Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016

Floor Speech

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Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Guinta). He and I were of a similar mind in terms of this amendment, and I am delighted that the chairman has accepted the amendment.

We understand the good that drug courts do in our society and in our system. It actually combines the resources of family, the courts, law enforcement, substance abuse agencies, our local and town governments, State governments, and, of course, the Federal Government as well.

Drug addiction in the United States is an epidemic that affects every city and town across America, and it cuts across every demographic. It leaves in its wake shattered lives and families and costs taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars annually.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that the total overall cost of substance abuse in the United States, including lost productivity and health and crime-related costs, exceeds $600 billion every year. The institute also reports that drug addiction treatment has been shown to reduce associated health and social costs by far more than the costs of treatment, itself. Drug courts can be the first step on the road back for those suffering with addiction.

Drug addiction is a disease, and people under the influence often act out of character. Society is beginning to recognize that we need to deal with addiction and its outcome in a way that can have a positive effect on individuals and their families and communities. I believe drug courts offer this opportunity by providing a support system and a road map for moving forward.

The drug courts are specialized dockets which handle cases involving drug- and/or alcohol-dependent offenders charged with nonviolent offenses determined to have been caused or influenced by their addiction.

I have visited many of the prisons in my State, and I would say, in some cases, 80 to 90 percent of those inmates who are in there have dual addictions at the root of their problems.

I do want to recall the support that we received in the past from the former chairman, Frank Wolf of Virginia, who is a good and decent man, and we miss him here. But I am glad to see that the current chairman is of a similar mind, and I want to thank him as well.

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