Jim Ramstad: “Every day politicians talk about a drug-free America. Now, the Clinton administration is proposing to spend another $1.6…”

“Every day politicians talk about a drug-free America. Now, the Clinton administration is proposing to spend another $1.6 billion for drug eradication in Colombia so that we can become 'drug-free America.' Mr. Speaker, let us get real. We have already spent $600 million to eradicate drugs at their source in Colombia, and what has happened? Both cocaine and heroin production in Colombia have skyrocketed. Despite eradication efforts, cocaine production in Colombia has more than doubled since 1995. Colombia is now the source of 80 percent of the cocaine that comes into America, 75 percent of the heroin; and there is absolutely no sign Colombia's government can stop it or even make a dent in the problem any time soon, even with additional American dollars. Let us face it. Our supply-side efforts have been a colossal failure. When will Congress and the President wake up and face reality? Over the last 10 years, the Federal Government has spent over $150 billion to combat the supply of illegal drugs. Yet, the cocaine market is glutted, as always; and heroin is readily available at record-high purities. While the number of casual drug users may have declined slightly, the number of hard-core addicts has not. In short, Mr. Speaker, the war on drugs by the United States Government has been a costly failure. Now, Mr. Speaker, a soldier in that war is saying just that, telling it like it is, and Congress should listen to him.”