[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 14833-14835]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ON ITS 35TH ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 369) honoring the men and women of 
the Drug Enforcement Administration on the occasion of its 35th 
anniversary.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 369

       Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was 
     created by an Executive order on July 6, 1973, and merged the 
     previously separate law enforcement and intelligence agencies 
     responsible for narcotics control;
       Whereas the first administrator of the DEA, John R. 
     Bartels, Jr., was confirmed by the Senate on October 4, 1973;
       Whereas since 1973, the men and women of the DEA have 
     served our Nation with courage, vision, and determination, 
     protecting all Americans from the scourge of drug 
     trafficking, drug abuse, and related violence;
       Whereas the DEA has adjusted and refined the tactics and 
     methods by which it targets the most dangerous drug 
     trafficking operations to bring to justice criminals such as 
     New York City's Nicky Barnes, key members of the infamous 
     Colombian Medellin cartel, Thai warlord Khun Sa, several 
     members of the Mexican Arellano-Felix organization, Afghan 
     terrorist Haji Baz Mohammad, and international arms dealer 
     Viktor Bout;
       Whereas throughout its 35 years, the DEA has continually 
     adapted to the evolving trends of drug trafficking 
     organizations by aggressively targeting organizations 
     involved in the growing, manufacturing, and distribution of 
     such substances as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, 
     methamphetamine, Ecstasy, and controlled prescription drugs;
       Whereas in its 227 domestic offices in 21 field divisions, 
     the DEA continues to strengthen and enhance existing 
     relationships with Federal, State, and local counterparts in 
     every State in the Union to combat drug trafficking;
       Whereas in this decade alone, DEA special agents have 
     seized over 5,500 kilograms of heroin; 650,000 kilograms of 
     cocaine; 2,300,000 kilograms of marijuana; 13,000 kilograms 
     of methamphetamine; almost 80,000,000 dosage units of 
     hallucinogens; and made over 240,000 arrests;
       Whereas in its 87 foreign offices in 63 countries, the DEA 
     has the largest international presence of any Federal law 
     enforcement agency;
       Whereas its personnel continue to collaborate closely with 
     international partners around the globe, including in such 
     drug-producing countries as Colombia, Mexico, Afghanistan, 
     and Thailand;
       Whereas the results of this international collaboration in 
     this decade alone have led to the indictments of 63 leaders, 
     members, and associates of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of 
     Colombia, a designated foreign terrorist organization, as 
     well as 144 arrests and detainments of narcotics traffickers 
     for violations of Afghan and United States narcotics laws and 
     terrorist-related offenses;
       Whereas through the creation of the Diversion Control 
     Program in 1971, the DEA now registers and regulates over 
     1,200,000 registrants, while simultaneously combating the 
     continually-evolving threat posed by the diversion of 
     controlled pharmaceuticals;
       Whereas the DEA continues to hit drug traffickers 
     financially, where it hurts the most, denying drug 
     trafficking organizations $3,500,000,000 in fiscal year 2007 
     alone, exceeding their 5-year goal of $3,000,000,000 annually 
     by fiscal year 2009;
       Whereas DEA special agents continue to work shoulder-to-
     shoulder with Federal, State, and local law enforcement 
     officials throughout the Nation in a cooperative effort to 
     put drug traffickers behind bars;
       Whereas throughout its history, many DEA employees and 
     members of the agency's task forces have given their lives in 
     the line of duty, including: Charles Archie Wood, Stafford E. 
     Beckett, Joseph W. Floyd, Bert S. Gregory, James T. Williams, 
     Louis L. Marks, James E. Brown, James R. Kerrigan, John W. 
     Crozier, Spencer Stafford, Andrew P. Sanderson, Anker M. 
     Bangs, Wilson M. Shee, Mansel R. Burrell, Hector Jordan, Gene 
     A. Clifton, Frank Tummillo, Richard Heath, Jr., George F. 
     White, Emir Benitez, Gerald Sawyer, Leslie S. Grosso, 
     Nickolas Fragos, Mary M. Keehan, Charles H. Mann, Anna Y. 
     Mounger, Anna J. Pope, Martha D. Skeels, Mary P. Sullivan, 
     Larry D. Wallace, Ralph N. Shaw, James T. Lunn, Octavio 
     Gonzalez, Francis J. Miller, Robert C. Lightfoot, Thomas J. 
     Devine, Larry N. Carwell, Marcellus Ward, Enrique S. 
     Camarena, James A. Avant, Charles M. Bassing, Kevin L. 
     Brosch, Susan M. Hoefler, William Ramos, Raymond J. Stastny, 
     Arthur L. Cash, Terry W. McNett, George M. Montoya, Paul S. 
     Seema, Everett E. Hatcher, Rickie C. Finley, Joseph T. 
     Aversa, Wallie Howard, Jr., Eugene T. McCarthy, Alan H. Winn, 
     George D. Althouse, Becky L. Dwojeski, Stephen J. Strehl, 
     Juan C. Vars, Jay W. Seale, Meredith Thompson, Frank S. 
     Wallace, Jr., Frank Fernandez, Jr., Kenneth G. McCullough, 
     Carrol June Fields, Rona L. Chafey, Shelly D. Bland, Carrie 
     A. Lenz, Shaun E. Curl, Royce D. Tramel, Alice Faye Hall-
     Walton, Elton Armstead, Larry Steilen, Terry Loftus, Jay 
     Balchunas, and Richard E. Fass;
       Whereas many other DEA employees and task force officers 
     have been wounded or injured in the line of duty; and
       Whereas over 9,000 employees of the DEA, including special 
     agents, intelligence analysts, diversion investigators, 
     program analysts, forensic chemists, attorneys, and 
     administrative support, along with over 2,000 task force 
     officers, and over 2,000 vetted foreign officers, work 
     tirelessly to hunt down and bring to justice the drug 
     trafficking cartels that seek to poison our citizens with 
     dangerous narcotics: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress--

[[Page 14834]]

       (1) congratulates the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) 
     on the occasion of its 35th anniversary;
       (2) honors the heroic sacrifice of the agency's employees 
     who have given their lives or have been wounded or injured in 
     service of our Nation; and
       (3) gives heartfelt thanks to all the men and women of the 
     DEA for their past and continued efforts to defend the 
     American people from the scourge of illegal drugs and 
     terrorism.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Schiff) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SCHIFF. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the brave men 
and women of the Drug Enforcement Administration on the occasion of its 
35th anniversary. The DEA's employees include not only the special 
agents, but intelligence analysts, diversion investigators, program 
analysts, forensic chemists, attorneys and administrative support 
staff, together with task force officers and vetted foreign officials. 
These men and women work tirelessly to hunt down and bring to justice 
the drug trafficking cartels that profit by poisoning our citizens with 
dangerous narcotics.
  The DEA and its dedicated officers have served our Nation with 
courage, vision and determination, protecting all Americans from the 
scourge of drug trafficking, drug abuse and related violence. It is 
fitting that we recognize their accomplishments and express our 
gratitude for their service.
  Throughout its 35 years, the DEA has combated the evolving trends of 
drug trafficking by aggressively targeting both domestic and 
international organizations involved in the unlawful growing, 
manufacturing and distribution of such substances as marijuana, 
cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, Ecstasy and controlled prescription 
drugs. These successes are unfortunately not without tragic costs.
  Over its history, more than 75 DEA employees and task force members 
have given their lives in the line of duty, with many others wounded. 
During the time I served with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los 
Angeles, I had many, many occasions to work with DEA officers. I saw 
the professionalism of their work, their determination, their bravery 
and courage.
  For some time I worked on the investigation into the capture, murder 
and torture of Enrique Camarena and, along with my colleagues, worked 
to investigate and bring to justice some of those that were responsible 
for the death of that courageous agent. So I have great personal regard 
for the many employees of the DEA, their proud history and the great 
work they do.
  It is a commitment to duty almost too great to ask of anyone, yet 
these dedicated men and women of the DEA and their families face the 
risks and endure the hardships to make our Nation safer for all of us.
  And so, Mr. Speaker, this resolution is a well-deserved tribute to 
the DEA on the occasion of its 35th anniversary.
  I urge my colleagues to support it, and I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 369. This concurrent resolution 
does honor the men and women of the Drug Enforcement Administration on 
the occasion of its 35th anniversary.
  The Drug Enforcement Administration, or DEA, was created by President 
Nixon in July 1973. The DEA was established to create a single unified 
command to conduct ``an all-out global war on the drug menace.''
  The DEA has the core mission to enforce U.S. controlled substances 
laws that regulate drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, 
methamphetamine, Ecstasy and controlled prescription drugs. Initially, 
the DEA had 1,470 special agents and a budget of less than $75 million. 
Its foreign presence consisted of 43 foreign offices in 31 countries. 
Since that time the DEA has grown substantially and is now 5,235 
special agents, a budget of more than $2.3 billion, and 87 foreign 
offices in 63 countries.
  I have personally seen them at work, both here and abroad, and know 
that the DEA agents are on the front lines of our war on drugs. They 
are courageous individuals, and they are to be honored and commended.
  DEA special agents work to track and identify the individuals and 
organized crime syndicates that grow, manufacture and traffic drugs 
into the U.S. To accomplish that mission, the DEA manages a national 
drug intelligence program by cooperating with Federal, State, local and 
foreign officials to collect, analyze and disseminate strategic and 
operational drug intelligence information. The DEA and its multi-
jurisdictional partners form task forces that use this intelligence to 
plan highly successful operations.
  In May, a DEA-led task force completed an investigation called 
``Operation Sudden Fall'' in San Diego. This investigation resulted in 
the arrest of 96 individuals, including 75 San Diego State University 
students who were involved with the trafficking of cocaine, marijuana 
and Ecstasy on the university's campus.
  As the plague of drugs has become more pervasive, the DEA has also 
increased its international efforts to combat drug trafficking abroad. 
The DEA coordinates with the United Nations, Interpol and foreign 
governments to develop programs designed to reduce the availability of 
illicit drugs in the United States such as crop eradication, crop 
substitution and training of foreign officials.

                              {time}  1615

  These international efforts bring significant results. Recently, 
Colombia extradited 14 members of a paramilitary and drug trafficking 
group to the United States to face charges of drug trafficking, support 
to a terrorist organization, and money laundering.
  In June, the DEA worked with partners in Afghanistan to conduct 
Operation Albatross. This effort resulted in the seizure of 262 tons of 
hashish, the largest of any known drug seizure in history.
  As H. Con. Res. 369 notes, in this decade alone, DEA agents have 
seized over 5,500 kilograms of heroin, 650,000 kilograms of cocaine, 
2.3 million kilograms of marijuana, 13,000 kilograms of 
methamphetamine, almost 80 million dosage units of hallucinogens, and 
made over 240,000 arrests. This is a tremendous amount of poison that 
they have prevented from entering our fellow citizens.
  In supporting this resolution, I join my colleagues in, one, 
congratulating the DEA on the occasion of its 35th anniversary; two, 
honoring the heroic sacrifice of the agency's employees who have given 
their lives or have been wounded or injured in service of our Nation; 
and three, giving heartfelt thanks to all of the men and women of the 
DEA for their past and continued efforts to defend the American people 
from the scourge of illegal drugs and terrorism.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to yield 3 
minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell).
  Mr. PASCRELL. Thank you for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the men and women of the Drug 
Enforcement Administration on the occasion of their 35th anniversary. 
We must take every opportunity to honor our brave law enforcement 
officers, but we often forget the critical importance of the DEA and 
the terrible dangers that their officers face in order to keep our 
streets safe from drugs. When you look at the list of those who have 
given their lives, Mr. Speaker, we know how serious this is. And we 
have this issue occur on our streets every day.

[[Page 14835]]

  I want to congratulate the DEA acting administrator, Michele M. 
Leonhart, for leading this commendable agency through its 35th year. I 
want to give great thanks to Gerald McAleer, Special Agent in charge of 
the DEA New Jersey division, for all of the tremendous work he's done 
to team with local law enforcement in order to provide the most 
effective level of security against drugs in our neighborhoods.
  Just 3 days ago, the DEA in New Jersey teamed with Passaic County 
Prosecutor James F. Avigliano to arrest six individuals affiliated with 
the Trey 9 set of the Bloods street gang who were peddling large 
quantities of drugs in Newark, Parsippany, and in my town of Paterson, 
New Jersey. These arrests were executed as part of New Jersey Governor 
Jon Corzine's Crime Initiative to target criminal gangs, drugs, and 
guns.
  This particular 35-day investigation was initiated by the 
prosecutor's office of gang/narcotics task force, the Drug Enforcement 
Administration, the United States Postal Office, and the Clifton Police 
Department, proving once again that our greatest level of homeland 
security can only come from Federal, State, and local enforcement 
agencies working in this partnership.
  In regards to the DEA's efforts in this high-profile drug bust, I can 
provide no greater testament to the urgency of the work than by quoting 
Prosecutor James Avigliano who stated this: ``Without the outstanding 
cooperation with the DEA Newark office, we would have been unable to 
arrest six major gang leaders and confiscate a substantial quantity of 
narcotics. The assistance provided by the DEA is key to our continued 
success in taking high level dealers and large quantities of drugs off 
the street.''
  It is due to the critical nature of their work that I am very 
thankful that we saw fit to approve much-needed funding of the DEA in 
last year's Consolidated Appropriations Act that put 200 more agents on 
the street after having to endure a long hiring freeze in previous 
years. No justification for that whatsoever, Mr. Speaker.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman's time has expired.
  Mr. SCHIFF. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.
  Mr. PASCRELL. We must do more to honor the DEA and I pledge my full 
support.
  Mr. Speaker, let me plead with you and my fellow Members on both 
sides of the aisle that there is no greater threat to the United States 
of America than the undermining of our will and our morale with the 
issuing of drugs through proliferation through our streets. There is no 
greater danger, Mr. Speaker. I cannot say it enough. The DEA 
understands that. Hopefully the Congress will come to understand it as 
well.
  Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, at this time I have no other speakers.
  I reserve the remainder of my time.
  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, at this time it gives me great pleasure to 
yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Ruppersberger).
  Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support and 
recognition of House Resolution 369 honoring the men and women of the 
Drug Enforcement Administration on the occasion of its 35th 
anniversary.
  For the last 35 years, the men and women of the DEA have served their 
country with distinction and honor while fighting one of the most 
dangerous problems this country faces today. Drug use and the violence 
associated with drug trafficking touches every American's life in some 
way or another. The men and women of the DEA are working tirelessly 
every day to prevent drugs from coming into the United States and to 
prevent or dismantle the manufacturing and distribution of drugs within 
our borders. This is no easy task.
  The DEA consistently adapts to changes in the drug trade. From 
dismantling illegal Internet pharmacies to identifying new trends in 
manufacturing and distribution, the DEA is and must be at the top of 
their game. Because the DEA has the greatest presence overseas of any 
Federal law enforcement agency, diplomacy and collaboration with the 
leadership of drug-producing countries, like Colombia, is essential for 
their efforts to be effective. The men and women of the DEA are up to 
the challenge.
  The over 9,000 employees of the DEA are an asset to the country, and 
I'm proud to honor them every day. They are in very dangerous places 
putting their lives on the line every day. I want to thank them for 
their dedication and their commitment to the agency and our country. I 
urge my colleagues to support the resolution.
  Mr. GOHMERT. With that, Mr. Speaker, we would urge our colleagues to 
join us in this resolution's support.
  My friend from Ohio will be managing the next two bills, the Debbie 
Smith Reauthorization Act, and the one to follow. Before I finish 
yielding back my time, I would like to express my thanks to my friend 
from California, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, the ranking 
member of Judiciary, as well as our chairman in Crime, Bobby Scott, on 
the Debbie Smith reauthorization. I will not be here to be able to 
speak on that, but I am so grateful we were able to keep that from 
being overly burdened with things that would keep it from achieving its 
goal which, here again, helps everybody, including the DEA agents, when 
we do that job properly. I'm so grateful that we're going to be able to 
take that up and get that done today.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, just to conclude on the legislation 
recognizing the 35th anniversary of the DEA, I recall very well the 
loss of two DEA agents in the City of San Marino, very close to my 
district, back when I was with the U.S. Attorney. They were involved in 
a buy-bust. It was a small amount of drugs, a small amount of money, I 
think amounting to some $35,000. These two agents, one was killed in a 
shoot-out with the drug dealers, the other shot at point-blank range 
execution style when these young drug dealers decided they would rather 
keep the $35,000 and kill two people for it.
  This is the kind of risk the DEA agents face every day. We're 
extraordinarily grateful to have such courageous men and women working 
within the agency. I urge the passage of the recognition bill.
  Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. 
Con. Res. 369, honoring the men and women of the United States Drug 
Enforcement Administration on the occasion of its 35th Anniversary.
  Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to visit the DEA's training 
facility in Quantico, Virginia.
  This training facility is designed to prepare local law enforcement 
agents to deal with the specific hazards surrounding small, clandestine 
methamphetamine labs. More than 100 law enforcement officers from my 
home state of Nebraska have taken part in the training.
  We also had the opportunity to speak briefly with agent trainees at 
the DEA training facility.
  I truly appreciate these men and women who are battling against the 
evil of illegal drugs in the heartland of Nebraska and throughout our 
country.
  These individuals--both the agents on the street and their 
instructors--deserve commendation for their dedication and sacrifice.
  Through public education, vigilance, and the efforts of law 
enforcement, we can curb the spread of dangerous drugs in our 
communities.
  Mr. SCHIFF. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 369.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________