CONGRESSMEN URGE CREATION OF DRUG CZAR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000100550014-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 23, 2010
• Sequence Number: 14
• Publication Date: January 7, 1983
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/23: CIA-RDP90-00552R000100550014-7
ASSOCIATED PRESS
7 JANUARY 1983
Congressmen Urge Creation of 'Drug Czar'
TERENCE HUNT
WASHINGTON
A congressional delegation urged President Reagan today to sign a bill that
would create a Cabinet-level "drug czar" with extensive powers to oversee the
government's war on illegal drug traffic.
Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., D-Del., said Reagan "strongly objects to, or has
great doubt about," the new position.
The so-called drug czar would be empowered to order other Cabinet officials,
including the director of the CIA, the attorney general and the secretary of
state, to follow his priorities in combating drugs.
"The president is being told by all, as you might expect, every bureaucratic
agency, 'No, we don't like that idea,"' said Biden. "He's got to settle the turf
war."
"We should have a person at a federal level that can tell the State
Department, can tell the intelligence community, that the priorities in drug
enforcement are 'a, b and c' and we task a portion of your operation to do
that," Biden said.
Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said he was
hopeful _ but not confident - that an arrangement could be reached that would
allow Reagan to sign the measure already approved by Congress.
"It is my hope the president will sign this bill and then he will introduce a
bill to overcome the main objection of the Justice Department on the czar
provision," said Thurmond.
Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said "prospects are good the matter can be worked
out." He said talks would continue during the day with Justice Department
officials.
Reps. William J. Hughes, D-N.J., and Harold Sawyer, R-Mich., also urged
Reagan to sign-the measure.
Biden and Specter said a veto of the bill would imperil chances for passage
of any further crime legislation in the new Congress.
The drug-czar provision was included in a crime bill that would make it
easier for federal prosecutors to seize the assets of drug smugglers and
increase the fines that can be levied against drug dealers.
STAT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/23: CIA-RDP90-00552R000100550014-7