GCSA-Washington Roundup

Senate Judiciary Committee Passes Drug Czar Nomination Out of Committee: Full Senate Confirmation Vote Could Occur Anytime

This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted on President Bush’s nominee for Drug Czar, John Walters, passing his nomination out of Committee with a 14 to 5 vote. The nomination is expected to proceed to the Senate floor for a vote; however, it is unclear how soon this vote will occur, although it is expected that the vote will take place before the Senate adjourns for the session.

The Committee debate that took place before the vote focused on the importance of the Drug Czar’s views on drug and alcohol treatment and prevention policy, with several Democrats, including Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs, expressing their concerns about John Walters’ perceived lack support for drug and alcohol treatment and prevention services and demand reduction policies. Ranking member, Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), countered these concerns by stating that John Walters has been and continues to be supportive of drug and alcohol treatment and prevention and that he will continue to focus on these important issues while serving as the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. The debate focused almost exclusively on treatment and prevention issues, signaling the Committee’s interest in demand reduction strategies when working on drug-related issues.

Senate Passed FY 2002 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Funding Bill: Prevention Funding Received Additional $10 million Increase

This week, the Senate passed the FY 2002 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies bill. The bill would provide substantial funding increases for drug and alcohol treatment, prevention and research, including an additional $10 million for ecstasy prevention programming at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This funding was added as a part of an amendment to the appropriations bill during the final vote on the bill in the Senate. Specific increases for drug and alcohol treatment, prevention, and research programs in the House and Senate bills are outlined in the chart below.

The House and Senate passed bills now will go to the Conference Committee, where any differences between the bills will be resolved. The Committee then will forward a revised version of the bill to Congress for final consideration. At this time, it is unclear when Congress will complete the FY 2002 appropriations process. It is expected that Congress will return after the Thanksgiving holiday to complete the FY 2002 appropriations process. However, Congress could complete the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies bill, which includes drug and alcohol treatment, prevention, education, and research funding, before the Thanksgiving holiday. President Bush then must sign the bill for it to become law.

FY 2002 Drug and Alcohol Treatment, Prevention, Education and Research Funding Overview

Program	FY 2001 Appropriation	FY 2002 President’s Request	House Passed Funding	Senate Passed Funding
Substance Abuse Block Grant	$1.665 billion	$1.725 billion	$1.725 billion ($60 million increase)	$1.725 billion ($60 million increase)
Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP)	$175 million	$175 million	$187 million ($12 million increase)	$199 million ($24 million increase)
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT)	$256 million	$296 million	$305 million ($49 million increase)	$276 million ($20 million increase)
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)	$781 million	$907 million	$900 million ($119 million increase)	$902 million ($121 million increase)
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)	$341 million	$382 million	$379 million ($38 million increase)	$391 million ($50 million increase)
Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Program	$644 million	$644 million	$644 million (level funding, with $88 million moved into State Grants program)	$644 million (level funding)
Ryan White Care Act	$1.8 billion	$1.8 billion	$1.9 billion ($112 million increase)	$1.88 billion ($75 million increase)