Russ Feingold: “I'm pleased that the Senate is turning its attention today to the Drug Free Communities Act. As a cosponsor of this…”

“I'm pleased that the Senate is turning its attention today to the Drug Free Communities Act. As a cosponsor of this legislation, I want to thank Senator Grassley for his leadership in developing the bill and the chairman for agreeing to move it through the committee expeditiously. This is an important bill for children and communities, and it deserves to be passed quickly and signed into law. The Drug Free Communities Act will provide needed support to local partnerships, which play an important role in helping children and teens to resist drugs. My State of Wisconsin currently has 132 such community-based partnerships--groups of parents, teachers, community and religious leaders, youth advocates, and others who come together to teach leadership skills and provide kids with alternative activities and opportunities. In Marshfield, WI, for instance, the Wood County Partnership Council has focused on activities to reduce drunk driving by teens. Programs sponsored by the council have included regional teen institutes, parent to parent workshops, and general prevention training of community members.”