WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after two of his amendments aimed at reducing wasteful spending and reprogramming funds to support Veterans Treatment Courts and the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) passed the House and were attached to the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2016:
Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after two of his amendments aimed at reducing wasteful spending and reprogramming funds to support Veterans Treatment Courts and the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) passed the House and were attached to the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2016:
“Many of our nation’s heroes return home from combat and face serious challenges including finding employment, addiction to drugs and alcohol as well as suffering from mental illness. These veterans need and deserve focused treatment to combat their struggles. We should all agree that providing treatment for our veterans and others that need it through community partnerships at the local level is a far better option than locking them up.
“It is the responsibility of the House, through the annual Appropriations process, to evaluate which programs are worthwhile and which are not. I believe, and the House agreed, that the needs of our veterans and supporting law enforcement efforts to curb prescription drug abuse at the local level are higher priorities than facilitating misguided rules like the ATF’s attempted ‘green tip’ ammo ban.”
Additional:
The first amendment offered by Congressman Gosar reprograms funds from ATF bureaucracy to Veterans Treatment Courts. ATF received a $49 million increase over FY 15 enacted levels. Congressman Gosar’s successful amendment transferred $5 million from this overreaching agency to the Veterans Treatment Courts Program.
Rep. Gosar was joined by French Hill (R-AR) in passing his second amendment. The Gosar-Hill amendment successfully reprogrammed $5 million from ATF bureaucrats to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, restoring PDMP funding to the original House-approved levels from last year. PDMP has proven to be an effective tool in reducing the growth of prescription drug abuse which has contributed to addiction, health deterioration and even untimely death for far too many across our country. Prescription drug abuse also fuels the demand for other illicit drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy and heroin; along with human trafficking, gunrunning and murder.
