[House Report 108-409]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



108th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session                                                     108-409

======================================================================



 
 HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ON 
                  THE OCCASION OF ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY

                                _______
                                

  February 3, 2004.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be 
                                printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Sensenbrenner, from the Committee on the Judiciary, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                       [To accompany H. Res. 412]

                  [Including Committee Cost Estimate]

    The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the 
resolution (H. Res. 412) honoring the men and women of the Drug 
Enforcement Administration on the occasion of its 30th 
Anniversary, having considered the same, reports favorably 
thereon without amendment and recommends that the resolution be 
agreed to.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
Purpose and Summary..............................................     1
Background and Need for the Legislation..........................     2
Hearings.........................................................     2
Committee Consideration..........................................     2
Vote of the Committee............................................     2
Committee Oversight Findings.....................................     2
New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures........................     2
Committee Cost Estimate..........................................     2
Performance Goals and Objectives.................................     2
Constitutional Authority Statement...............................     3
Section-by-Section Analysis and Discussion.......................     3
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............     3
Markup Transcript................................................     3

                          Purpose and Summary

    This resolution recognizes the outstanding contribution of 
the Drug Enforcement Administration (``DEA'') and its men and 
women, many of whom have been injured or killed in service to 
this country.

                Background and Need for the Legislation

    The House of Representatives recognizes the need for a 
resolution honoring the men and women of the DEA. The DEA was 
first created by executive order on July 6, 1973. The DEA, as 
we now know it, was a merger of separate law enforcement and 
intelligence agencies that shared responsibility for narcotics 
control. The DEA became the lead agency nationwide working with 
Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies to stop drug 
trafficking and put drug offenders behind bars.
    The DEA operates worldwide with 173 domestic offices and 78 
foreign offices employing over 8,800 men and women. This 
resolution honors the 71 brave men and women that gave the 
ultimate sacrifice in the battle against drugs, as well as the 
men and women who continue to fight this battle on a daily 
basis.

                                Hearings

    No hearings were held in the Committee on the Judiciary on 
H. Res. 412.

                        Committee Consideration

    On January 28, 2004, the Committee met in open session and 
ordered favorably reported the resolution H. Res. 412, without 
amendment by voice vote, a quorum being present.

                         Vote of the Committee

    In compliance with clause 3(b) of Rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, the Committee notes that there 
were no recorded votes during its consideration of H. Res. 412.

                      Committee Oversight Findings

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of Rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, the Committee reports that the 
findings and recommendations of the Committee, based on 
oversight activities under clause 2(b)(1) of Rule X of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives, are incorporated in the 
descriptive portions of this report.

               New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures

    Clause 3(c)(2) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives is inapplicable because this resolution does 
not provide new budgetary authority or increased tax 
expenditures.

                        Committee Cost Estimate

    In compliance with clause 3(d)(2) of Rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, the Committee believes that 
the resolution will have no cost.

                    Performance Goals and Objectives

    H. Res. 412 does not authorize funding. Therefore, clause 
3(c)(4) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives is inapplicable.

                   Constitutional Authority Statement

    Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee finds the authority for 
this resolution in article I, section 8 of the Constitution.

               Section-by-Section Analysis and Discussion

    The preamble of the resolution sets forth various facts 
relating to the history of the DEA. The resolving clause: (1) 
congratulates the DEA on the occasion of its 30th anniversary; 
(2) honors the heroic sacrifice of its employees who have been 
killed or injured in service to the Nation; and (3) thanks the 
men and women of the DEA for their continued service.

         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

    In compliance with clause 3(e) of Rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, the Committee notes that this 
resolution does not change existing law.

                           Markup Transcript



                            BUSINESS MEETING

                      WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2004

                  House of Representatives,
                                Committee on the Judiciary,
                                                    Washington, DC.
    The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:04 a.m., in 
Room 2141, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. F. James 
Sensenbrenner, Jr. [Chairman of the Committee] presiding.
    [Intervening business.]
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Pursuant to notice, I now call up 
House Resolution 412 honoring the men and women of the Drug 
Enforcement Administration on the occasion of its 30th 
anniversary for purposes of markup, and move its favorable 
recommendation to the House. Without objection, the resolution 
will be considered as read and open for amendment at any point.
    [The resolution, H. Res. 412, follows:]
      
      

  


      
      

  


      
      

  


    Chairman Sensenbrenner. And the Chair recognizes the 
gentleman from North Carolina, Mr. Coble, to summarize his 
opening statement.
    Mr. Coble. And I will summarize it, Mr. Chairman.
    As you pointed out, this resolution honors the men and 
women of the Drug Enforcement Administration on the occasion of 
its 30th anniversary. My detailed statement praises the members 
of this administration for its many accomplishments, and I ask 
unanimous consent that my statement be included in the record 
and urge my colleagues to vote for passage of this resolution.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Without objection, the gentleman's 
statement and all Members' opening statements will be included 
in the record.
    [The prepared statement of Mr. Coble follows:]
 Prepared Statement of the Honorable Howard Coble, a Representative in 
               Congress From the State of North Carolina
    The Drug Enforcement Administration(DEA) was first created by 
executive order on July 6, 1973. The DEA, as we now know it, was a 
merger of separate law enforcement and intelligence agencies that 
shared responsibility for narcotics control. The DEA became the lead 
agency nationwide working with Federal, State and local law enforcement 
agencies to stop drug trafficking and put drug offenders behind bars.
    Since 1973, the men and women of the DEA have served our nation 
with courage, vision and determination, protecting our nation from drug 
trafficking. For the past 30 years the DEA has worked tirelessly to 
enforce the controlled substance laws and regulations of the United 
States and bring individuals and organizations involved in the 
manufacture or distribution of controlled substances to justice.
    Today, the DEA continues to lead task forces of Federal, State and 
local law enforcement officials throughout the Nation in a cooperative 
effort to stop drug trafficking. However, these partnerships are not 
limited to our borders, as evidenced by the more than 70 foreign 
offices worldwide. This war will continue to be fought at home as well 
as abroad.
    The efforts of the DEA at home and abroad are also vital to our 
national security. The war on terrorism is being fought on many fronts, 
including drug trafficking. It is clear that there have been 
connections between the drug trade and terrorist activities. The 
efforts of the DEA will help to remove another avenue of financing for 
terrorism.
    I commend the men and women of the DEA for their continuing 
sacrifice in this fight to stop drug trafficking. This resolution 
honors the 71 brave men and women that gave the ultimate sacrifice in 
the battle against drugs, as a nation we owe a great debt to these 
heroes. I recently met with the new Administrator of the DEA, Karen 
Tandy. I am confident she will continue to uphold the fine tradition of 
the DEA. I congratulate the Drug Enforcement Administration on its 30 
year Anniversary and thank all the men and women past and present for 
their efforts to defend our Nation from the scourge of illegal drugs.

    Chairman Sensenbrenner. The gentleman from Virginia, Mr. 
Scott.
    Mr. Scott. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I appreciate your 
bringing this resolution before us, and want to express my 
support for it. H. Res. 412 commemorates the 30th anniversary 
of the Drug Enforcement Agency. And I ask unanimous consent to 
introduce the rest of my statement into the record.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Without objection, so ordered.
    [The prepared statement of Mr. Scott follows:]
 Prepared Statement of the Honorable Robert C. Scott, a Representative 
                 in Congress From the State of Virginia
    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate your bringing this resolution 
before us and want to express my support for it. H. Res 412 
commemorates the 30th anniversary of the federal Drug Enforcement 
Agency (DEA) and recognizes the contributions and achievements of its 
current 8,800 employees working in 173 domestic offices and 78 foreign 
offices worldwide.
    It also recognizes the sacrifices of those employees who have given 
their lives in the line of duty, and those who have been wounded or 
injured. I am not always in accord with the policies and priorities our 
government sets for the DEA. I believe we focus far too much of the 
agency's resources and priorities on catching and incarcerating low 
level offenders at the expense of directing these resources toward 
those who are really profiting from the drug trade. As a result, our 
prisons are full of low level bit players in the drug trade and this 
has little impact on reducing the scourge of illegal drugs on our 
society. Education and treatment have been shown to be far more 
effective in reducing drug use. Yet, the percentage of our drug 
fighting resources dedicated to interdiction and law enforcement far 
exceeds the percent applied to education and treatment.
    What's needed is more of a balanced approach to fighting drug 
abuse. I am not saying put less money into enforcement, but that we 
should change the priorities from incarcerating on low level users and 
other offenders to going after the major players, and put a lot more 
money into education and treatment.
    I recognize the dedication, hard work and sacrifice of the men and 
women of the DEA in carrying out the duties and responsibilities they 
are assigned.

    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Are there amendments to the 
resolution? If there are no amendments, the Chair notes the 
presence of a reporting quorum.
    The question occurs on the motion to report the resolution 
H. Res. 412 favorably. All in favor will say aye. Opposed no. 
The ayes appear to have it. The motion to report favorably is 
adopted. Without objection, the staff is directed to make any 
technical and conforming changes, and all Members will be given 
2 days as provided by House rules and wish to submit additional 
dissenting, supplemental, or minority views.

                                
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