[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12388]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TIM MURPHY

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 14, 2007

  Mr. TIM MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, on Thursday, May 10, 
2007, my vote on the Motion to Recommit with Instructions to H.R. 2082, 
the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (rollcall vote 
340) was recorded as a ``yes'' vote when I intended to cast a ``no'' 
vote. I wish to clarify on the record my miscast vote and my strong 
support for the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC).
  As the Nation's principal center for strategic domestic counterdrug 
intelligence, the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) in 
Johnstown, PA, provides critical information on national drug 
trafficking and abuse trends in the United States. I was pleased to 
support funding for the NDIC in the Intelligence Authorization bills in 
both the 108th and 109th Congress.
  Not only does the NDIC serve a vital role in our nationwide effort to 
combat drug trafficking, this center is critically important to the 
southwestern Pennsylvania region. Having these resources readily 
available in close proximity to the district I represent in Congress is 
a tremendous benefit to my constituents. NDIC field representatives on 
average have more than 30 years' experience in Federal, State, or local 
drug law enforcement and stand ready to assist my local law enforcement 
agencies and provide necessary intelligence and training. We are 
fortunate to have the Center in our backyard and look forward to 
benefiting from its work in the future.
  The NDIC's comprehensive annual report on national drug trafficking 
and abuse trends within the United States is one of the key tools for 
the Federal Government to respond to the threat posed by drugs to our 
families, schools and communities. Formulated in partnership with 
Federal, State, and local agencies with information from more than 
3,400 State and local law enforcement agencies as well as thousands of 
personal interviews with law enforcement and public health officials, 
this report is one of the most comprehensive and detailed reports that 
our Federal Government receives on both domestic and foreign drug 
threats to our country.
  I look forward to continuing my support of the critical intelligence 
work of the NDIC to protect our families and the Nation.

                          ____________________