[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 27278]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   IN CELEBRATION OF RED RIBBON WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BILL McCOLLUM

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 27, 1999

  Mr. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, February 7, 1985, Enrique 
``Kiki'' Camarena stashed his DEA badge and his service revolver in his 
desk drawer and headed for a lunch date with his wife. Kiki, a Drug 
Enforcement Administration agent, had been in Mexico for 4\1/2\ years 
on the trail of Mexico's marijuana and cocaine barons. He was due to be 
reassigned in three weeks, having come dangerously close to unlocking a 
multibillion-dollar drug pipeline, which he suspected extended in the 
highest reaches of the Mexican army, police and government.
  As Kiki was about to get into the cab of his truck, five men appeared 
and shoved him into a car, threw a jacket over Kiki's head and sped 
away. Kiki Camarena's body was found 1 month later in a shallow grave 
70 miles from Michoachan, Mexico. He had been tortured, beaten and 
brutally murdered.
  This week, Oct. 23-31, we celebrate Red Ribbon Week. Red Ribbon Week 
is a time to commemorate the death of Kiki Camarena and for communities 
to come together to reinforce a drug-free message. The red ribbon, 
which I am wearing, has become a symbol to eliminate the demand for 
drugs, and the National Family Partnership's Red Ribbon Campaign is 
designed to create community awareness concerning drugs, alcohol, and 
tobacco.
  It is estimated that 80 million people participate annually in Red 
Ribbon Week. In order for the Red Ribbon Week message to be effective 
in communities, it must be recognized and reinforced across as many 
sectors of the community as possible--schools, businesses, parents, 
churches, law enforcement, doctors, government, social service 
organizations, etc. Red Ribbon Week provides an important opportunity 
for everyone in the community to use their unique skills and talents to 
deliver a drug-free message.
  All of us want to make our communities healthier, safer and drug free 
for our children to grow up in. During this week may we join together 
and remember those officials like Kiki Camarena who have given their 
lives in order to fight the war on drugs. And may we mobilize our 
communities to prevent problem behaviors before they start, so that we 
help create a brighter, healthier and drug-free future for our children 
and for the 21st century.

                          ____________________