Washington Roundup

September 21, 2001

Contact: Jenny Collier

Legal Action Center

202-544-5478

                                                               

House Speaker Hastert Creates Task Force for a Drug Free America:

Both Demand Reduction and Interdiction Issues on Agenda

Last week, House of Representatives Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) introduced the Speaker’s Task Force for a Drug Free America.  The goal of the 48 member Task Force will be to advise the Speaker on issues of national drug policy and to help reduce the demand for and supply of illegal drugs in America.  The Task Force will be chaired by Representatives Rob Portman (R-OH), John Mica (R-FL), and Mark Souder (R-IN). 

Speaker Hastert stated that the Task Force will pursue a balanced approach that will include both demand reduction and interdiction strategies.  He cited the House of Representative’s recent passage of the Drug Free Communities Act reauthorization legislation as an example of a demand reduction activity that the House had already pursued as a part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce drug use.  

In addition to focusing on drug treatment and prevention, the Task Force will implement strategies to reduce the links between illegal drug trade and terrorism.  Speaker Hastert described money made from illegal drug trade as the “financial engine that fuels many terrorist organizations. . . .”  The Task Force will work with Drug Enforcement Agency Director Asa Hutchinson on counter terrorism activities related to illegal drug trade.  Director Hutchinson served on an earlier version of the Speaker’s Task Force when he was a member of the House of Representatives.  

Appropriations Process Still Not Underway for FY 2002 Alcohol and Drug

Treatment, Prevention, and Research Funding

The House and Senate Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittees still have not begun to review (mark up) the FY 2002 funding bill, despite the fact that FY 2002 begins on Monday, October 1st.  Part of the reason that the bill, which funds drug and alcohol treatment, prevention, and research, has not moved forward is because White House and Congressional leaders are still negotiating the final details of the entire FY 2002 budget agreement, including details on education funding.  White House and Congressional staff state that the earliest that mark up could occur in the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee would be next Wednesday.  Congress has passed a Continuing Resolution to provide funding for government agencies without a final FY 2002 budget.