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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 873 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 873

Supporting the goals and ideals of Red Ribbon Week during the period of 
                  October 23 through October 31, 2024.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 25, 2024

  Mr. Cornyn (for himself and Mr. Whitehouse) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, 
                          Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Supporting the goals and ideals of Red Ribbon Week during the period of 
                  October 23 through October 31, 2024.

Whereas the National Family Partnership started the Red Ribbon Campaign in 
        1988--

    (1) to educate the people of the United States and encourage 
participation in drug prevention activities;

    (2) to preserve the memory of Enrique ``Kiki'' Camarena (referred to in 
this preamble as ``Special Agent Camarena''), a special agent of the Drug 
Enforcement Administration who--

    G    (A) served the Drug Enforcement Administration for 11 years; and

    G    (B) was murdered in the line of duty in 1985, while engaged in the 
battle against illicit drugs;

    (3) to commemorate the service of Special Agent Camarena to the Drug 
Enforcement Administration and the people of the United States; and

    (4) to further the cause for which Special Agent Camarena gave his 
life;

Whereas the Red Ribbon Campaign is the longest-standing drug use prevention 
        program in the United States, bringing drug awareness to millions of 
        people in the United States each year;
Whereas Red Ribbon Week is celebrated every year during the period of October 23 
        through October 31 by--

    (1) State Governors and attorneys general;

    (2) the National Family Partnership;

    (3) parent-teacher associations;

    (4) Boys and Girls Clubs of America;

    (5) the Young Marines;

    (6) the Drug Enforcement Administration; and

    (7) hundreds of other organizations throughout the United States;

Whereas the objective of Red Ribbon Week is to promote the creation of drug-free 
        communities through drug use prevention efforts, education programs, 
        parental involvement, and community-wide support through specific 
        actions such as lighting up buildings and landmarks, and activities that 
        engage the public;
Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug 
        overdoses are the leading cause of death in people in the United States 
        between the ages of 18 to 45, outnumbering deaths by firearms, motor 
        vehicle crashes, suicide, or homicide;
Whereas over 107,000 people died from drug overdoses in the United States in 
        2023;
Whereas reducing the demand for illicit controlled substances would--

    (1) curtail lethal addictions and overdoses; and

    (2) reduce the violence associated with drug trafficking;

Whereas, although public awareness of illicit drug use is increasing, emerging 
        drug threats and growing epidemics continue to demand attention;
Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration hosts a National Take Back Day twice 
        a year, on the last Saturdays of October and April, for the public to 
        safely dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs that can lead to 
        accidental poisoning, overdose, or misuse;
Whereas the National Family Partnership hosts Lock Your Meds, a multi-media 
        campaign and program to encourage individuals, businesses, and 
        communities to dispose of drugs appropriately and to reduce the demand 
        for drugs;
Whereas Lock Your Meds is statewide in Idaho, North Carolina, and throughout the 
        southeastern United States;
Whereas synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and the analogues of fentanyl 
        devastated communities and families at an unprecedented rate, claiming 
        more than 80,000 lives in 2023;
Whereas the presence of fentanyl and the analogues of fentanyl pose hazards to 
        police officers and law enforcement agents;
Whereas 7 out of 10 fake prescription pills containing fentanyl tested at Drug 
        Enforcement Administration laboratories contain a potentially deadly 
        dose of fentanyl;
Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration has created a special exhibit 
        entitled ``The Faces of Fentanyl'' to commemorate the lives lost from 
        fentanyl poisoning, and has received over 5,000 photos as of the date of 
        enactment of this resolution;
Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration seized more than 80,000,000 
        fentanyl-laced, fake prescription pills and more than 12,000 pounds of 
        fentanyl powder in 2023;
Whereas over 4,000 people in the United States died from a drug overdose 
        involving heroin in 2023, a rate of over 1 death for every 100,000 
        people in the United States;
Whereas, from 2022 to 2023, drug overdose deaths involving cocaine increased by 
        over 7 percent, with almost 30,000 people in the United States dying 
        from such an overdose in 2023;
Whereas, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2,500,000 people in 
        the United States aged 12 or older reported having used methamphetamine 
        in 2021;
Whereas psychostimulants with abuse potential, such as methamphetamine, were 
        involved in 1.2 times as many drug overdose deaths as cocaine; and
Whereas parents, young people, schools, businesses, law enforcement agencies, 
        religious institutions and faith-based organizations, service 
        organizations, senior citizens, medical and military personnel, sports 
        teams, and individuals throughout the United States will demonstrate 
        their commitment to healthy, productive, and drug-free lifestyles by 
        wearing and displaying red ribbons during the week-long celebration of 
        Red Ribbon Week; Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of Red Ribbon Week during 
        the period of October 23 through October 31, 2024;
            (2) encourages the people of the United States to wear and 
        display red ribbons during Red Ribbon Week to symbolize their 
        commitment to healthy, drug-free lifestyles;
            (3) encourages the people of the United States to light up 
        buildings and landmarks to send a drug-free message;
            (4) encourages children, teens, and other individuals to 
        choose to live drug-free lives; and
            (5) encourages the people of the United States--
                    (A) to promote the creation of drug-free 
                communities; and
                    (B) to participate in drug use prevention 
                activities to show support for healthy, productive, and 
                drug-free lifestyles.
                                 <all>
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