FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 10, 2005
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CONTACT: ONDCP Press Office
(202) 395–6618
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John P. Walters
Director
of the Office of National Drug Control Policy
Discusses FY 2006 Federal Drug Budget with Congress
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| CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY
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February 10, 2005
Statement by John P. Walters, Director, ONDCP, Before the House Committee on Government Reform, and Human Resources Chairman Mark E. Souder, 109th Congress. “Fiscal Year 2006 Drug Budget”
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WASHINGTON, D.C.—Office of National Drug Control Policy Director John P. Walters testified before the House Government Reform Committee today on President George W. Bush's FY 2006 Federal drug budget.
"Today, I am proud to report that teen drug use has declined 17 percent over the past three years, exceeding the President's goal of reducing teen drug use by 10 percent in two years," Director Walters continued, "Because of these reductions there are now 600,000 fewer teens using drugs than there where in 2001."
The President's fiscal year 2006 budget increases funding levels for drug programs throughout the federal government. The Administration has asked for an increase of $268.4 million, bringing the total federal drug budget in FY 2006 up to $12.4 billion. The FY 2005 enacted level was $12.2 billion.
Director Walters credited the significant reductions in teenage drug use to a balanced strategy that coordinates the various federal programs that are funded by Congress. "There are many effective programs within the Federal Government that focus on reducing illegal drug trafficking and abuse, ranging from the Andean Counterdrug Initiative, the National Youth Anti-drug Media Campaign, Student Drug Testing, Drug Courts, to Access to Recovery. The success that these programs are achieving would not have been possible if not for Congressional leadership, and the desire to protect all Americans from the dangers of illegal drug use."
