Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was
created by Executive order on July 6, 1973, and merged the previously separate
law enforcement and intelligence agencies responsible for narcotics
control;
Whereas the first administrator of the DEA, John R.
Bartels, Jr., was confirmed by the Senate on October 4, 1973;
Whereas since 1973, the men and women of the DEA have
served the United States with courage, vision, and determination, protecting
all the people of the United States from the scourge of drug trafficking, drug
abuse, and related violence;
Whereas the DEA has adjusted and refined the tactics and
methods by which the DEA targets the most dangerous drug trafficking operations
to bring to justice criminals such as New York City's Nicky Barnes, key members
of the infamous Colombian Medellin cartel, Thai warlord Khun Sa, several
members of the Mexican Arellano-Felix organization, Afghan terrorist Haji Baz
Mohammad, and international arms dealer Viktor Bout;
Whereas throughout the 35 years since the DEA was created,
the DEA has continually adapted to the evolving trends of drug trafficking
organizations by aggressively targeting organizations involved in the growing,
manufacturing, and distribution of such substances as marijuana, cocaine,
heroin, methamphetamine, Ecstasy, and controlled prescription drugs;
Whereas in 227 domestic offices, in 21 field divisions,
the DEA continues to strengthen and enhance existing relationships with
Federal, State, and local counterparts in every State in the Union to combat
drug trafficking;
Whereas since 2000, DEA special agents have seized over
5,500 kilograms of heroin, 650,000 kilograms of cocaine, 2,300,000 kilograms of
marijuana, and 13,000 kilograms of methamphetamine and almost 80,000,000 dosage
units of hallucinogens, and made over 240,000 arrests;
Whereas with 87 foreign offices, located in 63 countries,
the DEA has the largest international presence of any Federal law enforcement
agency;
Whereas the personnel of the DEA continue to collaborate
closely with international partners around the globe, including in such
drug-producing countries as Colombia, Mexico, Afghanistan, and Thailand;
Whereas the results of this international collaboration
since 2000 alone have led to the indictments of 63 leaders, members, and
associates of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, a designated foreign
terrorist organization;
Whereas through the creation of the Diversion Control
Program in 1971, the DEA now registers and regulates over 1,200,000
registrants, while simultaneously combating the continually evolving threat
posed by the diversion of controlled pharmaceuticals;
Whereas the DEA continues to disrupt drug trafficking
activities by denying drug trafficking organizations $3,500,000,000 in fiscal
year 2007 alone, exceeding their 5-year goal of $3,000,000,000 annually by
fiscal year 2009;
Whereas DEA special agents continue to work alongside
Federal, State, and local law enforcement officials throughout the United
States in a cooperative effort to put drug traffickers behind bars;
Whereas throughout the history of the DEA and its
predecessor agencies, many employees and members of the task forces have given
their lives in the line of duty, including: Charles Archie Wood, Stafford E.
Beckett, Joseph W. Floyd, Bert S. Gregory, James T. Williams, Louis L. Marks,
James E. Brown, James R. Kerrigan, John W. Crozier, Spencer Stafford, Andrew P.
Sanderson, Anker M. Bangs, Wilson M. Shee, Mansel R. Burrell, Hector Jordan,
Gene A. Clifton, Frank Tummillo, Richard Heath, Jr., George F. White, Emir
Benitez, Gerald Sawyer, Leslie S. Grosso, Nickolas Fragos, Mary M. Keehan,
Charles H. Mann, Anna Y. Mounger, Anna J. Pope, Martha D. Skeels, Mary P.
Sullivan, Larry D. Wallace, Ralph N. Shaw, James T. Lunn, Octavio Gonzalez,
Francis J. Miller, Robert C. Lightfoot, Thomas J. Devine, Larry N. Carwell,
Marcellus Ward, Enrique S. Camarena, James A. Avant, Charles M. Bassing, Kevin
L. Brosch, Susan M. Hoefler, William Ramos, Raymond J. Stastny, Arthur L. Cash,
Terry W. McNett, George M. Montoya, Paul S. Seema, Everett E. Hatcher, Rickie
C. Finley, Joseph T. Aversa, Wallie Howard, Jr., Eugene T. McCarthy, Alan H.
Winn, George D. Althouse, Becky L. Dwojeski, Stephen J. Strehl, Juan C. Vars,
Jay W. Seale, Meredith Thompson, Frank S. Wallace, Jr., Frank Fernandez, Jr.,
Kenneth G. McCullough, Carrol June Fields, Rona L. Chafey, Shelly D. Bland,
Carrie A. Lenz, Shaun E. Curl, Royce D. Tramel, Alice Faye Hall-Walton, Elton
Armstead, Larry Steilen, Terry Loftus, Jay Balchunas, and Richard E.
Fass;
Whereas many other DEA employees and task force officers
have been wounded or injured in the line of duty; and
Whereas over 9,000 employees of the DEA, including special
agents, intelligence analysts, diversion investigators, program analysts,
forensic chemists, attorneys, and administrative support personnel, along with
over 2,000 task force officers, and over 2,000 vetted foreign officers, work
tirelessly to hunt down and bring to justice the drug trafficking cartels that
seek to poison the citizens of the United States with dangerous narcotics: Now,
therefore, be it
That the Senate—
(1)congratulates the
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on the occasion of its 35th
anniversary;
(2)honors the heroic
sacrifice of the DEA employees who have given their lives or have been wounded
or injured in service of the United States; and
(3)gives heartfelt
thanks to all the men and women of the DEA for their past and continued efforts
to defend the people of the United States from the scourge of illegal drugs and
terrorism.