Major Owens: “this substitute would separately authorize $100 million for the Governor of each State to support community-based…”

“this substitute would separately authorize $100 million for the Governor of each State to support community-based prevention drug and violence prevention activities. I am offering it as a compromise in an effort to try to resolve this contentious issue. Members need to understand that the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act is a program in serious trouble. Continuing questions about the effectiveness and accountability of this program have led to dramatic reductions in funding. Last year the Appropriations Committee cut the program by one-third; this year the House Budget Committee has recommended cutting another $100 million from the program. To address these concerns, the committee has included significant new accountability requirements for school-based drug and violence prevention programs in the reauthorization. The education community has supported these changes. This substitute is an effort to establish a comparable measure of accountability for community programs funded under the Governor's share of drug-free schools appropriations. Under current law and under the Barrett amendment, the Governors receive a setaside off the top of total appropriations for the program. They do not have to demonstrate that their programs are effective; no matter what, they get their 20 percent. Some Governors have clearly taken advantage of this free ride.”