Chairman Souder, Ranking Member Cummings, and distinguished Members of the Subcommittee: Thank you for inviting me to testify on H.R. 2829, the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 2005. I appreciate the opportunity to discuss the progress the Administration has made with the support of Congress in reducing drug use. Together, we have reduced youth drug use by 17 percent since 2001.1
The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) was established by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. The principal purpose of ONDCP is to establish policies, priorities, and objectives for the Nation's drug control program. The goals of the program are to reduce illicit drug use, manufacturing and trafficking, drug-related crime and violence, and drug-related health consequences. To achieve these goals, the Director of ONDCP is charged with producing the National Drug Control Strategy. The Strategy directs the Nation's anti-drug efforts and establishes a program, a budget, and guidelines for cooperation among Federal, State, and local entities.
By law, the Director of ONDCP also evaluates, coordinates, and oversees both the international and domestic anti-drug efforts of executive branch agencies and ensures that such efforts sustain and complement State and local anti-drug activities. The Director advises the President regarding changes in the organization, management, budgeting, and personnel of Federal Agencies that could affect the Nation's anti-drug efforts; and regarding Federal agency compliance with their obligations under the Strategy.
The authority under which ONDCP currently operates not only meets the drug threat, but is making a fundamental difference in combating the illicit drug market.
1 Monitoring the Future (2004)
Last Updated: June 16, 2005
