Paul Coverdell: “This is an amendment about an epidemic, a drug epidemic that is occurring in the United States. In the last 36 months…”

“This is an amendment about an epidemic, a drug epidemic that is occurring in the United States. In the last 36 months, Mr. President, 2 million children in our country have tragically been embroiled in this drug epidemic. That is 2 million sisters or brothers, next-door neighbors, because the drug war was shut down. This is but one of many attempts to reenergize our battle at home and abroad to deal with this drug epidemic. In 1992, $462 million was invested in international narcotics law enforcement. In fiscal year 1996, it dropped to $135 million. I think the President of the United States has recognized this is a serious problem, both for our country and for his administration. So in the 1997 budget, he requested that $213 million be invested in the international narcotics war. In other words, a turnaround. This bill, both House and Senate, undercut that. The effort of this amendment is very simple. It is to simply meet the President's request to get it up to $213 million.”