BILL REQ. #:  H-3990.1 

Read first time 01/16/2006.   Referred to Committee on Criminal Justice & Corrections.

     TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, The manufacture, transportation, and distribution of illegal drugs, such as methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, marijuana, and other illegal drugs, both within this nation and covertly imported from beyond our borders, has reached epidemic proportions; and
     WHEREAS, The manufacture, transportation, and distribution of illegal drugs, such as methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, marijuana, and other illegal drugs, both within this nation and covertly imported from beyond our borders, has frequently overwhelmed state and local law enforcement agencies ill-equipped and limited in their abilities to effectively combat these insidious products; and
     WHEREAS, The manufacture, transportation, and distribution of illegal drugs, such as methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, marijuana, and other illegal drugs, represent a direct threat to the security of communities, families, and individuals across this land; and
     WHEREAS, The use of illegal drugs, such as methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, marijuana, and other illegal drugs, continues to increase at an alarming rate, with a corresponding increase in the destruction of communities, families, and individuals and a skyrocketing increase in crime, such as identity theft and auto theft; and
     WHEREAS, The Department of Homeland Security has been tasked to provide the unifying core for the vast national network of organizations and institutions involved in protecting our nation and to ensure the security of the United States from nuclear, biological, chemical, and border incursion; and
     WHEREAS, The Department of Homeland Security, the National Strategy for Homeland Security, and the Homeland Security Act of 2002 has served to mobilize and organize our nation to better secure our homeland from outside attacks, an exceedingly complex mission that requires a focused effort from our entire society if we are to be successful; and
     WHEREAS, The Department of Homeland Security has adopted an agenda to ensure that the Department's policies, operations, and structures are aligned in the best way to address the potential threats--both present and future--that face our nation, including increasing overall preparedness, creating better transportation security systems, strengthening border security, interior enforcement, and reform immigration processes, enhancing information sharing, improving financial management, human resource development, procurement, and information technology, and realigning the organization to maximize mission performance; and
     WHEREAS, The Department of Homeland Security has adopted the following:
     Vision: Preserving our freedoms, protecting America ... we secure our homeland.
     Mission: We will lead the unified national effort to secure America. We will prevent and deter terrorist attacks and protect against and respond to threats and hazards to the nation. We will ensure safe and secure borders, welcome lawful immigrants and visitors, and promote the free flow of commerce.
     Strategic Goals: Awareness--Identify and understand threats, assess vulnerabilities, determine potential impacts, and disseminate timely information to our homeland security partners and the American public.
     Prevention--Detect, deter, and mitigate threats to our homeland.
     Protection--Safeguard our people and their freedoms, critical infrastructure, property, and the economy of our Nation from acts of terrorism, natural disasters, or other emergencies.
     Response--Lead, manage, and coordinate the national response to acts of terrorism, natural disasters, or other emergencies.
     Recovery--Lead national, state, local, and private sector efforts to restore services and rebuild communities after acts of terrorism, natural disasters, or other emergencies.
     Service--Serve the public effectively by facilitating lawful trade, travel, and immigration.
     Organizational Excellence--Value our most important resource, our people. Create a culture that promotes a common identity, innovation, mutual respect, accountability, and teamwork to achieve efficiencies, effectiveness, and operational synergies; and
     WHEREAS, The Department of Homeland Security is, therefore, uniquely positioned and capable of investigating, interdicting, and significantly impacting the transportation, manufacture, and distribution of illegal drugs, such as methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, marijuana, and other illegal drugs, and the materials necessary for the manufacture of such drugs, in order to defend our society, our communities, our families, and individuals from the terrors of drug use and addictions being imposed by those who transport, manufacture, and distribute them from within and without our nation;
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the President and Congress of the United States adopt and implement all necessary legislation and authority to add to the mission of the Department of Homeland Security the charge of combating all forms of the manufacture, transportation, and distribution of illegal drugs.
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.