[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 50 (Monday, December 17, 2001)]
[Pages 1792-1794]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Signing Legislation To Reauthorize Drug-Free Communities 
Programs

December 14, 2001

    Thank you all very much. It's an honor to be here. Let me first say, 
we're winning. We've got a new war, and I want you to know your 
Government is doing everything we can to defeat those who hate freedom. 
We will defeat them abroad, thanks to a fabulous military. We are 
patient. We're relentless because our cause is just, and it is noble. 
Plus we're doing everything we can at home to prevent the enemy from 
hitting us again.
    There's another war at home, too, and that's to win the war against 
the scourge of drugs. I'm so glad--it's an honor to be introduced by 
America's new Director of National Drug Policy Council. John Walters 
brings a passionate concern and a strong background to the fight against 
drugs. In the late 1980's, he was one of the architects of the Federal 
Government's most successful antidrug policies. And he'll lead our 
administration's effort with determination and intelligence, with 
resolve and moral clarity. I am proud to have John as a member of my 
Cabinet.
    And I'm honored to speak to the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of 
America. I want to thank you all for being here. You're a part of 
America's armies of compassion, examples of service and citizenship. You 
restore hope to lives, and safety to neighborhoods. All Americans admire 
your dedication. And the bill that I will soon sign will strengthen your 
work. We share an important commitment: For the sake of our children and 
for the good of our Nation, we will reduce drug use in America. I want 
to thank General Art Dean for being the CEO of this important group of 
soldiers in the armies of compassion.
    I want to thank the three Members of the United States Congress who 
stand up here with me today, leaders in this important effort, not only 
leaders in Washington but, as you'll soon hear, leaders in the 
communities in which they live. Thank you so much for being here.
    Drug use threatens everything--everything--that is best about our 
country. It breaks the bonds between parents and children. It turns 
productive citizens into addicts. It transforms schools into places of 
violence and chaos. It makes playgrounds into crime scenes. It supports 
gangs here at home.
    And abroad, it's so important for Americans to know that the traffic 
in drugs finances the work of terror, sustaining terrorists--terrorists 
use drug profits to fund their cells to commit acts of murder. If you 
quit drugs, you join the fight against terror in America.
    And above all, we must reduce drug use for one great moral reason: 
Over time, drugs rob men, women, and children of their dignity and of 
their character. Illegal drugs are

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the enemies of ambition and hope. And when we fight against drugs, we 
fight for the souls of our fellow Americans.
    And in this struggle, we know what works. We must aggressively and 
unabashedly teach our children the dangers of drugs. We must 
aggressively treat addiction wherever we find it. And we must 
aggressively enforce the laws against drugs at our borders and in our 
communities.
    America cannot pick and choose between these goals. All are 
necessary if any are to be effective. And my administration will pursue 
these goals with energy and focus and strong commitment. It's important 
for the future of this country that we do so.
    This comprehensive approach has been tried before, and it's worked. 
From the mid eighties to the early nineties, drug use amongst high 
school seniors was reduced each and every year. Progress was steady and, 
over time, dramatic. Yet recently, we've lost ground in this important 
battle.
    According to the most recent data, the percentage of 12th graders 
using an illicit drug in the previous month rose from less than 15 
percent in 1992 to about 25 percent in the year 2000. Over the same 
period, the percentage of 10th graders using an illicit drug in the 
previous month rose from 11 percent to more than 22 percent. Marijuana 
use amongst eighth graders rose, while their perceptions of the dangers 
of marijuana use fell. There was a similar decrease in the perception of 
risk involved with LSD and powder and crack cocaine.
    Behind these numbers are countless personal tragedies, and my 
administration will not be indifferent to them. We must return the fight 
against drugs to the center of our national agenda.
    And as we win this fight, America will be a more hopeful place. And 
as we battle against a major, significant problem in America and show 
progress, this country's promise will be more available to more of our 
citizens.
    It's a national imperative that we win. And I understand that you 
all are amongst the most important allies we have to achieve this goal. 
You've got a track record of success. You sponsor drug education 
programs and youth summits and parent training courses. You support drug 
intervention programs and foster great counseling services. You're 
helping to build a culture of responsibility, one that respects the law, 
one that teaches our children right from wrong, and one that strengthens 
our commitments to our fellow citizens.
    In Troy, Michigan, the Troy Community Coalition for the Prevention 
of Drug and Alcohol Abuse is building leadership skills to help teens to 
say no to drugs and alcohol. As a result, alcohol use among high 
schoolers has declined in dramatic fashion. I want to thank Sandy Levin, 
the Congressman from the great State of Michigan, who is on the stage 
with us, for helping lead that effort. And I want to thank the good 
people from Troy, Michigan, for standing up and doing what's right for 
your community.
    I'm particularly proud that the coalition's leader, Mary Ann 
Solberg, has agreed to join John Walters as the Deputy Director of the 
National Drug Control Policy. Now that you have your uniform on, go get 
them. [Laughter]
    Also on the stage with us is Congressman Rob Portman, who is the 
President of the Coalition for a Drug-Free Greater Cincinnati, a winner 
of CADCA's Outstanding Coalition Award. I understand this program well 
because I saw it first hand in Cincinnati. I want to thank Rob for his 
leadership.
    I appreciate this coalition's practical approach, by providing tips 
to parents on how to deal with drug use, provide financial incentives to 
businesses that have drug-free workplace programs. And the most 
aggressive antidrug media campaign is in Cincinnati, for a market its 
size. The result is that for the first time in a decade, teen drug use 
in greater Cincinnati is beginning to level off. They're making great 
progress in that important city. It goes to show what happens when our 
Nation invigorates the grassroots to deal with a problem that we must 
solve, early, before it is too late.
    And also on this stage is the fine United States Senator from the 
State of Iowa, Chuck Grassley. He's worked with the people of Iowa to 
begin what they call the Face It Together Coalition, the first ever 
statewide antidrug coalition led by a United States Senator. The 
coalition has a comprehensive workplace

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drug education program. It works with coalitions around the State for 
best practices for community based antidrug efforts. It conducts 
workshops to train faith-based leaders on effective drug prevention 
strategies.
    Senator Grassley, I appreciate you taking the lead. It's a hard job 
being a Senator, but it's easy to forget the community responsibilities 
when you get elected to such a high office as Senator. And yet this 
Senator never forgot where he came from. This Senator asked a question, 
``What can I do''--just like you asked that question, ``What can I 
do''--to improve the lives of the citizens of a State he so dearly 
loves. And he chose to fight, stand side by side with the good citizens 
of Iowa to fight drug use. And Mr. Senator, thank you for your 
leadership.
    I'm so happy to be able to sign an important piece of legislation in 
your presence. The bill I sign today increases the total amount of funds 
authorized for programs like the ones we just described from more than 
$50 million a year in the current fiscal year to nearly $100 million by 
the year 2007. It allows coalitions to reapply for grants even after 5 
years, as long--[applause]--make sure you meet your matching fund 
requirement. [Laughter]
    It instructs Director Walters to focus the greatest resources on 
areas of the greatest needs, by giving priority to coalitions that serve 
economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. The reauthorization bill 
creates a new class of grants that will help established coalitions 
assist new ones, assist new folks on how to battle this scourge called 
drug use. And the bill creates a National Community Antidrug Coalition 
Institute to provide education and training and technical assistance to 
coalitions all throughout our country.
    There are other steps we must take. Many of you are working with 
faith-based institutions, because you've seen the power of faith to 
transform lives. Last month, the National Center on Addiction and 
Substance Abuse at Columbia University, led by Joe Califano, released a 
report on substance abuse, religion, and spirituality. The report found 
that ``religion and spirituality can play a powerful role in the 
prevention and treatment of substance abuse and on the maintenance of 
sobriety.''
    My armies of compassion legislation will provide support to faith-
based institutions working to prevent and treat drug abuse. The House 
passed this legislation. I urge the Senate to do so. This Nation must 
not fear faith-based programs; we must welcome them. We must welcome 
anybody who is willing to join in this important goal and in this 
important cause.
    We've got a responsibility here in Washington to lead the fight 
against drug abuse. But we understand here that one of the best ways to 
do so is to support the people in the neighborhoods, on the streets, the 
community coalitions which are truly the front line in our battle to 
save people's lives. You've devoted your lives to the well-being of 
others, and for this I'm incredibly grateful. On behalf of all 
Americans, thank you for your compassion; thank you for your concern; 
thank you for your love for your country and your fellow human being.
    And now it is my honor to invite Director Walters and General Dean, 
along with the sponsors of this important piece of legislation, to join 
me as I sign this bill.
    May God bless you all, and may God bless America.

Note: The President spoke at 1:25 p.m. in the Regency Ballroom at the 
Omni Shoreham Hotel. In his remarks, he referred to Maj. Gen. Arthur T. 
Dean, USA (Ret.), chairman and chief executive officer, Community Anti-
Drug Coalitions of America; and Joseph A. Califano, Jr., chairman and 
president, National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia 
University. H.R. 2291, approved December 14, was assigned Public Law No. 
107-82.