FUND LIMITATION FOR THE DRUG-FREE
COMMUNITIES SUPPORT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), if the
Administrator of the Drug-Free Communities Support Program
determines that, as a result of the public health emergency
declared pursuant to section 319 of the Public Health Service
Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) as a result of COVID-19, an eligible
coalition is unable to raise the amount of non-Federal funds,
including in-kind contributions, agreed to be raised by the
coalition for a fiscal year under an agreement entered into
with the Administrator pursuant to paragraph (1)(A) or (3) of
section 1032(b) of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 (21 U.S.C.
1532(b)), the Administrator may, notwithstanding such
paragraphs, provide to the eligible coalition the grant or
renewal grant, as applicable, for that fiscal year in an
amount--
(1) with respect to an initial grant or renewal grant
described under paragraph (1)(A) or (3)(A) of such section,
that exceeds the amount of non-Federal funds raised by the
eligible coalition, including in-kind contributions, for that
fiscal year;
(2) with respect to a renewal grant described under
paragraph (3)(D)(i) of such section, that exceeds 125 percent
of the amount of non-Federal funds raised by the eligible
coalition, including in-kind contributions, for that fiscal
year; and
(3) with respect to a renewal grant described under
paragraph (3)(D)(ii) of such section, that exceeds 150
percent of the amount of non-Federal funds raised by the
eligible coalition, including in-kind contributions, for that
fiscal year.
(b) Limitation.--The Administrator may not provide a grant
or renewal grant to an eligible coalition in an amount
exceeding the amount of funds initially agreed to be provided
by the Administrator under the applicable agreement.
SEC. 3. RAISING CAP ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES UNDER ANTI-
DRUG ABUSE ACT OF 1988.
Section 1024(b) of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 (21
U.S.C. 1524(b)) is amended by striking ``8 percent'' and
inserting ``12 percent''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
General Leave
Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H.R. 654.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 654, the Drug-Free
Communities Pandemic Relief Act.
Since 1998, the Drug-Free Communities Program has been a pillar of
our Nation's drug, alcohol, and tobacco prevention efforts.
The program is designed with community-based approaches in mind to
reach at-risk communities, including racial and ethnic minorities and
the LGBTQ community. It is estimated that one in five Americans live in
a community with a Drug-Free Communities Coalition, and over 300,000
partners are engaged in prevention efforts.
Like many mission-driven, community-service organizations, Drug-Free
Communities Coalitions have faced unprecedented challenges during the
COVID-19 pandemic. Many have had trouble sustaining their programming
amid increasing rates of substance use. This is in part due to an
inability to meet the matching fund requirements required of those
receiving Drug-Free Communities grants.
H.R. 654 would allow the Drug-Free Communities Coalitions to seek
[[Page H5651]]
matching fund waivers and resume their work to enhance drug, alcohol,
and tobacco prevention efforts. The legislation also allows additional
funds to be made available for expanded technical assistance by the
Drug-Free Communities Program, as requested in the administration's
fiscal year 2022 budget. This additional support would provide critical
resources to the Drug-Free Communities Coalitions facing the greatest
challenges posed by the pandemic.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 654, a bipartisan bill that will
allow important work to continue in our communities.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 654, the Drug-Free
Communities Pandemic Relief Act, which was introduced by
Representatives Joyce and Kilmer.
The Drug-Free Communities Support Program funds community-based
coalitions that work to prevent youth substance use disorders. Their
work at the local level is important, especially as we sadly saw a
record in overdose deaths last year.
We all know that the economic consequences of the pandemic have
impacted many sectors, and that includes the sustainability of the
Drug-Free Communities Support Program. Under current law, coalitions
that receive Federal grants must match part of the funding with non-
Federal funds. But the economic consequences of the pandemic have left
many coalitions struggling to meet the matching requirement.
H.R. 654 temporarily permits the Office of National Drug Control
Policy to waive the local matching requirement if a coalition is unable
to fulfill this requirement due to the pandemic. Providing targeted
relief for these coalitions will help them continue to implement local
strategies to address the increases in substance use disorders and
overdose deaths in our communities.
I thank Representatives Joyce and Kilmer for leading the support
initiative, and I urge a ``yes'' vote.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time
Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Ohio (Mr. Joyce), who is the primary sponsor of this piece of
legislation.
Mr. JOYCE of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill,
the Drug-Free Communities Pandemic Relief Act.
The unfortunate reality is that while the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged
our Nation last year, so did the opioid crisis.
More than 93,000 overdose deaths were reported in 2020.
Meanwhile, enough fentanyl has been seized at our southern border
this year to kill the entire U.S. population seven times over.
And just the other week, the DEA warned that counterfeit pills laced
with this deadly synthetic opioid are spreading across all 50 States.
These statistics are harrowing, and the stories of loss they cause
are heartbreaking. All of us have loved ones, friends, or neighbors in
our communities that have been impacted.
As a former Geauga County prosecutor, I saw firsthand how addiction
has devastated communities in northeast Ohio and know how important it
is to support local efforts that reduce and prevent youth drug use.
That is why I introduced the Drug-Free Communities Pandemic Relief
Act with my friend and colleague on the other side of the aisle,
Congressman Kilmer.
Recognizing that local problems need local solutions, the Drug-Free
Communities Program provides funding to local coalitions that engage
multiple sectors of their communities in order to reduce and prevent
substance abuse disorder among younger Americans.
No other drug prevention program has consistently achieved the same
reduction in youth drug use than the Drug-Free Communities Program has.
However, hundreds of coalitions have been unable to meet the
program's local matching requirements due to financial difficulties
caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
My bipartisan legislation will address that challenge and ensure
these coalitions have the resources and flexibility they need during
these difficult times to combat the crisis of addiction gripping our
country.
With more Americans dying from drug overdoses than ever before, it is
critical that we do everything we can to support and empower those
working on the front lines in our communities to reduce and prevent
addiction among our children.
I strongly urge all my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill today.
{time} 1630
Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I yield
myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, my friend from Ohio said it best. Local solutions to
community problems. It is a national problem. It is a statewide
problem. But it is happening in each community, and so local solutions
are part of the strategy moving forward. And giving these coalitions
the opportunity to participate in these grants as they have seen some
other funding and other resources dry up due to the pandemic, it is
something that is important for us to continue and move this forward. I
appreciate my friend from Ohio and my other good friend from Washington
State for moving this forward.
Madam Speaker, I urge its passage, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I urge support for this bill. It is very
important in terms of trying to promote these coalitions at a local
community level to prevent drug overuse.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 654, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion
are postponed.
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