[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 18219]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                    LIEUTENANT COLONEL THOMAS J. LEE

  Mr. THURMOND. Madam President, I rise today to recognize the 
dedicated efforts and valuable contributions of Lieutenant Colonel 
Thomas (``Tom'') Lee of the National Guard Bureau Counterdrug 
Directorate.
  There are few more insidious domestic challenges to the safety, 
welfare, and security of the United States than illegal narcotics. 
Point to any border region of our nation and you will find criminal 
organizations smuggling every drug imaginable into America. Beyond 
being a highly addictive and destructive substance, drugs bring crime 
into every community through which they pass. Stemming the tide of 
illegal narcotics into the United States must always be a priority of 
the leaders of our nation.
  For a number of years, the National Guard has played a critical and 
significant role in battling the drug trade in America through a 
variety of efforts. Whether it has been flying air support, providing 
translators, operating x-ray machines, doing youth outreach, or any of 
the seemingly endless other operations they participate in, the 
soldiers and airmen of the National Guard have been aggressively 
involved in supporting the counterdrug operations of local, state, and 
federal law enforcement agencies throughout the United States.
  Though commissioned in the Field Artillery when he graduated from 
college, LTC Lee has significant experience in counterdrug operations. 
Over the past three-years, he has served as the Special Projects 
Officer in the Counterdrug Directorate, where he has worked closely 
with Members of Congress and their staffs on how the National Guard can 
help stop drug trafficking. As he has done in all his previous 
assignments, LTC Lee distinguished himself as an individual of 
selflessness who possesses a strong sense of service and an unflagging 
dedication to executing his duties to the best of his abilities.
  LTC Lee not only demonstrated an intimate knowledge of National Guard 
Counterdrug policy and operations, but of the broader efforts of 
federal and state governments. He always provided clear, concise, and 
timely information and he has been a true asset to the Guard and to the 
nation's counterdrug operations.
  I am confident that I speak for all my colleagues when I say that we 
are grateful and appreciative for the hard work of Lieutenant Colonel 
Lee during his tenure at the National Guard Bureau Counterdrug 
Directorate. He is a credit to the National Guard and he can be proud 
of both the record of accomplishment he has created and the high regard 
in which he is held. We wish him the best of luck in his new assignment 
and continued success in the years to come.

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