Political Quotes

“like many citizens across the country, the residents of Washington State have witnessed a dramatic increase in drug smuggling and drug abuse throughout Washington State in recent years. Unfortunately, these negative trends are continuing to rise, and for that reason, I believe that Washington State is an excellent candidate for designation as a high-intensity drug trafficking area [HIDTA]. For example, drug addiction and abuse is a major public health problem. Overall, according to the latest available statistics, drug-related emergency room visits in Washington State per 100,000 persons are running over 50 percent higher than the national average. Local authorities are also concerned by both the increased level of drug usage, trafficking, and gang violence associated with illicit drug trafficking. Moreover, the Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area, the Blaine border crossing at the international border between the United States and Canada, and the Yakima Valley in central Washington are gateways for the introduction of illegal drugs into the United States. The threats posed by heroin, marijuana, cocaine, hashish and methamphetamine merit special attention as the volume of these drugs passing through the area has a direct impact on other areas of the country.”