Grassley said the funding levels proposed by the Clinton administration "don't make any sense" because of the bi-partisan agreement reached last year on the need to beef-up federal support for the fight against drug smugglers and reflected in the budget passed by Congress and signed by Clinton in October.
Grassley said Republican leaders in the Senate took prompt action on the priorities spelled out in last year's plan by developing a comprehensive counter-narcotics bill known as S.5, or The Drug Free Century Act of 1999. "Reducing the supply and shutting down the drug pushers are critical roles for federal law enforcement authorities," Grassley said. "We need a commitment to stocking the arsenal through the legislative process. Presidential leadership is very important to making our effort a success. So it's disappointing to find that the White House budget presented this week fails to do its part," Grassley said.
Grassley today identified specific shortcomings in the administration budget and pledged to direct additional resources to the war on drugs. He said the goals could be accomplished with passage of the various components of S.5.
"For an anti-drug strategy to work it needs to be balanced and include three key areas: demand reduction, domestic law enforcement and international supply reduction. S.5 continues in the direction we achieved last year by renewing a focus on international eradication and interdiction efforts and continuing support for community-based demand reduction efforts. It's clear that de- emphasizing international supply reduction has only led to more available and affordable drugs in the United States," Grassley said. In fact, since 1992, drug use by high school seniors has increased by 80 percent for marijuana, 80 percent for cocaine and 100 percent for heroin.
In Iowa, methamphetamine has swept across the state in recent years. Law enforcement authorities busted 63 methamphetamine labs in 1997; 320 in 1998. Even so, as much as 85 percent of the meth in Iowa comes from Mexico, either directly over the border or through California.
Grassley said the Clinton administration budget shortchanges counter-drug efforts in key areas.
In addition, Grassley said the administration plan does not call on the DEA to open any more cases in the year 2000 than it does today. "That means the DEA won't arrest a greater number of drug traffickers or prosecute a greater number of cases than it does already. You can be sure the drug traffickers have plans to increase their activity," Grassley said.
S.5 also calls upon the agency to develop a plan for the safe and swift clean-up of methamphetamine labs. "We need a comprehensive clean-up policy in place to safely dispose of the toxic contaminants left behind after the drug makers leave the scene," Grassley said.
The President's budget also reduces funding for the National Guard, which provides critical support to law enforcement agencies with surveillance, intelligence and eradication efforts. "Law enforcement efforts at all levels would suffer from a loss of this technical support," Grassley said. Last year, Congress provided $168 million in total funding for the Guard. The President's proposed budget includes $149 million.
In addition, Grassley said the administration budget zeroed-out the budget for new technology and equipment for the Customs Service. Last year, Congress met the administration request of $54 million for vehicle inspection systems, mobile x-ray trucks and cargo container inspection equipment, and provided another $80 million in a supplemental spending bill.
Grassley said that last year Congress recognized the contribution made by the U.S. Coast Guard to drug interdiction in the Carribean and Eastern Pacific regions by adding $266 million to the $500 million provided for standard operations. This year, the President's proposed budget includes just $566 million for the Coast Guard. S.5 recommends funding an additional $100 million in operation and maintenance funding.
"Without adequate support, how can we expect these key agencies to do the job?" said Grassley. Grassley is chairman of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control and a senior member of the Judiciary Committee.