[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Pages 23547-23548]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             CALVERT ALLIANCE AGAINST SUBSTANCE ABUSE, INC.

 Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I wish to pay tribute to the 
Calvert Alliance Against Substance Abuse, Inc., CAASA, a grassroots 
organization that has been dedicated to fighting alcohol and drug abuse 
in Calvert County since 1989.
  Since its inception fifteen years ago, CAASA has been working hard to 
establish a healthy, drug-free environment for the entire community. 
This grassroots organization meets the people where they are. CAASA 
encourages citizens to take an active role in preventing substance 
abuse through public awareness, education, treatment and law 
enforcement. Its programs benefit students in the classroom, families 
at home and individuals in the workplace.
  CAASA has consistently supported the expansion of school-based 
substance abuse prevention activities and programs to help abusers and 
their families achieve a drug-free lifestyle. It has also assisted 
businesses in promoting an alcohol and drug-free workplace. I believe 
that the best ideas come from the people. CAASA does just that--it 
awards grants to members of the community who approach them with new 
ideas. By working together with the people, CAASA is helping to 
strengthen our communities and fight the drug war right here in 
Maryland.
  Many of the programs that CAASA has sponsored have benefitted the 
youth of Calvert County, such as Project Graduation. Project Graduation 
is a drug-free and alcohol-free all night celebration for the 
graduating seniors from Calvert County's public high schools. Since the 
inception of this program, there have not been any drug or alcohol 
related motor vehicle incidents involving members of Calvert County's 
graduating classes on graduation night.

[[Page 23548]]

  This group has proven to be a critical part of our Nation's war on 
drugs by working locally in communities in Maryland. For this we owe 
them our graduate. I ask my Senate colleagues to join me today in 
recognizing the Calvert Alliance Against Substance Abuse, Inc. for 
showing the community how to ``choose life . . . not drugs.''

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