[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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