Supporting the goals and ideals of Red Ribbon Week.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, Red Ribbon Week is a national week celebrated at the end of October that honors the sacrifice made by DEA Special Agent Enrique ``Kiki'' Camarena. It brings together local communities all over America for anti-drug abuse education and other prevention efforts.

I would like to thank all the Members who cosponsored this resolution, as well as Speaker Hastert, Chairman Joe Barton of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and Chairman Nathan Deal of the Health Subcommittee, for their assistance in bringing this resolution to the floor this evening. I would also like to thank Congressman Elijah Cummings, the ranking Democrat on our Drug Policy Subcommittee; and Congressman Lee Terry of Nebraska for their consistent efforts in the anti-narcotics arena.

As you have already heard, 21 years ago in March, 1985, Special Agent Enrique Camarena of the DEA was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered by drug dealers in Mexico.

Red Ribbon Week began as a local commemorative effort in Special Agent Camerena's hometown of Calexico, California, when Congressman Duncan Hunter and Camerena's high school friend, Henry Lozano, created Camarena Clubs to preserve the agent's legacy. The National Family Partnership later formalized Red Ribbon Week as a national campaign, an 8-day event proclaimed by the U.S. Congress and chaired by then President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan.

Red Ribbon Week is dedicated to helping preserve Agent Camarena's memory and further the cause for which he gave his life, the fight against violence of drug crime and the misery of addition. By gathering together in special events and wearing a red ribbon during the last week in October, Americans from all walks of life demonstrate their opposition to illegal narcotics. Such events include organizing drug prevention events in schools, distributing educational materials to young people about the dangers of drug abuse, and other activities designed to promote healthy choices. Approximately 80 million people participate in Red Ribbon events every year.

Red Ribbon Week is also a tribute to the men and women of the Drug Enforcement Administration who daily leave their families to stand on the front lines of this Nation's counter drug efforts. Those efforts extend to Afghanistan, where DEA Special Agents operate in an increasingly hazardous environment to aid the fledgling and almost overwhelmingly antidrug efforts in that country.

It is regrettable that the work of these agents frequently lacks the necessary assistance from the Department of Defense to complete their perilous mission. I call on the Department of Defense to increase its level of support so that the memory and sacrifices made by Kiki Camerena and others continue to have meaning and value. Drugs and terror are inexorably linked, and the fight against them should be a seamless, unified campaign, where Government agency assets complement each other so more agents do not die.

Since 1985, we have made substantial progress in the fight against drug abuse, but even today it remains our number one health problem in America, claiming well over 20,000 lives a year. Each day all over America a new person and new people are tempted and fall to narcotics abuse.

We must never slacken our efforts. We will never completely win drug war, because new people are tempted every day. But we can make progress. And when we stay at it in prevention, in treatment, interdiction, eradication and enforcement, we do, in fact, reduce the level of drug abuse in the United States, as has been the last few years.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I thank the House for joining with me in supporting this resolution recognizing the vital work of drug abuse prevention, recognizing the DEA for their leadership, and encouraging all Americans to participate in Red Ribbon Week.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1028 to support the goals and ideals of Red Ribbon Week.

Red Ribbon Week was established 21 years ago to honor the life of Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Enrique ``Kiki'' Camarena, who died in the line of duty while fighting illicit drugs. More than 100 organizations across the United States, including the Nation's Governors and community organizations such as Boys and Girls Clubs of America, have joined in this effort to promote drug-free communities.

As a Representative of the great State of Nebraska, I recognize the importance of such efforts to prevent abuse of dangerous drugs such as methamphetamine. The war against the rising tide of meth in the Mid- West and on the West Coast--and now even in some parts of the East Coast--can only be effectively fought through partnerships with law enforcement, government, social service agencies, communities, schools, parents and children.

The meth problem affects all aspects of our communities and requires comprehensive solutions at all levels of government and in partnership with private charities and volunteer organizations.

We need effective drug prevention and education programs; greater parental involvement and public awareness; and law enforcement and social services coordination in order to rescue our communities from the ruination and devastation of meth.

The recent survey of 500 county law enforcement officials found that meth abuse is still the number 1 drug problem nationwide. Many States, including Nebraska, have enacted laws to control access to Sudafed and other drugs that act as the basis for ``cooking'' meth. The number of Mom and Pop meth labs dropped by an astounding 70 percent in Nebraska and other states. However, 85 percent of law enforcement officials report the meth problem is still growing due to drug trafficking from ``superlabs'' in Mexico.

This Congress can best honor the memory of Agent Camarena by continuing a strong battle in the ``new front'' of the war against drugs: methamphetamine.

I urge my colleagues to join me today in not only supporting our law enforcement officers who risk their lives each day to keep our communities safe, but to join me and other Members of the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine by pledging to stop the scourge of meth across our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1028) supporting the goals and ideals of Red Ribbon Week.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today in support of House Resolution 1028, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Red Ribbon Week and to commemorate the life and service of DEA Special Agent Enrique ``Kiki'' Camarena, who died in the line of duty in 1985 while engaged in a battle against illicit drugs.

As my colleagues are aware, Red Ribbon Week, which will take place during the week of October 23 this year, encourages children and teens to choose a drug-free life. The resolution before us today encourages all people of the United States to promote drug-free communities and to participate in drug-free prevention activities in support of healthy, productive, drug-free lifestyles.

We know that ultimately education is the answer to preventing drugs among our children. What Red Ribbon Week does is nationally recognize the importance of keeping our youths off drugs, and I am particularly pleased that we are also commemorating Special Agent Enrique ``Kiki'' Camarena with this resolution. The agents of the Drug Enforcement Agent serve the public to make our communities a safer place to live and work. Our gratitude to them for doing their part in our communities and to keep them drug free should certainly be recognized.

Mr. Speaker, I think this is a great resolution, and I would like to commend my good friend from Indiana, Mr. Souder, for sponsoring this legislation and for his leadership on this issue. I would also like to commend my colleague on the Energy and Commerce Committee, Mr. Terry from Nebraska, for serving as an original cosponsor of the legislation.

I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder), who is the sponsor of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I have no other requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of H. Res. 1028, a resolution that recognizes and supports the concept of Red Ribbon Week.

The Red Ribbon campaign began in 1985 after drug traffickers in Mexico City murdered Kiki Camarena, a United States Drug Enforcement agent.

Red Ribbon Week is sponsored by the National Family Partnership. Each year more than 80 million people show their commitment to a healthy, drug-free life by wearing a red ribbon. During the last 8 days of October, those who wear the red ribbon are saying that we will not tolerate the use or sale of illicit drugs in our Nation.

Substance abuse, and the sale of illegal drugs, is a serious problem in this country. That is why it is so important that as we approach the month of October that we remember Kiki Camarena by wearing a red ribbon. Preventing substance abuse and the associated violence that took Kiki's life is of great concern to me. Let us celebrate the life and work of Kiki Camarena by passing H. Res. 1028.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 2 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, this red ribbon is saying to people across this country, don't get involved with drugs. Young people, stay in school. That is what it is saying, and stay away from drugs.

So every time you see this red ribbon, especially you young people, understand that it is saying, do not get involved in drugs.

Camerena gave his life trying to make this world a better place for us to live. We should never forget that. So we should wear the red ribbon, saying to people everywhere that we will not tolerate the use of drugs in this country, illegal drugs.

Also, let me just conclude by saying that we have an obligation and a responsibility to keep the work of Camerena alive; and we need to do that by demonstrating everywhere that we go that we have this red ribbon on, and that is what it means. The red ribbon says no to drugs. Stay in school, young people.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.