NW Kentucky News

House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) introduced the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Reauthorization Act of 2024 (H.R. 9598) to reauthorize the ONDCP and related programs, aiming to ensure federal agencies are adequately resourced to hold accountable those trafficking drugs into the United States at the southwest border.

“The Office of National Drug Control Policy is a key player in the fight against the fentanyl and drug crisis ravaging communities across the United States. This bipartisan bill will hand the ONDCP the necessary tools to combat the drug epidemic and help ensure federal agencies tasked with securing the border and prosecuting drug trafficking are using their resources effectively to prevent illicit drugs from pouring across the southwest border. I thank Representatives Duarte and González-Colón for their contributions to this bill, and we look forward to taking up this much-needed legislation this week at the Oversight Committee to advance solutions to the drug crisis claiming too many lives in the United States,” said Chairman Comer.

“This bipartisan bill authorizes critical funding to federal agencies that are working to end the opioid epidemic. From providing assistance to federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to improving the tools available for opioid treatment and recovery, Congress is stepping up in our efforts to get federal dollars to the American people,” said Ranking Member Raskin.

Key provisions of H.R. 9598 include:

- Reauthorizing High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program and Drug-Free Communities (DFC) program at FY 2024 enacted funding levels through FY 2031.

- Similarly reauthorizing related ONDCP programs including Drug Court Training and Technical Assistance program, Model Acts Program, Community-Based Coalition Enhancement Grants program, and National Community Anti-Drug Coalition Institute.

- Incorporating key aspects of HIDTA Reauthorization Act (H.R. 7185), led by Rep. John Duarte (R-Calif.) and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), aimed at bolstering local law enforcement resources to combat fentanyl and temporarily reassign prosecutorial resources.

- Codifying Caribbean Counter Narcotics Strategy (H.R. 920), as sponsored by Rep. Jennifer González-Colón’s (R-Puerto Rico) and Stacy Plaskett’s (D-Virgin Islands), ensuring ONDCP continues delivering strategies addressing drug trafficking in the Caribbean.

- Requiring ONDCP Director conduct a study on life-saving opioid overdose reversals.

- Directing ONDCP Director coordinate with Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, State ensuring appropriate agencies properly resourced holding traffickers accountable under Title 8 immigration authorities.

- Mandating Secretary of Homeland Security report effects current trends encounters southwest border on CBP’s ability interdict deadly illicit drugs.

Original cosponsors include Representatives John Duarte (R-Calif.), Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Jennifer González-Colón (R-Puerto Rico), Stacey Plaskett (D-U.S. Virgin Islands).

Bill text can be found here.