Chairman Souder, Ranking Member Cummings, and distinguished Members of the Committee: I am honored to appear before you today in support of the President’s Fiscal Year 2006 National Drug Control Budget. Before I proceed, I want to thank the Committee for its strong bipartisan commitment to our shared national goal of reducing drug use in America, especially among our youth.
Later this month, we will release an update to the President’s National Drug Control Strategy, detailing the policies and programs that are part of the fiscal year 2006 budget, transmitted to Congress just a few days ago. As part of the Committee’s oversight responsibilities, you have invited me to discuss the drug budget, review policies and programs for the coming fiscal year, and discuss my office’s role in the development of these proposals. My remarks today will focus on these key points.
