United States HRES 747: Supporting the goals and ideals of Red Ribbon Week during the period of October 23 through October 31, 2023.

Bill Text

IV
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. RES. 747
Supporting the goals and ideals of Red Ribbon Week.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 29, 2023
Mr. ELLZEY submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
RESOLUTION
Supporting the goals and ideals of Red Ribbon Week.
Whereas the National Family Partnership started the Red
Ribbon Campaign in 1988—
(1) to educate the people of the United States about
the link between drug use and violence;
(2) to preserve the memory of Enrique ‘‘Kiki’’
Camarena (referred to in the preamble as ‘‘Special Agent
Camarena’’), a special agent of the Drug Enforcement
Administration who—
(A) served the Drug Enforcement Administra-
tion for 11 years; and
(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
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(4) to further the cause for which Special Agent
Camarena gave his life;
Whereas the Red Ribbon Campaign is the most longstanding
drug use prevention program in the United States, bring-
ing 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 pre-
vention efforts, education programs, parental involve-
ment, and community-wide support through specific ac-
tions 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 approximately 107,735 people died from drug
overdoses in the United States in 2022;
Whereas reducing the demand for illicit controlled substances
would—
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(1) curtail lethal addictions and overdoses; and
(2) reduce the violence associated with drug traf-
ficking;
Whereas, although public awareness of illicit drug use is in-
creasing, emerging drug threats and growing epidemics
continue to demand attention;
Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration hosts a Na-
tional 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 ac-
cidental 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 Caro-
lina, 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 70,000 lives in
2022;
Whereas the presence of fentanyl and the analogues of
fentanyl pose hazards to police officers and law enforce-
ment agents;
Whereas 6 out of 10 pills tested at Drug Enforcement Ad-
ministration laboratories contain a potentially deadly
dose of fentanyl;
Whereas Drug Enforcement Administration has created a
special exhibit, entitled ‘‘The Faces of Fentanyl’’, to com-
memorate the lives lost from fentanyl poisoning and has
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received over 5,000 photos as of the date of enactment
of this resolution;
Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration seized more
than 58,400,000 fentanyl-laced, fake prescription pills
and more than 13,000 pounds of fentanyl powder in
2022;
Whereas, from 2019 to 2020, more than 13,000 people in the
United States died from a drug overdose involving heroin,
a rate of more than 4 deaths for every 100,000 people
in the United States;
Whereas, from 2018 to 2019, drug overdose deaths involving
cocaine increased by nearly 9 percent, with almost 16,000
people in the United States dying in 2019 from such an
overdose, the highest recorded total in the 21st century;
Whereas, according to the Centers