Extensions of Remarks

9164 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS April21, 1987 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS THE DRUG WAR ing faces strong opposition and, if it passes, Federal spending for drug law enforce certain challenges in the courts, several sen ment in this fiscal year reached $3.048 bil ators said they shared the Administration lion. The Administration has proposed HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL view that such tests are the "only real de spending $2.468 billion in the fiscal year OF NEW YORK terrent" to drug use. 1988, a reduction of $580 million. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES But legislators also plan to press for a Assistance for state and local enforcement tactic less welcome at the White House this efforts would drop from $238 million to $5 Tuesday, April21, 1987 year: spending money. million under the Reagan budget. Mr. RANGEL Mr. Speaker, in the closing Last year, before the November elections, Funds for Customs Service drug law en days of the 99th Congress, you spearheaded Congress approved $3.96 billion in new forcement would drop from $553 million to a bipartisan legislative initiative to curtail drug spending for drug eradication, interdiction, $425 million. rehabilitation, treatment and education. Spending for antidrug education would abuse in America, the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of This year the President proposed spending fall from $200 million to $100 million. 1986. President Reagan signed H.R. 5484 into $3.03 billion, a reduction of more than $900 Expenditures to prevent drug abuse would law, as Public Law 99-570, with great fanfare million. To achieve the cut, he proposed vir be cut by $184 million, from $505 million to at an elaborate signing ceremony on October tually eliminating a Justice Department $321 million. 27, 1987. Many of us in the Congress thought program for assistance to state and local Treatment programs for drug users would that at long last the President had made a se law-enforcement agencies and nearly halv be reduced by $211 million, from $455 mil ing spending for education and treatment. lion to $244 million. rious commitment to curtailing drug abuse in Numerous Republicans, as well as Demo America. When the President's budget for It is unclear if the White House will fight crats, are not only disturbed that the Presi Congress on the issue. But several Adminis fiscal year 1988 was unveiled in January, we dent wants to reduce Federal antidrug tration officials said that they doubt Presi saw that we were badly mistaken. spending in 1988, they also are perplexed dent Reagan's aides would risk compound Funding for drug abuse education was cut that the Administration seems to be under ing the embarrassment of having sought back from $250 million under the bill to a pro cutting programs that have broad support cuts by fighting Congressional efforts to re posed level of $100 million. Funding for as around the nation. store spending. sistance to State and local governments for "Cities of all sizes, in all regions, are en Representative Charles B. Rangel, the gaged in a war against inner-city pushers Manhattan Democrat who heads the House fiscal years 1988 and 1989, which was $230 and international traffickers, and we are million annually, was zeroed out. Funding for Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and losing," Joseph P. Riley, the mayor of Control, said, "The recent events clearly dis drug abuse treatment and prevention pro Charleston, S.C., said last week. Mr. Riley, played publicly what many of us knew pri grams was effectively cut in half when a deci president of the United States Conference vately. The President does not focus on seri sion was made to spend $262 million over 2 of Mayors, was one of 50 mayors, police ous, complex matters, and it could be the years, instead of $241 million in fiscal year chiefs and other officials from 25 Eastern President seriously believes that comic 1987. cities who met in Miami last week to discuss books and slogans like 'Just Say No' will win new ways of dealing with their drug prob this, it won't." Just how serious a problem is drug abuse in lems. America today? The Select Committee on Even some Administration officials were Narcotics estimates that there are 4 to 6 mil dismayed at the proposed cuts, especially in lion regular users of cocaine; 20 to 25 million light of last year's rhetoric. "This has fool THE $1.5 BILLION SALES TAX regular users of marijuana; and 600,000 ishly placed the Administration in a ridicu LOOPHOLE heroin addicts in America. The select commit lous posture," said one Education Depart tee also estimates that in 1986, 150 tons of ment official, who said the cuts were made HON. BYRON L. DORGAN by the Office of Management and Budget in cocaine, 12 tons of heroin, and between its efforts to reduce the deficit, as mandated OF NORTH DAKOTA 30,000 and 60,000 tons of marijuana entered by law. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the United States. Some Republicans on Capitol Hill blame Tuesday, April 21, 1987 Mr. Speaker, an article from the March 15, the handling of the drug issue on the White 1987, edition of the New York Times entitled House's preoccupation late last year with Mr. DORGAN of North Dakota. Mr. Speaker, "In Reagan's Drug War, Congress Has the Big the escalating Iran-contra affair. "Look at at a time when our States have been con Guns" describes the dismay across the coun that White House, look at that disarray," fronted with severe cuts in Federal assistance try, here on Capitol Hill, and even within the said one key Republican legislative aide. and are searching for funds to support neces "This is just another example. It's a mys sary programs and services, they are losing administration itself, over the President's pro tery how the President's people put togeth posed fiscal year 1988 budget for drug pro er their budget." more than $1.5 billion in annual sales tax rev grams. I ask that it be inserted into the CoN Such Administration spokesmen as Attor enue. Those States with a sales tax obligate GRESSIONAL RECORD at this point. ney General Edwin Meese 3d defend the their main street businesses to collect the tax The article follows: cuts. The critics of the 1988 budget, Mr. at the time of sale and remit the revenue to [From The New York Times, Mar. 15, 19871 Meese said in a speech in January, are "mis the State. takenly or deliberately mispresenting the But, as a result of a 1967 Supreme Court IN REAGAN'S DRUG WAR, CONGRESS HAS THE facts" that some of the money appropriated decision-National Bellas Hess-the States BIG GUNS last year was to be used for one-time capital (By Bernard Weinraub) are limited in their ability to collect the taxes expenditures, such as helicopters, for state from out-of-State firms. Although mail order WASHINGTON.-It was to be, in President and local law-enforcement agencies; some Reagan's words, " a national crusade against was for "start-up" assistance to help munici firms and other direct marketing businesses drugs, a sustained, relentless effort to rid palities begin education programs. He said actively solicit business within the State, they America of this scourge by mobilizing every that "the proper Federal role in combating may not be required to collect the taxes due segment of our society against drug abuse." drugs has received continually increasing on the sales. Although the consumer remains Now Congress is threatening to take Mr. support" since Mr. Reagan took office. legally liable for payment of the tax, the Reagan at his word. But Senator Alfonse M. D'Amato, the States' costs of collection far exceed actual Urine testing, an antidrug measure that New York Republican who is a member of revenue and is, in any case, practically impos the Administration strongly favors, would the Appropriations panel on Labor, Health sible. be extended to millions of workers on air and Human Services and Education, said, lines, railroads, buses and trucks under a bill "We're going to get the major share of The beneficiaries of this Supreme Court de swiftly approved last week in a 19-to-1 vote these cuts restored." Mr. D'Amato and cision are the out-of-State mail order sellers of the Senate Commerce Committee. others said they would focus on restoring and direct marketing industry. These firms Though a provision requiring random test- money for several key programs. have a marginal price advantage equal to the e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. April 21, 1987 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 9165 tax rate of the State of the consumer. Buyers Mr. Speaker, I insert the text of the article in have accomplished what I wanted to accom are encouraged to pass by main street busi the CoNGRESSIONAL RECORD: plish. I wanted to reduce the size and cost of nesses and purchase from out-of-State firms. [From Insight Magazine, Apr. 6, 19871 government and continue to take care of the most needy. I believe I've done it." As more customers shift their purchase pat A TEAM PLAYER'S QUIET REVOLUTION No one would argue with Pierce's assess terns, States sales tax collections will futher SUIDIARY ment that the agency has gone through a decline and force the States to increase the Samuel Pierce, the Secretary of Housing retrenchment during his tenure, the longest sales tax rate to try to offset the lost reve and Urban Development, is a team player of any HUD secretary.

Load more