The legislation reauthorizes the Drug Free Communities Act, which Grassley sponsored in 1997. "The goal of the Act is to redirect funds out of theWashington bureaucracy and directly into the hands of community coalitions dedicated to fighting drug use," Grassley said. "The war on drugs is most effectively fought at the grassroots."
Since the program's inception, approximately $56 million has been awarded to more than 300 community coalitions across the United States. In Iowa, more than $1.2 million has been awarded to groups in Marshalltown, Des Moines, Gladbrook-Reinbeck, Mason City, Sioux City, Iowa City, Davenport and Cedar Rapids.
Coalitions consist of youth, parents, media, law enforcement, school officials, religious organizations and other community representatives. In order to receive funding, groups need to demonstrate that they have been up and running for at least six months and are self-sustaining.
"The idea that communities are best suited to address their own problems has been the key to this program's success," Grassley said. "By bringing together a cross-section of the community to address a common problem, these coalitions are discovering and implementing unique solutions to stop substance abuse in their areas."
The legislation also authorizes $2 million for the National Anti-Drug Coalition Institute. The Institute will provide education, training and technical assistance to leaders of community coalitions for program planning and evaluation.
Grassley's legislation also adds the possibility for a supplemental grant to the Drug-Free Communities Program. The supplemental grant will be used by existing coalitions to support and encourage the development of new, self-supporting community coalitions focused on the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, Grassley said.
"Starting a new anti-drug coalition is a difficult exercise, so we are doing all that we can to help them get off on the right foot," Grassley said. "I know this from personal experience. For the past four years, I've worked with leaders from across Iowa to develop a coalition called Face It Together. This is a state-wide, anti-drug coalition designed to bring people from all walks of life to work together towards a common goal of keeping kids drug free."
Sens. Joe Biden of Delaware, Gordon Smith of Oregon and Tom Daschle of South Dakota joined Grassley in sponsoring the legislation. Reps. Rob Portman of Ohio and Sander Levin of Michigan are expected to introduce a companion bill in the House today.