Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. KUSTOFF of Tennessee. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my amendment to increase funding for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program by $5 million.
I have had numerous conversations with law enforcement throughout my district, and it is crystal clear that the opioid epidemic continues to be one of their primary concerns. Our drug task forces in the Eighth Congressional District desperately need these resources, as we have seen a spike in narcotics trafficking along Interstate 40 in Tennessee.
Mr. Chairman, I know that many of my colleagues are having similar discussions in their district, so they understand just how serious this issue is becoming for the safety and the security of the American people. It is no secret that the spread of illegal drugs throughout west Tennessee and across the Nation leads to higher crime rates, which ultimately increases the financial strain on our local, State, and Federal law enforcement.
We must do more to support law enforcement in this fight. This amendment will provide necessary funds for additional equipment and man-hours to conduct and carry out lengthy investigations to arrest these drug traffickers. The brave men and women in uniform are working tirelessly on the front lines to combat the opioid epidemic, and we can't afford to simply sit back and watch.
We also must think of the resources needed to battle the drug addiction epidemic, such as the opioid crisis. The extra funding will take major steps to target these high-risk areas in a front-end approach to preventing the spread of the opioid crisis in our communities. We must be proactive now, because prevention is the best long-term solution.
I am a former United States attorney, and I have seen firsthand how much these funds can make a huge difference in forward progress. I believe that funding the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program is a good first step to supporting our law enforcement and combating rampant opioid epidemics.
Law enforcement at the local, State, and Federal level have expressed support for this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to do the same today.
I also want to thank my colleagues, Mrs. Comstock and Mr. McKinley, for their hard work and support of this amendment.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source