Jack Reed: “I strongly support Chairman Landrieu's intention in the District of Columbia fiscal year 2002 appropriations bill to…”

“I strongly support Chairman Landrieu's intention in the District of Columbia fiscal year 2002 appropriations bill to allow the city to use its own funds to support a needle exchange program in the city, and I oppose Senator Allen's amendment to restrict the use of those funds. The current ban on the use of Federal funds for this program remains intact in the legislation before us. This issue truly is about the ability of an independent jurisdiction to use its locally raised revenue to support a program that its elected officials have deemed appropriate. In my own State of Rhode Island, for example, a needle exchange program called ENCORE has existed in the city of Providence since 1995, supported by local funds. This has been, and continues to be, a very successful program. Many of the other programs in the 34 States that currently have either state-funded or city-funded needle exchange programs also have been successful in decreasing the spread of HIV/ AIDS. There are currently well over 100 different needle exchange programs around the country working to effect this positive change. The ENCORE program in Rhode Island has enrolled over 1,500 clients and provides education, counseling, access to sterile syringes, and referrals to substance abuse treatment programs. Followup studies and date continue to show that participants in this program have substantially reduced their risk behaviors.”