Executive Session

Floor Speech

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Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, the next Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, ONDCP, has a tough job ahead of him.

The new drug czar will have to work hard to stem the rise in prescription and over-the-counter medicine abuse and the drug cartel violence crossing our southern borders, as well as the issues we have been combating for many years: traditional drug abuse.

The U.S. has a major drug problem. While we are leveraging law enforcement resources for interdiction and drug crime reduction, we also face an active movement to legalize dangerous drugs. I have long been an opponent of the legalizing cause, as I hear all the time how dangerous drugs are to our youth and families.

The new ONDCP Director must emphasize and invigorate the law enforcement community's efforts to stop illegal drug use. He must be a strong leader for all agencies and organizations that are stakeholders in the fight against illegal drugs. He must bring a respect to the office of ONDCP that has been lacking for some time. It is vital that the new Director is able to coordinate domestic and international drug strategy, including ensuring that the Merida Initiative is a success. The next Director must also be able to bring together and work with coalitions at the local level to combat meth, coordinate policy on the laws directed to eradicate meth and marijuana production, and be engaged in efforts to stop opium production in Afghanistan and Colombia. His drug strategy must produce results at the national and international level to address drug manufacturing, interdiction, prevention, and abuse.

I have some concerns about Chief Kerlikowske's nomination, given his record.

For instance, in 2003, Seattle voters passed Initiative 75, which made marijuana possession the lowest priority for the Seattle Police Department. During the debate, Chief Kerlikowske opposed the measure only because he disagreed with voters determining what laws a police force should enforce. In answers to my written questions, he merely noted marijuana was already low on the force's list. Chief Kerlikowske's lax record on marijuana enforcement concerns me because marijuana is still often the precursor to more dangerous drugs, and it only endangers those who use it. The next ONDCP Director must be a strong opponent of marijuana and all illegal drugs, as well as act as an aggressive enforcer of the laws regulating these harmful narcotics.

Additionally, Chief Kerlikowske apparently has no experience on international supply interdiction. We need someone who understands international drug problems and can help formulate a successful long-term strategy to address them. Chief Kerlikowske's lack of this experience, along with his lax record on marijuana crimes, raise questions for me on his ability to act as an effective Director of ONDCP. However, several organizations, such as the Major Cities Chief Association, the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors, and the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, have expressed support for this nominee. While I will not hold up his nomination, I put Chief Kerlikowske on notice that I expect him to provide strong leadership in producing and coordinating drug control strategy and to aggressively work to enforce our drug laws.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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