Washington Roundup

December 7, 2001

Contact: Jenny Collier and Tom Leibfried

Legal Action Center

202-544-5478

                                                               

Senate Confirms Nomination of John Walters as New Drug Czar:

Alcohol and Drug Treatment and Prevention Field Leaders Pleased to See Key Cabinet-Level Position Filled

This week, the Senate confirmed the nomination of John Walters as the Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).  In announcing his appointment as the nation’s new drug czar, the White House stated that both Director Walters and President Bush expressed the need for a balanced national drug control strategy which includes prevention and expanded access to effective drug treatment.

Many alcohol and drug treatment and prevention field leaders felt that it was imperative to fill this Cabinet-level position in order to give the Administration’s anti-drug policy efforts a higher profile.  This goal was seen as especially important given the commitment President Bush made to increase federal funding of drug treatment and prevention services by $1.6 billion over the next five years, a promise he made when announcing Walter’s nomination last May.  

Walters has a long history in government, with much of it at ONDCP.  Between 1985 and 1989, he worked as Assistant to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education where he implemented a number of drug prevention programs.  Later, as ONDCP’s first chief of staff under Director William Bennett, he played a pivotal role in shaping the organization, and he was responsible for the implementation of anti-drug programs in all areas.  He served in this role from 1989 to 1991.  From 1991 - 1993, he served as Deputy Director for Supply Reduction.  More recently, from 1996 to 2001, Mr. Walters served as president of the Philanthropy Roundtable, an association of over 600 foundations and individual charitable donors.

Dr. Andrea Barthwell, whom President Bush nominated to serve as the Deputy Director for Demand Reduction at ONDCP, is still awaiting confirmation. As a result of the Walters confirmation this week, alcohol and drug treatment and prevention field leaders have expressed a strong interest in quickly completing Dr. Barthwell’s confirmation process.  She is well respected in the field and currently serves in a number of prominent leadership roles, including Executive Vice President of the of the Human Resources Development Group; President of the Medical Encounter Group; President and CEO of BRASS Foundation, an addiction treatment center in Chicago; President of the Board, American Society of Addiction Medicine; board member, American Methadone Treatment Association; and board member, Legal Action Center.  It is unclear at this time whether the Senate, without significant grassroots input, will complete Dr. Barthwell’s confirmation process before it recesses or adjourns for the holidays.

Alcohol and Drug Treatment, Prevention, Education and Research Funding Bill Still Pending: Final Passage of Legislation Expected Before Adjournment

This week the FY 2002 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, which would provide significant funding increases to alcohol and drug treatment, prevention, and research, remained in Conference Committee.  The Committee has been working to resolve differences between the House and Senate passed bills. While both bills would provide significant funding increases for drug and alcohol treatment, prevention, and research programs, there are some important differences between the bills.  These key differences include:

•                      The House-passed bill would provide $29 million more for the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.  

•                      The Senate-passed bill would provide $12 million more for the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention.

•                      The Senate bill would provide more funding for the National Institutes on Drug Abuse and Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

•                      While neither the House nor Senate bill would provide an overall funding increase for the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Program, the House-passed bill would move $88 million of the program’s funds into the State Grants portion of the program, which funds local prevention programming.

While it remains unclear when the Conference Committee will finish its work and when the FY 2002 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations legislation will come to the House and Senate floor for final passage, it is expected that these events will occur before Congress recesses or adjourns for the holidays.