March 1, 2001

"Mr. Chairman, I want to thank you for your willingness to hold this hearing this morning on a subject that has been of great interest and concern to me for a number of years, namely the annual drug certification process. We are fortunate to have a number of well-informed witnesses with us this morning that can speak first hand about their experiences with the annual certification process. We also will receive the benefit of testimony from a number of our colleagues who have been deeply interested in the subject of international drug trafficking and how best to combat the serious transnational threat posed by this global menace. We will have an opportunity to hear some of their legislative suggestions with respect to how we might change existing law in this area. I look forward to the opportunity to examine some of these proposals.

While we have held hearings from time to time on counternarcotics cooperation with respect to specific countries we have not for sometime looked at the issue of the certification process itself. I believe that it is important that we do so. This is a procedure that has been in effect since 1986. The annual certification process has from time to time provoked a great deal of controversy and debate. Presidential determinations with respect to whether a particular country had cooperated fully in a given year were challenged in the Congress, but never overturned. The Congressional controversy and sometimes highly critical debate did cause significant friction in the bilateral relationship with respect to the country of concern.

I would not suggest for one moment that the threat posed by illicit drug production, consumption and related crimes is not serious. The international impact is serious and of great concern. However, of even greater concern to me personally are the effects it is having here at home. Last year Americans spent more than $60 billion to purchase illegal drugs. Nearly 15 million Americans (twelve years of age and older) use illegal drugs, including 1.5 million cocaine users, 208,000 heroin addicts, and more than 11 million smokers of marijuana. This menace isn't just confined to inner cities or the poor. Illegal drug use occurs among members of every ethnic and socioeconomic group in the United States.

The human and economic costs of illegal drug consumption by Americans are enormous. More than 16,000 people die annual as a result of drug induced deaths. Drug related illness, death, and crime cost the United States approximately over $100 billion annually, including costs for lost productivity, premature death, and incarceration.

This is an enormously lucrative business - drug trafficking generates estimated revenues of $400 billion annually. The United States has spent more than $30 billion in foreign interdiction and source country counter narcotics programs since 1981. Despite impressive seizures at the border, on the high seas, and in other countries, foreign drugs are cheaper and more readily available in the United States today than two decades ago. For much of that time, the annual certification process has been in effect. Clearly whatever else one thinks about certification, one has to conclude that it has not been the silver bullet with respect to eliminating America's supply or demand for illicit drugs.

Over the course of the fifteen years that the certification procedures have been in effect there have only been minor modifications to the statute. I believe the time has come to make an assessment as to whether it continues to further our national security and foreign policy objectives. Is it really doing the job with respect to promoting effective international cooperation to combat illicit drug production, sales and consumption? Or could we develop some other means that would better serve our interests in this important area?

As you know, Mr. Chairman, I have introduced legislation to suspend the grading aspects of the certification law for two years. You were kind enough to join me as a cosponsor of that legislation and I appreciate your support. Why have I proposed a suspension in the certification process? I have do so to create an atmosphere of good will within which President Bush can discuss with other heads of state - from Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia - ways to improve international cooperation among producing, transit and consuming nations.

During the two suspension period, the Congress will continue to receive detailed reports with respect to what is being accomplished in the areas of annual eradication, interdiction, extradition of drug kingpins, efforts to combat money laundering, etc. Moreover, the President has the option, should he choose, to continue the certification process with respect to a country or countries if he determines that this will further bilateral counter narcotics cooperation with respect to that country or countries.

Mr. Chairman, I have visited a number of countries over the years and have met with many heads of state, particularly those in our own hemisphere. I have yet to have a conversation with one of them that thought that our certification process was helpful to them in their national efforts to develop and sustain meaningful and effective counter narcotics programs. Perhaps it is time to at least listen to whatever proposals they might suggest to do a better job in this area. We certainly lose nothing by trying.

Thank you again, Mr. Chairman, for holding this hearing this morning."