[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Pages 15773-15774]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO JUDGE DAVID A. TAPP

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the Honorable 
Judge David A. Tapp, an exemplary Kentuckian and recent recipient of 
the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, NADCP, 
prestigious ``All Rise Leadership Award.'' Judge Tapp currently serves 
as a circuit court judge for Lincoln, Pulaski, and Rockcastle Counties 
in my home State of Kentucky.
  Judge Tapp was honored at the NADCP Annual Training Conference that 
was held in July in Washington, DC. The annual conference is considered 
the world's largest on substance abuse and the criminal justice system. 
Chris Deutsch, director of communications for the NADCP, praised Judge 
Tapp for being an outstanding ambassador for drug courts both in 
Kentucky and around the world saying, ``It is an honor for the NADCP to 
present Judge Tapp with this award.'' Judge Tapp was recognized 
alongside actors Martin Sheen, Matthew Perry, and Harry Lennix during 
the closing ceremony of the event.
  Let me add here that I had the pleasure of seeing Judge Tapp here in 
Washington this past July when he attended the NADCP conference. I was 
honored to be presented with the NADCP's ``All Rise Leadership Award,'' 
and one of those presenters was Judge Tapp himself. I am a longtime 
supporter of Kentucky's drug courts and was pleased to meet with Judge 
Tapp and his fellow Kentucky drug court judges on this important issue. 
He is truly an impressive fellow.
  In addition to his regular duties as a circuit judge, Judge Tapp 
volunteers his time in presiding over the drug court for the three 
counties and has been doing so since 2005. The drug court is similar to 
some 2,700 others nationwide and serves seriously drug-addicted 
individuals through intense treatment and supervision, says Judge Tapp.

[[Page 15774]]

  ``I do drug court for the small moments,'' said Tapp. ``At some point 
during the process you look at them and you see a new confidence. You 
see a gleam in their eye that wasn't there before, and you know that 
they get it. I take great pride in these efforts and applaud the hard 
work and dedication of all drug court staff members. These people 
volunteer their time and effort to do good deeds for thousands of 
people within the Commonwealth annually and they get almost no 
recognition for these efforts. They deserve a great amount of credit.''
  I would ask all of my Senate colleagues to join me in congratulating 
the Honorable Judge David A. Tapp in receiving such a distinguished 
award for his efforts in rehabilitating drug offenders. Judge Tapp's 
work in drug court is commendable and he has served as a model for 
others in Kentucky and around the country. The Pulaski County 
Commonwealth Journal published an article in September highlighting 
Judge Tapp's accomplishments. I ask unanimous consent that the full 
article be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

     [From the Pulaski County Commonwealth Journal, Sept. 30, 2011]

                  Tapp Wins Prestigious Judicial Award

       A local judge received a prestigious award earlier this 
     summer for his efforts as part of a national program that 
     aims to rehabilitate drug offenders.
       Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge David A. Tapp was 
     awarded with the National Association of Drug Court 
     Professionals ``All Rise'' award during a star-studded 
     conference in Washington, DC.
       ``Judge Tapp is an outstanding ambassador for Drug Courts 
     both in Kentucky and around the world,'' said National 
     Association of Drug Court Professionals Director of 
     Communications Chris Deutsch in a press release. ``His work 
     in Drug Court has affected countless lives and his interview 
     with Congressman Rogers will be critical to helping Drug 
     Courts maintain funding in the coming budget cycle.
       ``It is an honor for NADCP to present Judge Tapp with this 
     award,'' Deutsch continued.
       The NADCP Annual Training Conference is considered the 
     world's largest on substance abuse and the criminal justice 
     system, according to a press release provided by the NADCP. 
     This year's event took place from July 17 to July 20 and 
     brought nearly 4,000 state and federal justice leaders, 
     celebrities, judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, 
     clinicians, police and probation officers, military veterans, 
     business owners, Drug Court graduates and their family 
     members to the nation's capital. Tapp was recognized along 
     with actors Martin Sheen, Matthew Perry and Harry Lennix 
     during the closing ceremony of the conference on July 20.
       Tapp was honored for his role in securing and conducting an 
     interview with Congressman Hal Rogers (R-KY), Chairman of 
     Appropriations in the U.S. House of Representatives, last 
     December for NADCP's All Rise Magazine.
       ``The interview was so successful that it was featured as 
     the cover story of the quarterly,'' stated the press release.
       During the interview, Tapp asked Rogers if he felt it was 
     important to further expand Drug Courts to reach more 
     individuals.
       According to the press release, Rogers responded, ``Yes, 
     I'd like to see Drug Courts available everywhere. I've seen 
     how effective they are. We did not have Drug Courts in my 
     district and now that we have them, I've seen the difference 
     that they can bring.''
       Tapp's remarks ``brought nearly 3,700 attendees to their 
     feet,'' stated the press release.
       ``I do Drug Court for the small moments,'' said Tapp upon 
     receiving the award. ``When you look at an offender who has 
     struggled . . . and at some point during the process that 
     small moment comes where you look at them and you see a new 
     confidence.
       ``You see a gleam in their eye that wasn't there before, 
     and you know that they get it. That's why I do Drug Court.''
       Tapp, who serves Pulaski, Lincoln and Rockcastle counties, 
     has presided over Drug Court since 2005. Circuit Court Judge 
     Jeffrey T. Burdette also serves as a Drug Court judge for 
     Pulaski, Lincoln and Rockcastle counties.
       The judges volunteer their time to preside over Drug Court.
       ``This Drug Court, like the nearly 2,700 in existence 
     nationwide, serve seriously drug-addicted individuals through 
     intense treatment and supervision,'' the press release 
     stated.
       Nationally, Drug Courts have been proven to significantly 
     reduce drug abuse crime and recidivism while saving money, 
     according to the press release.
       ``Drug Courts are one example of successful efforts made by 
     criminal justice professionals to rehabilitate high-risk 
     offenders,'' Tapp stated through the press release. ``I take 
     great pride in these efforts and applaud the hard work and 
     dedication of all Drug Court staff members.''
       ``These people volunteer their time and effort to do good 
     deeds for thousands of people within the commonwealth 
     annually, and they get almost no recognition for these 
     efforts,'' Tapp continued. ``They deserve a great amount of 
     credit.''

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