December 8, 1998
FACT SHEET
OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY
REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1998
PURPOSE. To summarize the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Reauthorization Act of 1998.
Congress reauthorized ONDCP for five years and significantly altered ONDCP's authorities by:
- Instructing ONDCP to develop a long-term national drug control strategy.
Beginning with the strategy submitted by the President in February 1999, the National Drug Control Strategy must set forth a comprehensive plan for the next five years and beyond for reducing drug abuse and the consequences of drug abuse in the United States. The strategy shall include comprehensive, research-based, long-range, quantifiable goals and contain five year projections for program and budget priorities.
- Endorsing ONDCP's Performance Measures of Effectiveness (PME) system.
The act requires ONDCP to assess federal effectiveness in achieving the Strategy's goals and objectives, the key to which is the performance measurement system. The Congress explicitly linked the PME system to agency drug control programs and budgets.
- Requiring a five-year national drug control program budget.
The Act requires all agencies to prepare five-year budget projections. It also broadens the existing authority of the ONDCP Director to direct budget priorities and to certify the adequacy of agency budget requests.
- Underscoring the potential of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Program.
The Act endorses ONDCP's HIDTA management and oversight systems. It also authorized the ONDCP Director to obligate sums appropriated for HIDTA.
- Expanding the responsibilities of ONDCP's Counter-Drug Technology Assessment Center (CTAC).
The Act reaffirms CTAC's role as the nation's central counter-drug technology research and development organization. CTAC is directed to continue its traditional support of short, medium, and long-term scientific and technological needs of drug law enforcement. CTAC is also directed to identify basic and applied research needs and initiatives in the area of demand reduction, including; improving treatment through neuro-scientific advances; and improving the transfer of biomedical research to clinical settings.
- Establishing the President's Council on Counter-Narcotics.
This council will advise and assist the President in providing direction and oversight for the National Drug Control Strategy. The ONDCP Director is the Council's Executive Director and may use established or ad hoc committees, task forces, or interagency groups, chaired by the Director or his representative, in carrying out the functions of the Council.
- Increasing ONDCP congressional reporting requirements. The Act requires annual reports on:
- Progress in achieving the goals and objectives of the PME system.
- Resources required for an effective drug interdiction capability.
- Accounting of all funds expended by agencies for drug control activities.
- Domestic drug cultivation.
- Reorganizing ONDCP to its national leadership role.
The Act empowers the Director to serve as the Administration's spokesperson on drug issues and to monitor progress by drug control agencies in meeting drug control goals and objectives. It creates the position of Deputy Director, ONDCP. It tasks the Deputy Director for State and Local Affairs to oversee domestic activities to reduce drug availability and use, including coordination of federal, state, and local drug law enforcement activities, and promotion of coordination and cooperation among state and local-level drug supply and demand reduction agencies. It assigns the Deputy Director for Demand Reduction responsibility for activities related to drug abuse education, prevention, treatment, research, rehabilitation, drug-free workplace, and drug testing.
- Improving coordination among foreign and domestic drug intelligence agencies.
The Act tasks the Director of Central Intelligence, the Attorney General and the ONDCP Director to ensure that domestic law enforcement agencies are appropriately supported by all federal drug intelligence agencies.
- Establishing a Parents Advisory Council on Drug Abuse.
The act establishes a sixteen-member Advisory Council on Youth Drug Abuse with four members appointed by the President and twelve appointed by Congress. Members shall include representatives of nonprofit organizations focused on involving parents in anti-drug education and prevention. The Council will advise the ONDCP Director on drug prevention, education, and treatment. No monies were appropriated for the council.
Click below to view The Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act can be viewed in its entirety.
Last Updated: August 5, 2002
