Message to the Congress
Transmitting Proposed Legislation To Combat Drug Abuse
and Trafficking
To
the Congress of the
I
am pleased to transmit today for your immediate consideration and enactment the
``Drug-Free America Act of 1986.'' This proposal is one of the most important,
and one of the most critically needed, pieces of legislation that my
Administration has proposed. I strongly encourage the Congress to act upon this
proposal before its adjournment.
Drugs
are menacing our Nation. When Nancy and I spoke to the Nation last evening
about what we Americans can do to win the fight against illegal drugs, we said
that it is time to pull together. All Americans -- in our schools, our jobs,
our neighborhoods -- must work together. No one level of government, no single
institution, no lone group of citizens can eliminate the horror of drug abuse.
In this national crusade, each of us is a critical soldier.
From
the beginning of my Administration, I pledged to make the fight against drug
abuse one of my highest priorities. We have taken strong steps to turn the tide
against illegal drugs. To reduce the supply of drugs available in our country,
we moved aggressively against the growers, producers, transporters, smugglers,
and traffickers. Our spending for drug law enforcement has nearly tripled since
1981. To reduce demand, we plotted a course to encourage those who use drugs to
stop and those who do not, never to begin. I am especially pleased at the
success that the military has experienced, reducing drug usage by over 67
percent among our Armed Forces. And as a direct result of
Today
I am announcing a set of initiatives that will build upon what we have already
accomplished. This set of initiatives, totaling almost $900 million in Fiscal
Year 1987 in additional resources targeted to ridding our society of drugs,
brings our total Federal contribution for fighting drugs to over $3 billion.
Our initiatives are composed of several separate budget amendments; a six-title
bill seeking stronger authority for our law enforcement personnel, both at home
and abroad, increased penalties for taking part in the sale of illegal drugs,
and establishing a new program to help our schools reach our youngsters before
drugs reach them; and an Executive order setting the example for our Nation's
workplaces by achieving a drug-free Federal work force.
Through
separate budget amendments that I will soon transmit, I will request $100
million for State grants to enhance our capacity in this country to treat drug
users. We must put a stop to the tragedy of a drug user who seeks help and
cannot get urgently needed treatment. I will request $34 million for increased
research into the most successful rehabilitation and treatment methods. Our
expanded research will include a focus on better ways to intervene with
high-risk children and adolescents. I will also request $69 million for grants
to communities that show they can pull together to fight the scourge in their
neighborhoods. Federal matching funds will be made available to help these
communities to increase education, prevention, and rehabilitation efforts.
Finally, I will submit a request for additional funds for other intervention,
education, and prevention assistance from the Federal government.
Our
law enforcement and interdiction efforts must be increased as well. I will
propose substantial increased funding -- approximately $400 million in 1987 --
for a major new enforcement initiative along our southwest border. A similar
initiative will be proposed for our southeast border, involving at least $100
million in added funds.
I
will be proposing shortly appropriate budget amendments to ensure that these
necessary funds are made available. At the same time, other activities will be
scaled back in order not to add to the Federal deficit.
The
legislation I transmit today, the ``Drug-Free America Act of 1986,'' is the
second component of the greatly increased anti-drug abuse effort to which I
have pledged my Administration. This legislation is a six-titled measure that,
when enacted, will be the cornerstone of our efforts.
Title
I, the ``Drug-Free Federal Workplace Act of 1986,'' enables the Federal
government, as the Nation's largest employer, to set an example in ensuring a
drug-free workplace. The enactment of this title will make clear that the use
of illegal drugs by current or prospective Federal employees will not be
tolerated.
Title
II of the bill, the ``Drug-Free Schools Act of 1986,'' authorizes a major new
grant program -- at $100 million in 1987 -- to assist State and local
governments in establishing drug-free learning environments in elementary and
secondary schools.
Title
III, the ``Substance Abuse Services Amendments of 1986,'' responds to the grave
health threat that the use of illegal drugs presents. It extends, from Fiscal
Year 1988 through Fiscal Year 1992, the block grant under which funds are made
available to the States for alcohol and drug abuse and mental health programs,
and eliminates several unnecessary restrictions contained in current law that
limit the flexibility of the States in putting these funds to work where they
are most needed.
Title
IV, the ``Drug Interdiction and International Cooperation Act of 1986,''
emphasizes the need for increased and better international cooperation in the
fight against drugs. This important set of proposals improves the procedures
used in seizing the proceeds of narcotics-related crimes committed in other
countries, facilitates the participation of
Title
V, the ``Anti-Drug Enforcement Act of 1986,'' contains several measures that
make available the necessary tools to our law enforcement personnel and our
courts to ensure that those convicted of illegal drug offenses are both
suitably punished and deprived of the fruits of their unlawful labors. This
title also substantially increases penalties for drug trafficking and
establishes additional penalties for persons who take advantage of and employ
juveniles in drug trafficking. This title provides the tools to go after the
manufacturers of ``designer drugs,'' and hits drug traffickers in their
pocketbooks by cracking down hard on money laundering, a practice widely used
to conceal the illegal origin of large amounts of cash.
Finally,
Title VI, the ``Public Awareness and Private Sector Initiatives Act of 1986,''
encourages the increased cooperation between the private sector and the
government in educating the public about the hazards of drug abuse.
I
applaud the Congress for grappling with the drug abuse problem on a timely
basis, and I urge speedy consideration of these proposals. But I do not for a
moment suggest that enactment of these legislative proposals will result, by
itself, in the elimination of illegal drugs in
Today,
I underscore my commitment to this effort by signing the third component of my
Administration's anti-drug initiative, an Executive order that supports the
objectives contained in Title I of the proposed legislation. The Executive
Order puts in place the policy that the use of drugs by Federal employees,
either on duty or off duty, will not be tolerated. I am directing the head of
each Federal agency to develop a plan to achieve a drug-free workplace and
authorizing drug testing for applicants for all Federal jobs and for employees
in certain sensitive positions. I am directing that programs to counsel, treat,
and rehabilitate employees found to be using illegal drugs be expanded.
Over
the years, our country has never hesitated to defend itself against the attack
of any enemy, however formidable and whatever the odds. In many ways, the enemy
facing us now -- illegal drugs -- is as formidable as any we have ever
encountered. As a result of the combined actions of all Americans we will
achieve the goal we all seek -- a drug-free
Ronald
Reagan
The
White House,