[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 28056]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




IN HONOR OF THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GREATER SPOKANE SUBSTANCE ABUSE 
                                COUNCIL

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. CATHY McMORRIS RODGERS

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 23, 2007

  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council (GSSAC) as they celebrate 25 
years of service to the Spokane community. In 1982, local policymakers 
and citizens joined together to take a stand against the devastation of 
drugs and violence. Through their efforts, GSSAC now runs programs and 
collaborative efforts that are empowering our youth, focusing on 
prevention of substance abuse and violence and solving the problem of 
meth abuse in our community.
  At the core of the GSSAC Prevention Center mission is a desire to 
equip those in need with the knowledge and skills to make positive 
choices in their life. They work to unite and support the community 
through fostering positive attitudes and behaviors. Most of all, they 
encourage, facilitate, initiate and assist all people, groups and 
organizations in finding solutions to alcohol, tobacco and other drug 
abuse.
  Over the 25 years that GSSAC has served the greater Spokane 
community, they have accomplished many milestones. The staff and 
volunteers of GSSAC give their time and resources through a variety of 
programs like the Spokane County Meth Action Team, Washington Drug-Free 
Youth and Prevention in Practice. They also help to disseminate 
information about drug abuse and prevention through their Information 
Clearing House.
  GSSAC has become a model of impact an organization can have when they 
invest in their community. Through the message of prevention, focusing 
on education, and reducing the stigma of treatment and recovery, they 
are teaching others that it truly does take community wide involvement 
to accomplish goals.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the dedicated staff and 
volunteers of Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council on 25 years of 
influential service to our community. I invite my colleagues to join me 
in commending them for continuing on with their vision to make Spokane 
a safer place to live, and raising awareness on how we can prevent 
substance abuse in our communities.

                          ____________________