Paul Coverdell: “from 1980 to 1992 drug use among teenagers was reduced by two-thirds. It was reduced in great part by the massive…”

“from 1980 to 1992 drug use among teenagers was reduced by two-thirds. It was reduced in great part by the massive interdiction program and much of an education program that was voluntary. My point here is that the amendment we have offered to the tobacco bill, which shares an addiction problem with these new revenues, is a bold component for drug interdiction and drug education, the very points that the Senator from Massachusetts is making. The proposal he puts to the table is designed very much the same way. As I said, there are nuances that are somewhat different. I think the likelihood of funding for this bold program under the Senator's amendment is far less--far less. Yes, if it all came about, it would be augmented, but there are more than sufficient revenues in the proposal we have on the floor, which is a tax bill, to fund a strong drug interdiction proposal and a strong antismoking proposal.”