Speech of Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-Minnesota), March 29, 2000

Speech of Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-Minnesota), March 29, 2000
Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I want to thank the speakers on both sides of this issue. This truly is a defining moment in a 30-year effort to fight illegal drug use in America. We can continue down the road of a failed policy by spending another $1.7 billion for more eradication, more interdiction efforts that have been proven futile, that have been proven not to work; or we can prioritize treatment for addiction, which has been proven cost effective in study after study, in addict after addict, in alcoholic after alcoholic lucky enough to be treated.

This is not a political issue, my colleagues. This is a life or death issue for five and a half million addicts in America who need treatment and cannot get it today.

This amendment is also fiscally responsible. I want to thank the National Taxpayers Union for endorsing this amendment. I also want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Campbell) for cosponsoring the amendment.

Let us save the taxpayers $1.7 billion. Let us begin the process of reordering our priorities in the war against drugs.

Mr. Chairman, I urge a `yes' vote to delete funding for the Colombia boondoggle.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

As of March 30, 2000, this document was also available online at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?r106:H29MR0-173: