On the recordFebruary 24, 2010
in 1997 then-Senator Biden and I sponsored legislation to create the Drug Free Communities, DFC, grant program. At the time, I believed, as I still do today, that one of the most effective ways the Federal Government can prevent drug abuse from flourishing is by supporting local community efforts to identify, prevent and eradicate the sources of abuse. Since the passage of the Drug Free Communities Act, hundreds of community anti-drug coalitions have received Federal grants to further their efforts to halt the spread of drug abuse in their communities. Despite the successes of the DFC program, drug abuse continues to challenge our communities. More often than not, a community can rise up to meet this challenge head on and confront the abuse before it spreads. However, drug abuse is one challenge that can emerge in rapid fashion. In difficult economic times when States and communities struggle to stay within their budgets without eliminating vital services, it is important that community anti-drug coalitions do not suffer from a lack of resources. This is why I am pleased to join my colleague, Senator Leahy, in introducing the Drug Free Communities Enhancement Act, DFCEA, of 2010. This legislation builds off the successful DFC grant program by allowing community coalitions to form a strategy that best fits their community to confront a sudden or emerging drug threat without Federal interference.
