Rob Portman: “I rise today, Mr. Chairman, in very strong support of the transportation bill and special support for something within…”

“I rise today, Mr. Chairman, in very strong support of the transportation bill and special support for something within it, and that is called the drug impaired driving legislation. It is something that is very critical for our Nation's future, along with having more roads and bridges and infrastructure. It would probably surprise some of my colleagues to learn that for the most recent year for which we have data, almost 11 million Americans drove a car or a truck while under the influence of illegal drugs. Driving under the influence of illegal drugs, of course, caused thousands of accidents, fatalities, and property damage. Over the past decade, we have had a lot of success in getting at the problem of drunk driving. We successfully reduced the number of drunk drivers on the road by detecting and dealing with the issue. We have not done the same with regard to illegal drugs. The nation's users of illegal drugs have faced no similar effort. They continue to drive under the influence of drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamines, marijuana and other drugs that do impair your judgment and do create these accidents and fatalities. A more effective public policy for detection and prosecution will not only involve traffic safety and create a deterrent, but it will also get those drivers off the road.”