Speech #1050013800

In America. according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy. over 12 million people are drug addicts. 10.9 percent of young Americans between the ages of 12 and 17 are using illegal drugs. drugrelated illness. death and crime cost this country nearly $67 billion in 1996. So I have been troubled about what we are doing on our side. and yet. shortly after taking office. the Clinton administration cut the Office of National Drug Control Policy staff by more than 80 percent. hardly making it a priority. They also have made proposals to cut the DEA. the Drug Enforcement Agency. the FBI. the Immigration and Naturalization Service and other Federal agencies. including. though Congress has authorized 1.000 Border Patrol agents. only coming forward with a budget for 500. I have spoken to the Attorney General. Janet Reno. I have spoken to the new drug czar. Barry McCaffrey. both of whom I respect very much. and I have said this is unacceptable. I cannot have my State being overrun and have only half the contingent of new Border Patrol agents that Congress has authorized. Congress has made this a priority. and we must have the same commitment from the administration. The "Just Say No" campaign that Nancy Reagan put forward was effective. and we must have an education effort much like that one that says to our young people. "Drugs will hurt you. they will hurt you tomorrow. and they will hurt you 20 years from now when you have children." We must let them know that if we are going to win this war on drugs.