Elijah Cummings: “I rise today to support the Drug-Free Communities Act. I thank the sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from Ohio…”

“I rise today to support the Drug-Free Communities Act. I thank the sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Portman] for his vision, his guidance, and his mission. He and his staff worked in a bipartisan fashion with Members on both sides of the aisle and they are certainly to be commended for their hard work. I also wish to thank the chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, the gentleman from Illinois, Congressman Hastert, and my ranking member, the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Barrett], for their leadership. And certainly the hard work of the gentleman from New York [Mr. Rangel], and the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Levin], does not go unnoticed, and I thank them. My colleagues, this legislation is so important to our Nation. Many areas, like my home district of Baltimore, are disproportionately ravaged by the drug epidemic. This bill would set a blueprint and a road map for community organizations to receive matching funds and provide assistance in their drug prevention programs. This measure focuses on a theme that I echo continuously when I visit neighborhoods throughout Baltimore. To be successful in this war on drugs, it will take a partnership between State and local governments, educators and health care professionals, law enforcement officials and community groups, as well as religious organizations and the private sector.”