[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Pages 20217-20218]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                        FAST PITCH IS FOUL BALL

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, the administration is at it again. Late 
last month, it issued its findings from the latest Household Survey on 
drug use in America. You would have to look fast to find anything about 
it. As usual, the administration chose to release the information when 
no one was looking. And as usual, they did this hoping no one would 
notice. Given that the majority of the press did not bother to do more 
than rephrase the press release from the Department of Health and Human 
Services, it would be hard to figure out just what the 300-odd page 
report actually said anyway. But neither the press release nor the news 
accounts do justice to what is not happening. What is not happening is 
the fact that the drug use picture is not getting any better.
  When it comes to drugs, the administration just can't say it 
straight.
  It continues the trend of its incumbency of labeling bad news or good 
news and counting on the press to not look beyond the hype. In 
releasing the latest data, Secretary Shalala says that the report shows 
the continuing downward trend in drug use. She remarked at the press 
conference that, ``We've not only turned the corner--we're heading for 
home plate,''--suggesting that the report shows that the administration 
has hit a home run.
  I'm not sure at which game Secretary Shalala is playing, but the most 
generous interpretation is that she clearly is not reading her own 
reports or her staff is not telling her what's in them. She needs new 
glasses or new staff. Despite this happy talk, even HHS's own press 
release notes that, ``Illicit drug use among the overall population 12 
and older remained flat.'' That may be a home run down at HHS but in 
plain English that means ``no change.'' In my book, ``flat'' does not 
mean continuing a downward trend.
  I suppose in an election year ``no change'' in how many people are 
using drugs is a sign of success. Least ways, that's how this 
administration sees it. Or, wants you and me to see it. But when you 
actually get down into the numbers, this ``success'' is not all it 
appears to be. It shares something with the Cheshire cat--it disappears 
when you look at it. In true Alice in Wonderland logic, down is not 
always not up. To follow Shalala's analogy with baseball, what we have 
here is not a home run but the runner rounding the bases on a foul 
ball.
  Before I get to actual numbers, let me say something on background 
about this year's report. The thing to note is that the administration 
has changed the methodology for how it collects data for the report. 
Why is that important? Here's what the report says: ``Because of the 
differences in methodology and impact of the new survey design on data 
collection, only limited comparisons can be made between data from the 
1999 survey and data from surveys prior to 1999.''
  Now, in those years since 1993, that data show dramatic increases in 
drug use on this administration's watch. During each of those years, 
however, the administration tried to put a ``spin'' on the information, 
calling bad news good news. Instead of doing that any more, they have 
decided to play hide and seek with the information. Don't like the 
results? Well . . . Change the way you figure them and declare success. 
As with the Cheshire cat, pretty soon all you're left with is the 
smile. Even this little bit of sleight of hand, however, does not 
wholly work.
  It's really very simple. There has been no significant change for the 
better in the rate of past month drug use on this administration's 
watch. More seniors graduating from high school today report using 
drugs than in any year since 1975. Almost 55 percent of high school 
seniors now report using an illegal drug before graduation.
  Use of heroin among young people is on the rise. We are in the midst 
of a methamphetamine epidemic. If reports are accurate, we are awash in 
Ecstasy and its use among the young is accelerating. The rate of 
illicit drug use has increased in six out of the last seven years.
  The administration tries to hide this fact by reporting on a decline 
of use among 12-17-year-olds in hopes no one will notice an increase 
among 18-25-year-olds. But this is a statistical game. Although there 
is an unfortunate trend in the onset of drug use at earlier ages, onset 
begins most typically among 15-18-year-olds. By including the earlier 
years in the count, you disguise the true rate of increase.
  Even allowing for the moment that the administration spin is true, 
however, does not change the fact that youthful use of drugs continues 
spiraling upwards.
  Today's use levels are 70 percent higher than when this 
administration took office. The numbers are not getting better. Yet, we 
have another report and another press release touting victory. This is 
shameful and to call it anything else is a sham.
  And just as bad, fewer kids are reporting that using illicit drugs is 
dangerous--a sure sign of future problems. Especially at a time when we 
have a well-monied, aggressive legalization campaign that this 
administration has done little to counter. And this despite a $200 
million-a-year ad campaign aimed at exactly these age groups that this 
administration touts as a success. The most optimistic thing a recent 
GAO report had to say about this much-troubled effort is the hope that 
it might do better.
  The administration also continues the game of trying to hide its 
record by

[[Page 20218]]

lumping the increasing use figures on its watch with the decreasing use 
figures in earlier administrations. I have complained repeatedly about 
this gimmick. This is just plain deception.
  Mr. President, I am often critical of this administration's happy-go-
lucky ways when it comes to drug policy. The administration is like the 
grasshopper in the old fable. It's out there fiddling around when it 
ought to be working. That said, I do not mean this criticism to detract 
from the fine work done by the many men and women in our law 
enforcement agencies. These fine people risk their lives every day to 
do important and difficult work on behalf of the public.
  I want to take a moment to highlight some of the achievements and 
invaluable service provided to this nation by the men and women of the 
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Customs Service, and 
the U.S. Coast Guard. As chairman of the Senate Caucus on International 
Narcotics Control, I would like to express my thanks and make known the 
tremendous pride that I think we should all have in the good people in 
these agencies.
  The men and women of the DEA, Customs, and the Coast Guard are 
dedicated to the protection of the United States and to ensuring the 
safety of our children and our lives from the devastating affects of 
the drug trade. They are called on daily to place their lives in harm's 
way in an effort to keep our nation secure. When they are boarding 
smuggler's vessels on the seas. When they stop terrorists at the 
border. When they investigate narcotics trafficking organizations 
around the globe. When they dismantle clandestine methamphetamine labs, 
engage in undercover operations, safeguard our ports of entry, or shut 
down ecstasy peddling night clubs, these fine people risk their lives 
and well being for all of us.
  DEA efforts this year include Operation Mountain Express, which 
arrested 140 individuals in 8 cities, seized $8 million and 10 metric 
tons of pseudoephedrine tablets, which could have produced 
approximately 18,000 pounds of methamphetamine. In addition, DEA's 
Operation Tar Pit, in cooperation with the FBI, resulted in nearly 200 
arrests in 12 cities and the seizure of 41 pounds of heroin. The heroin 
ring they busted was peddling dope to kids, many of these kids died. 
DEA, in conjunction with State and local law enforcement, has also 
aggressively dismantled hundreds of clandestine methamphetamine labs 
that poison our urban and rural communities.
  The United States Customs Service has seized over 9,000,000 Ecstasy 
tablets in the last 10 months. Ecstasy is an emerging problem that 
affects not only our large cities but many rural areas, including my 
home State of Iowa. In addition, their Miami River operations have 
resulted in the seizure of 18 vessels, mostly arriving from Haiti, and 
over 7,000 pounds of cocaine--a small portion of the over 122,000 
pounds of cocaine seized this fiscal year. Finally, the Customs Service 
has seized over 1 million pounds of marijuana and over 2,000 pounds of 
heroin as well, often in very risky situations.
  Coast Guard successes this year include a record-breaking seizure 
total of over 123,000 pounds of cocaine, including many major cases in 
the Eastern Pacific. This effort went forward even while still 
interdicting over 4,000 illegal alien migrants bound for U.S. shores. 
In addition, the deployment of two specially equipped interdiction 
helicopters in Operation New Frontier had an unprecedented success rate 
of six seized go-fast vessels in six attempts.
  Finally, as announced last month, a joint DEA and Customs 
investigation--supported by the Coast Guard and Department of Defense--
concluded a 2-year multinational case against a Colombian drug 
transportation organization. The result was the arrest of 43 suspects 
and the seizure of nearly 25 tons of cocaine, with a retail street 
value of $1 billion. Operation Journey targeted an organization that 
used large commercial vessels to haul multi-ton loads of cocaine. This 
organization may have shipped a total of 68 tons of cocaine to 12 
countries in Europe and North America.
  I believe we should all be proud of the jobs these folks do on our 
behalf.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Will the Senator yield for a comment on his previous 
remarks?
  Mr. GRASSLEY. I am happy to yield to the Senator.
  Mr. SESSIONS. I thank Senator Grassley for speaking forthrightly and 
with integrity. He chairs our drug caucus in the Senate. He personally 
travels his State and has led efforts against methamphetamines, 
Ecstacy, and other drugs. He understands those issues clearly.
  He is correct; there is too much spin. These drugs do not justify the 
positive spin being put on them. During the administrations of 
Presidents Bush and Reagan, I served as a Federal prosecutor. According 
to the University of Michigan Authoritative Study of Drug Use Among 
High School Students, drug use fell every single year for 12 
consecutive years; it jumped after this administration took office. 
They have, in fact, made a number of mistakes that have undermined the 
progress made.
  I appreciate serving with Senator Grassley on the drug caucus and in 
the Judiciary Committee where we have discussed these issues.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. I thank the Senator from Alabama for the support he has 
given to the drug caucus. Most importantly, he is a regular attender of 
our meetings and hearings. His support and interest in this issue, 
particularly coming from his background as a U.S. attorney, have been 
very helpful to the work of the drug caucus as well. I thank him for 
that.

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