Mark Souder: “this amendment raises the funding for drug court programs by an additional $6 million over the amount currently…”

“this amendment raises the funding for drug court programs by an additional $6 million over the amount currently contained in the bill, which we also just added $3 million to a little while ago in the amendment offered by the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Ensign). Although the committee should be commended for providing a $10 million increase plus the $3 million that were accepted over last year's level and the President's request for drug courts, I believe that the demand and social and economic benefits of the program justify an even larger increase. There is no greater issue in our society than our war against illegal drugs. It is both a war and, as our drug czar said, a cancer, and we need creative solutions to address this. I want to commend the chairman of this subcommittee who has been a leader in the drug task force, the Anti-Drug Task Force, as we work towards a drug-free America, and for his willingness to increase, as he has pointed out with this amendment, a 33 percent increase in drug courts in this country.”