ACTION ALERT!
Potential Amendment to Authorize ONDCP to Include Alcohol Prevention Messages in the Anti-Drug Media Campaign

On Thursday, May 20, 1999 the full APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE of the U.S. House of Representatives will begin the "markup" of the appropriations bill for "Treasury, Postal and General Government" appropriations, which passed out of subcommittee on Friday.

That bill includes an amendment, sponsored by Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard of California and Congressman Frank Wolf of Virginia, which represents a major potential victory for the prevention and reduction of underage drinking. Essentially, the amendment changes the authorizing legislation for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to specifically allow ONDCP to begin including alcohol prevention messages in all of its anti-drug work, particularly in its billion-dollar youth anti-drug media campaign.

Until now, the Drug Czar, General Barry McCaffrey, has claimed that he is prevented by law from working on underage drinking issues. This legislative change would remove a significant obstacle to mounting a major media campaign to prevent underage alcohol use.

UNFORTUNATELY, we believe that the beer industry and some of its congressional allies will try to delete the Roybal-Allard/Wolf language when the full committee considers the bill on Thursday.

For that reason, we strongly urge you to help us contact all members of the Appropriations Committee with a clear message "to oppose any efforts to delete the Wolf-Roybal-Allard amendment on underage drinking from the subcommittee markup."

C.W. Bill Young, Florida, Chairman

For more information call:

George Hacker at (202) 332-9110 Ext. 343

Released: May 17, 1999