IV

105TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 324

Expressing the sense of Congress that the administrative priorities for the

allocation of Department of Defense assets should be revised so that

the priority established for the counter-drug mission of that Department

is second only to its war-fighting mission.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

AUGUST 6, 1998

Mr. MCCOLLUM (for himself and Mr. HASTERT) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on National Security

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress that the administrative

priorities for the allocation of Department of Defense

assets should be revised so that the priority established

for the counter-drug mission of that Department is second only to its war-fighting mission.

Whereas the Department of Defense has been called upon to

support counter-drug efforts of Federal law enforcement

agencies that are carried out in source countries and

through transit zone interdiction, but in recent years Department of Defense assets critical to those counter-drug

activities have been consistently diverted to missions that

the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint

Chiefs of Staff consider a higher priority;
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•HCON 324 IH

Whereas the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the

Joint Chiefs of Staff, through the Department of Defense

policy referred to as the Global Military Force Policy, has

established the priorities for the allocation of military assets in the following order: (1) war, (2) military operations other than war that might involve contact with

hostile forces (such as peacekeeping operations and noncombatant evacuations), (3) exercises and training, and

(4) operational tasking other than those involving hostilities (including counter-drug activities and humanitarian assistance);

Whereas illegal drugs entering the United States from abroad

are cheaper and more plentiful on the Nation’s streets

than ever;

Whereas teenage drug use in the United States has doubled

since 1992;

Whereas studies and expert opinion show that it is necessary

to reduce the flow of illegal drugs entering the United

States by at least 60 percent from present levels in order

to affect availability and raise street prices enough to significantly reduce teenage drug use;

Whereas use of Department of Defense assets is critical to

the success of efforts to stem the flow of illegal drugs

from source countries and through transit zones to the

United States;

Whereas the placement of counter-drug activities in the

fourth and last priority of the Global Military Force Policy list of priorities for the allocation of military assets

has resulted in a serious deficiency in assets vital to the

success of source country and transit zone efforts to stop

the flow of illegal drugs into the United States;
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Whereas at present the United States faces few, if any,

threats from abroad greater than the threat posed to the

Nation’s youth by illegal and dangerous drugs;

Whereas the conduct of counter-drug activities has the potential for contact with hostile forces; and

Whereas the Department of Defense counter-drug activities

mission should be near the top, not among the last, of

the priorities for the allocation of Department of Defense

assets after the first priority for those assets for the warfighting mission of the Department of Defense: Now,

therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the Sec3 retary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of

4 Staff should revise the priorities for the allocation of De5 partment of Defense assets under the Department of De6 fense policy referred to as the Global Military Force Policy

7 so that the priority established for the counter-drug activi8 ties mission of the Department of Defense is equal to or

9 higher than the priority (which is currently the second

10 highest priority) for the mission of military operations

11 other than war that might involve contact with hostile

12 forces (such as peacekeeping operations and noncombat13 ant evacuations).

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