[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 163 (Friday, October 14, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1049-E1050]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING NATIONAL RED RIBBON WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHRIS PAPPAS

                            of new hampshire

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 14, 2022

  Mr. PAPPAS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National 
Red Ribbon Week. In 1988, the National Family Partnership dedicated the 
week of October 23-31 to raising awareness about the dangers of drug 
use and the harm that drug trafficking brings to our communities. For 
the past 34 years the NFP has continued their work, raising awareness 
for families and schools in neighborhoods across New Hampshire.
  For all too many New Hampshire families--including mine--the nation's 
drug crisis is deeply personal. Many of us have lost neighbors, 
friends, and loved ones to overdoses and the harmful effects of drug 
use in recent years. We have learned that the pain of addiction hurts 
not just one member of our community, but us all.
  As the representative for New Hampshire's First Congressional 
District, I remain firmly committed to improving the drug-detection 
capabilities of our law enforcement officials and

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will not stop calling for the resources to help those struggling with 
addiction to lead productive, healthy lifestyles. This is why I was 
proud to introduce the Dark Web Interdiction Act of 2022 as well as the 
National ACERT Grant Program Authorization Act. These bills work to 
strengthen our law enforcement's ability to go after those trafficking 
drugs on the dark web, as well as providing funding for law enforcement 
and service agencies to support children who have experienced a 
traumatic event, like witnessing a drug overdose by a loved one, to 
support their wellbeing and future success in life.
  The mission of Red Ribbon Week to bring these issues into the light 
and to educate our youth about the dangers of drugs is critical to 
begin healing our state and our country. I am honored to work with the 
many New Hampshire partners taking on this challenge, including our 
healthcare and recovery workers, Drug Free Communities, First 
Responders, and law enforcement from the local state and federal level 
including the DEA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) 
program. Each partner carries on the mission to stop illicit substances 
from harming our communities, while never giving up hope for those in 
recovery.
  On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's First Congressional 
District, I want to thank the National Family Partnership and the Drug 
Enforcement Agency for your work on this issue and hope my fellow 
Granite Staters will join me in recognizing the 2022 National Red 
Ribbon Week.

                          ____________________