Torres, Rogers Lead Bipartisan Group in Opposition to Plan to Weaken the Fight Against Drug Trafficking
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representatives Norma J. Torres (D-CA) and Hal Rogers (R-KY) have led a bipartisan group of members of Congress in calling on President Donald Trump not to shift management of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program from the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to the Department of Justice. The program's location within the Office of the President and not a specific agency has fostered an unprecedented level of cooperation, coordination, and information-sharing between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies across the nation.
"As strong supporters of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, we write to urge to you to maintain the HIDTA program within the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)," the federal lawmakers wrote. "…ONDCP has ensured that state and local law enforcement agencies have a leading role in the program's management in each region. This allows each region to effectively tailor strategies to the unique challenges and threats that the region is facing while still focusing on accomplishing the goals of the National Drug Control Policy. This local and state input is critical not only to the effectiveness of HIDTA, but also to informing drug policy at the federal level."
The federal lawmakers continued, "At a time when communities across the country are struggling with one of the worst drug crises in our nation's history, we respectfully urge you not to disrupt one of the most effective counter-narcotics law enforcement tools in the federal government's toolbox."
In addition to Torres and Rogers, the letter was also signed by Reps. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Bill Pascrell (D-NY), Pete Sessions (R-TX), Lucille Royball-Allard (D-CA), Evan Jenkins (R-WV), Jim Costa (D-CA), Rob Woodall (R-GA), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Andy Barr (R-KY), Stacey Plaskett (D-VI), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Andre Carson (D-IN), Kevin Yoder (R-KS), Tim Ryan (D-OH), David B. McKinley (R-WV), Peter Defazio (D-OR), Bill Johnson (R-OH), Katherine Clark (D-MA), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Joe Kennedy, III (D-MA), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), and Barbara Comstock (R-VA).
Torres represents California's 35th congressional district. She previously worked for more than 17 years as a 9-1-1 dispatcher for the Los Angeles Police Department.
Rogers represents Kentucky's 5th Congressional District. Fifteen years ago, he launched a non-profit organization called, Operation UNITE, in response to the deadly prescription drug abuse epidemic that first erupted in his rural region, utilizing a three-pronged approach including law enforcement, treatment and education.
The full text of the letter is available below.
Dear President Trump,
As strong supporters of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, we write to urge to you to maintain the HIDTA program within the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).
Since its creation in 1988, HIDTA has become one of the nation's most important tools in the fight against drug trafficking. HIDTA has received continued bipartisan support from Congress, and from law enforcement and criminal justice experts at the state, local, and national levels, because of its well-earned reputation for effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability. In 2017 alone HIDTA programs resulted in the investigation of 8,067 drug trafficking and money laundering organizations, and in the seizure of approximately 2,767 tons of marijuana plants, 117 tons of cocaine, 28 tons of methamphetamine, 5.2 tons of heroin, and more than 1 ton of prescription narcotics. Furthermore, HIDTA programs apprehended over 50,923 fugitives in the same year.
Key to HIDTA's effectiveness is its management by the ONDCP. Because it is located within the Office of the President and not a specific agency, ONDCP has been able to be a completely neutral broker. This neutrality has fostered an unprecedented level of continual collaboration between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies across our nation. This neutrality was the cornerstone the HIDTA Program was built upon. In addition, ONDCP has ensured that state and local law enforcement agencies have a leading role in the program's management in each region. This allows each region to effectively tailor strategies to the unique challenges and threats that the region is facing while still focusing on accomplishing the goals of the National Drug Control Policy. This local and state input is critical not only to the effectiveness of HIDTA, but also to informing drug policy at the federal level.
We therefore join the many state and local law enforcement agencies, the National Governors Association, and numerous grassroots organizations and services providers from across the country that have expressed their opposition to shifting HIDTA management to the Department of Justice. While we recognize that it is unusual for an office within the White House to manage a federal grant program, we believe that HIDTA's record of success speaks for itself. At a time when communities across the country are struggling with one of the worst drug crises in our nation's history, we respectfully urge you not to disrupt one of the most effective counter-narcotics law enforcement tools in the federal government's toolbox.
Thank you in advance for considering this important request.
Sincerely,
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