For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
December 14, 2001
President Empowers Communities in Fight Against Illegal Drug Abuse
Remarks by the President in Signing Drug-Free Communities Act Reauthorization Bill
Omni Shoreham Hotel
Washington, D.C.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much. It's
an honor to be here. Let me first say, we're
winning. (Applause.) We've got a new war, and I
want you to know your government is doing everything we can to defeat
those who hate freedom. We will defeat them abroad, thanks
to a fabulous military. (Applause.) We are
patient, we're relentless because our cause is just and it is
noble. Plus we're doing everything we can at home to prevent
the enemy from hitting us again.
There's another war at home, too, and that's to win the war against
the scourge of drugs. (Applause.) I'm so glad --
it's an honor to be introduced by America's new Director of National
Drug Policy Council. John Walters brings a passionate
concern and a strong background to the fight against drugs.
In the late 1980s, he was one of the architects of the federal
government's most successful antidrug policies. And he'll
lead our administration's effort with determination and intelligence,
with resolve and moral clarity. I am proud to have John as a
member of my Cabinet. (Applause.)
And I'm honored to speak to the Community Antidrug Coalitions of
America. I want to thank you all for being
here. You're a part of America's armies of compassion,
examples of service and citizenship. You restore hope to
lives, and safety to neighborhoods. All Americans admire
your dedication. And the bill that I will soon sign will
strengthen your work. (Applause.)
We share an important commitment. For the sake of our
children and for the good of our nation, we will reduce drug use in
America. I want to thank General Art Dean for being the CEO
of this important group of soldiers in the armies of
compassion. (Applause.) I want to thank the three
members of the United States Congress who stand up here with me today,
leaders in this important effort. Not only leaders in
Washington, but as you'll soon hear, leaders in the communities in
which they live. Thank you so much for being
here. (Applause.)
Drug use threatens everything, everything that is best about our
country. It breaks the bonds between parents and
children. It turns productive citizens into
addicts. It transforms schools into places of violence and
chaos. It makes playgrounds into crime scenes. It
supports gangs here at home. And abroad, it's so important
for Americans to know that the traffic in drugs finances the work of
terror, sustaining terrorists -- (applause) -- that terrorists use drug
profits to fund their cells to commit acts of murder.
If you quit drugs, you join the fight against terror in
America. (Applause.)
And above all, we must reduce drug use for one great moral
reason: Over time, drugs rob men, women, and children of
their dignity, and of their character. Illegal drugs are the
enemies of ambition and hope. And when we fight against
drugs, we fight for the souls of our fellow
Americans. (Applause.)
In this struggle, we know what works. We must
aggressively and unabashedly teach our children the dangers of
drugs. We must aggressively treat addiction wherever we find
it. And we must aggressively enforce the laws against drugs
at our borders and in our communities. (Applause.)
America cannot pick and choose between these goals. All
are necessary if any are to be effective. And my
administration will pursue these goals with energy and focus and strong
commitment. It's important for the future of this country
that we do so.
This comprehensive approach has been tried before, and it has
worked. From the mid '80s, to the early '90s, drug use
amongst high school seniors was reduced each and every
year. Progress was steady, and over time,
dramatic. Yet recently, we've lost ground in this important
battle.
According to the most recent data, the percentage of 12th graders
using an illicit drug in the previous month rose from less than 15
percent in 1992 to about 25 percent in the year 2000. Over
the same period, the percentage of 10th graders using an illicit drug
in the previous month rose from 11 percent to more than 22
percent. Marijuana use amongst 8th graders rose, while their
perceptions of the dangers of marijuana use fell. There was
a similar decrease in the perception of risk involved with LSD and
powder and crack cocaine.
Behind these numbers are countless personal
tragedies. And my administration will not be indifferent to
them. We must return the fight against drugs to the center
of our national agenda. (Applause.)
And as we win this fight, America will be a more hopeful
place. And as we battle against a major, significant problem
in America, and show progress, this country's promise will be more
available to more of our citizens.
It's a national imperative that we win. And I understand
that you all are amongst the most important allies we have to achieve
this goal. You've got a track record of
success. You sponsor drug education programs, and youth
summits, and parent training courses. You support drug
intervention programs, and foster great counseling
services. You're helping to build a culture of
responsibility, one that respects the law, one that teaches our
children right from wrong, and one that strengthens our commitments to
our fellow citizens.
In Troy, Michigan, the Troy Community Coalition for the Prevention
of Drug and Alcohol Abuse is building leadership skills to help teens
to say no to drugs and alcohol. As a result, alcohol use
among high schoolers has declined in dramatic fashion.
I want to thank Sandy Levin, the Congressman from the great state
of Michigan, who is on the stage with us, for helping lead that
effort. And I want to thank the good people from Troy,
Michigan, for standing up and doing what's right for your
community. (Applause.)
I'm particularly proud that the coalition's leader, Mary Ann
Solberg, has agreed to join John Walters as the Deputy Director of the
National Drug Control Policy. (Applause.) Now
that you have your uniform on, go get them. (Laughter.)
Also on the stage with us is Congressman Rob Portman, who is the
President of the Coalition for a Drug-Free Greater Cincinnati, a winner
of CADCA's Outstanding Coalition Award. I understand his
program well because I saw it first hand in Cincinnati. I
want to thank Rob for his leadership.
I appreciate this coalition's practical approach, by providing tips
to parents on how to deal with drug use, provide financial incentives
to businesses that have drug-free workplace programs. And
the most aggressive antidrug media campaign is in Cincinnati -- for a
market its size. The result is that for the first time in a
decade, teen drug use in greater Cincinnati is beginning to level
off. They're making great progress in that important
city. It goes to show what happens when our nation
invigorates the grass roots to deal with a problem that we must solve,
early, before it is too late. (Applause.)
And also on this stage is the fine United States Senator from the
state of Iowa, Chuck Grassley. He's worked with the people
of Iowa to begin what they call the Face it Together Coalition, the
first ever statewide antidrug coalition led by a United States
senator. The coalition has a comprehensive workplace drug
education program. It works with coalitions around the state
for best practices, for community based antidrug efforts. It
conducts workshops to train faith-based leaders on effective drug
prevention strategies.
Senator Grassley, I appreciate you taking the
lead. (Applause.) It's a hard job being a
senator, but it's easy to forget the community responsibilities when
you get elected to such a high office as senator. And yet
this Senator never forgot where he came from. This Senator
asked a question, what can I do -- just like you asked that question --
what can I do, to improve the lives of the citizens of a state he so
dearly loves? And he chose to fight, stand side by side with
the good citizens of Iowa to fight drug use. And Mr.
Senator, thank you for your leadership. (Applause.)
I'm so happy to be able to sign an important piece of legislation
in your presence. The bill I sign today increases the total
amount of funds authorized for programs like the ones we just described
from more than $50 million a year in the current fiscal year to nearly
$100 million by the year 2007. (Applause.) It
allows coalitions to reapply for grants even after five years, as long
-- (applause). Make sure you meet your matching fund
requirement. (Laughter and applause.)
It instructs Director Walters to focus the greatest resources on
areas of the greatest needs, by giving priority to coalitions that
serve economically-disadvantaged neighborhoods. The
reauthorization bill creates a new class of grants that will help
established coalitions assist new ones, assist new folks on how to
battle this scourge called drug use. (Applause.)
And the bill creates a National Community Antidrug Coalition
Institute to provide education and training and technical assistance to
coalitions all throughout our country. (Applause.)
There are other steps we must take. Many of you are
working with faith-based institutions, because you've seen the power of
faith to transform lives. Last month, the National Center on
Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, led by Joe
Califano, released a report on substance abuse, religion and
spirituality. The report found that "religion and
spirituality can play a powerful role in the prevention and treatment
of substance abuse, and on the maintenance of sobriety."
My armies of compassion legislation will provide support to
faith-based institutions working to prevent and treat drug
abuse. The House passed this legislation. I urge
the Senate to do so. This nation must not fear faith-based
programs, we must welcome them. (Applause.) We
must welcome anybody who is willing to join in this important goal and
in this important cause.
We've got a responsibility here in Washington to lead the fight
against drug abuse. But we understand here that one of the
best ways to do so is to support the people in the neighborhoods, on
the streets, the community coalitions which are truly the front line in
our battle to save people's lives.
You've devoted your lives to the well-being of others, and for this
I'm incredibly grateful. On behalf of all Americans, thank
you for your compassion; thank you for your concern; thank you for your
love for your country and your fellow human being.
And now it is my honor to invite Director Walters and General Dean,
along with the sponsors of this important piece of legislation to join
me as I sign this bill. May God bless you all, and may God
bless America. (Applause.)