A resolution honoring the men and women of the Drug Enforcement Administration on the 50th anniversary of the agency.

III 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 246 Honoring the men and women of the Drug Enforcement Administration on the 50th anniversary of the agency. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES JUNE 13, 2023 Mr. MORAN (for himself and Mrs. SHAHEEN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary JULY 18, 2023 Committee discharged; considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Honoring the men and women of the Drug Enforcement Administration on the 50th anniversary of the agency. Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration (referred to in this preamble as the ‘‘DEA’’) was— (1) established on July 1, 1973 by Reorganization Plan Numbered 2 of 1973 (87 Stat. 1091; 5 U.S.C. App.); and (2) given the responsibility to coordinate the whole of the Federal Government approach related to the en- forcement of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.); Whereas the more than 10,000 men and women of the DEA, including special agents, intelligence research specialists, VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:31 Jul 19, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR246.ATS SR246 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 SRES 246 ATS diversion investigators, program analysts, forensic chem- ists, attorneys, and administrative support staff, as well as more than 3,000 task force officers, representing hun- dreds of State and local law enforcement agencies across the country— (1) serve the United States with courage; and (2) are committed to serving and protecting public safety, public health, and the national security of the United States from drug trafficking, drug misuse, and related violence; Whereas, during the 50 years since the establishment of the DEA, the agency has targeted and dismantled transnational drug trafficking organizations and brought to justice the most dangerous and prolific drug traf- ficking criminals from around the world; Whereas, throughout the 50-year history of the DEA, the agency has continually adapted to evolving trends of major transnational drug cartels, targeting the organiza- tions involved in the manufacturing, trafficking, and dis- tribution of drugs, including fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, controlled prescription drugs, and other synthetic opioids; Whereas the DEA has deployed enforcement and regulatory tools and strategies to address the threat posed by new synthetic opioid substances, which— (1) mimic the effects of known licit and illicit con- trolled substances, including fentanyl; (2) are largely responsible for driving the opioid epi- demic that claimed the lives of more than 107,000 indi- viduals in the United States in 2021; and VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:31 Jul 19, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR246.ATS SR246 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 SRES 246 ATS (3) present the most significant threat to public health, public safety, and the national security of the United States; Whereas, with 93 foreign offices located in 69 countries, the DEA has the largest international presence of any Fed- eral law enforcement agency, facilitating— (1) close collaboration with international partners around the world through information sharing, training, and technology; and (2) the provision of resources that have resulted in the disruption or dismantling of hundreds of transnational criminal organizations around the world; Whereas, throughout the history of the DEA, employees and members of task forces of the agency have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty, including 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 Gon- zalez, 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, Richard E. Fass, Frank Fernandez, Jr., Jay W. Seale, Meredith Thompson, Juan C. Vars, Frank S. Wallace, Jr., Shelly D. Bland, Rona L. Chafey, Carrol June Fields, Carrie A. Lenz, Kenneth G. McCullough, Shaun E. Curl, Larry Steilen, Royce D. VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:31 Jul 19, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR246.ATS SR246 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 4 SRES 246 ATS Tramel, Alice Faye Hall-Walton, Elton Lee Armstead, Terry Loftus, Donald C. Ware, Jay Balchunas, Thomas J. Byrne, Jr., Samuel Hicks, Forrest N. Leamon, Chad L. Michael, Michael E. Weston, James Terry Watson, Brent L. Hanger, Jorge R. DelRio, Stephen C. Arnold, Michael G. Garbo, and Jody W. Cash; and Whereas many other DEA employees and task force officers have been wounded or injured in the line of duty, includ- ing 79 individuals who have received the DEA Purple Heart Award: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) congratulates the Drug Enforcement Ad- 2 ministration on the occasion of its 50th anniversary; 3 (2) honors the heroic dedication of the employ- 4 ees of the Drug Enforcement Administration who 5 have paid the ultimate price and sacrificed their lives 6 or have been wounded or injured in the service of 7 the United States; and 8 (3) gives heartfelt thanks to all the men and 9 women of the Drug Enforcement Administration for 10 their past and continued efforts to protect the health 11 and safety of the people of the United States from 12 transnational criminal networks and drugs causing 13 harm, violence, and death in the communities of the 14 United States. 15 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:31 Jul 19, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR246.ATS SR246 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB