III 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 495 

Designating June 8, 2006, as the day of a National Vigil for Lost Promise. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 25, 2006 

Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Mr. BIDEN, Mr. HATCH, Mr. SPECTER, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. TALENT, Mr. BAUCUS, Mr. DODD, and Ms. MURKOWSKI) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating June 8, 2006, as the day of a National Vigil 

for Lost Promise. 

Whereas over 26,000 citizens die from the effects of drug 

abuse each year; 

Whereas the damage from drugs is not limited to drug abusers, the collateral damage from drugs is enormous, and 

drug abuse costs society over $60,000,000,000 in social 

costs and lost productivity; 

Whereas drugs rob users, their families, and all the people of 

the United States of dreams, promises, ambitions, talents, and lives; 

Whereas drug abuse affects millions of families in the United 

States; 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
2 

•SRES 495 ATS

Whereas the stigma of drug abuse and the cloak of denial 

keep many individuals and families from dealing with the 

impact of drugs; 

Whereas many friends and families are ashamed to acknowledge the death of their loved ones caused by drug abuse; 

Whereas all the people of the United States can benefit from 

illuminating the problem of drug abuse and its impact on 

families, communities, and society; 

Whereas the futures of thousands of youth of the United 

States have been cut short because of drug abuse, including the life of— 

(1) Irma Perez, who suffered and died of an Ecstasy 

overdose at age 14; 

(2) David Manlove, who wanted to be a doctor, but 

died from inhalant abuse at age 16; 

(3) David Pease, an articulate debater, who died of 

a heroin overdose at age 23; 

(4) Ian Eaccarino, a college student who died of a 

heroin overdose at age 20; 

(5) Jason Surks, who was studying to be a pharmacist, but died of prescription drug abuse at age 19; 

(6) Kelley McEnery Baker, who died of an overdose 

of Ecstasy at age 23; 

(7) Ryan Haight, who died of an overdose of prescription drugs he had purchased over the Internet at age 

18; and 

(8) Taylor Hooton, a high school baseball star whose 

life was cut short by steroids at age 16; 

Whereas these deaths represent only a small sample of the 

lost promise that drug abuse has cost the future of the 

United States; 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
3 

•SRES 495 ATS

Whereas law enforcement, public health and research organizations, community coalitions, drug prevention outreach 

organizations, individual parents, siblings, friends, and 

concerned citizens are joining together on June 8, 2006, 

in a Vigil for Lost Promise, to call public attention to the 

tremendous promise which has been lost with the deaths 

of those affected by drugs: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates June 8, 2006, as the day of a 

3 National Vigil for Lost Promise; 

4 (2) encourages all young people to choose to 

5 live a drug-free life; 

6 (3) encourages all people of the United States 

7 to work to stop drug abuse before it starts and re8 main vigilant against the far reaching loss of prom9 ise caused by deaths from drug abuse; and 

10 (4) encourages all citizens of the United States 

11 to remember the lost promise of youth caused by 

12 drug abuse on this day. 

Æ 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS