Congressional Budget for the United States Government for the Fiscal Year 2006 - Continued
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET FOR THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2006--Continued
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Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, it is amazing to me that this is the second time tonight that we have had people who are standing around wanting to change the Medicare Modernization Act, and it does not even go into effect until the 2006. We do not even know that all this money my colleague wants to save will ever be spent in the first place, and if it is spent, it is to bring the plans to rural Wisconsin so that his folks in rural Wisconsin can have the same benefits as people in Florida or Los Angeles. It was a major compromise of this bill. We ought to preserve that compromise because it is for rural America.
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Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I am pleased to rise today and join Senator BAUCUS and our colleagues in offering this Sense of the Senate resolution calling for full funding of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program.
In all areas the President proposes and Congress disposes, and the budget is no different. While I support the President's efforts to control Federal spending to address the budget deficit, I have concerns about how some of his proposals would affect law enforcement efforts to identify, arrest, and prosecute drug trafficking organizations selling their poison to our kids and grand kids. I think it is critically important that we not hinder their ability to protect citizens, especially from the dangers of drugs.
In particular, the proposal to transfer to the Department of Justice and reduce the funding for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program--also known as the HIDTA program--would have a major impact on drug enforcement efforts. With the continued growth of meth in Iowa and throughout the Midwest, we cannot afford to reduce programs designed to increase cooperation and coordination. Just as modem technology allows our businesses and our citizens to freely move around the country, the criminal element within the United States can take advantages of these same opportunities. That's why it is essential that they be able to work together, across jurisdictions, so that our laws against drug trafficking can be effectively enforced.
Congress provided the Office of National Drug Control Policy with the responsibility for the management--and effectiveness--of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program. For a relatively modest investment, Federal, State, and local law enforcement have tremendously benefitted from the increased information sharing and improved coordination that HIDTAs create. The task forces created through the HIDTA program can serve as models for initiatives against terrorism, money laundering, and other modem threats to civil society.
This amendment is consistent with the views expressed by the Budget Committee. It is consistent with the views expressed in the legislation introduced last year to reauthorize the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
I hope that all of our colleagues will join us in supporting this amendment.
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Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, my colleague, Senator ENZI, and I filed our amendment dealing with the defined benefit plan reform proposals in this budget. The amendment provides the necessary flexibility with respect to revenues and outlay savings between our two committees.
Unfortunately, a last-minute objection from staff on the other side sidetracked our amendment. We will pursue this amendment in the conference on the resolution.
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