Charles Skelton: “let me say I take a back seat to no one on the issue of drug control. I support all serious initiatives to rid our…”

“let me say I take a back seat to no one on the issue of drug control. I support all serious initiatives to rid our country in the hemisphere of the scourge of illegal drug trafficking and drug use. I rise, however, as the ranking minority member of the House Committee on National Security to express grave reservations over the process, over the process under which this important bill is being considered. But I also consider myself a jealous guardian of the process and the rights and responsibilities of the Members of our institution as well as the committees they are on. This bill has major and far-reaching national and international implications, along with a staggering $2.3 billion price tag. Yet, incredibly, House committee consideration has been totally eliminated from the process in which the bill is being brought to this floor. No fewer than five committees, unfortunately, waive their jurisdiction over elements of the bill; and I for one would like to go on record as saying that this is an incredibly dangerous precedent to set here in the House.”