| TRAFICANT, James A., Jr., |
WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1998
Washington, D.C. – The House today approved an amendment offered by U. S. Rep. James A. Traficant, Jr. (D–OH) to require the Director of Central Intelligence to file annual reports to Congress on the level of assistance provided to law enforcement by the intelligence community in stopping the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S. "Our intelligence community should know where illegal narcotics are being cultivated and processed, who is exporting these narcotics into the U.S., and who in the U.S. is facilitating narco-trafficking," said Traficant, a former sheriff and drug counselor. "Equally as important, Congress needs to know whether or not the intelligence community is communicating this information to domestic law enforcement agencies in an effective and expeditious manner."
The amendment was adopted earlier today during House consideration
of legislation authorizing an estimated $27 billion in fiscal year 1999
for U.S. intelligence agencies and intelligence-related activities of the
U.S. government. Traficant's amendment, which the House unanimously
adopted on a voice vote, requires the Director of Central Intelligence
to submit an annual report to Congress describing the level of cooperation
and assistance provided to domestic federal law enforcement agencies by
the intelligence community during the previous fiscal year relating to
the effort to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S. through the
U.S.-Mexico border and the U.S.-Canada border.
The intelligence bill was approved by the House on a voice vote.
Traficant's amendment was the only rider to the bill approved by the House.
Traficant said today that he will work with the members of the House Permanent
Select Committee on Intelligence to ensure that his amendment remains in
the bill when the House version is reconciled with the Senate version.
From 1981 to 1985, Traficant served as sheriff of Ohio's Mahoning County.
From 1971 to 1981, Traficant was the director of the Mahoning County Drug
Program.