Hon. Thomas M. Davis
House Government Reform Committee,
Chairman
2157 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Hon. Henry A. Waxman
House Government Reform Committee,
Ranking Member
2204 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
June 4, 2003
RE: HR 2086; “Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 2003” Specifically, Section 10(d)(2)
Dear Chairman Davis and Ranking Member Waxman:
When the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign was established, Congress wisely chose to ensure that the ad campaign would be non-partisan and that no taxpayer money would be used for political purposes. We are troubled, however, by provisions in HR 2086 that could allow the media campaign to be used for partisan political purposes.
We urge you and members of the Government Reform Committee to completely remove Section 10(d)(2) of HR 2086. The Office of National Drug Control Policy should not be given the power to use money meant for warning youth about the dangers of drugs to pressure policy-makers or interfere with local and state elections.
We also urge you and members of the Government Reform Committee to add provisions to Section 10 explicitly prohibiting the media campaign from being used to influence elections and legislation. For the safety of our children and our democracy, the Office of National Drug Control Policy should be given a clear message: the media campaign should remain focused on reducing and preventing youth drug use and never stray into politics.
The undersigned organizations appreciate your hard work and hope you will do your best to ensure that the media campaign is never used for electoral political purposes.
Ballot Initiative Strategy Center
Common Cause
Drug Policy Alliance
Initiative & Referendum Institute
Justice Policy Institute
Marijuana Policy Project
National Black Police Association
National Taxpayers Union
Taxpayers for Common Sense
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