Committee InfoDescriptionHello representatives and welcome to the House Committee on Narcotics and Drug Trafficking. The Narcotics and Drug Trafficking committee is primarily responsible for supervising US drug policies and monitoring international narcotics control treaties. This 12-person-committee is unique in that it is classified as a caucus but, because of its formal organization, has the status of a standing committee. The committee has subpoena power, is authorized to take testimony of witnesses, and can produce records and documents. The committee does not have jurisdiction over legislation, but rather holds numerous hearings and issues reports on US narcotics control policy. Recently, the Narcotics and Drug Committee has taken steps to pass additional legislation to eradicate the production of opium in Afghanistan. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Afghanistan supplies 90 percent of the world’s illegal opium, which is processed into heroin. The harmful drug is then sold all over the world and its profits support the Taliban’s efforts. In December 2008, a law was passed allowing US soldiers to directly support the counter-narcotics mission conducted in Afghanistan by the US and their Afghan allies. In May 2009, they teamed up to seize many of the drugs and supplies in Afghanistan and increased funding in order to replace the opium with alternative crops. The narcotics committee, lead by Chairman Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) has supported the efforts and just held a hearing in order to persuade congress to increase prosecution of Afghan drug dealers, as they propose a threat to the new reforms. The committee also works to reform domestically, and recently helped to pass a series of bills that established minimum drug testing standards for major professional sports leagues and raised the penalties for use of steroids and like substances. If you are interested in learning more about the Committee on Drugs and Narcotics Trafficking, view their website http://drugcaucus.senate.gov/index.html. ------- Hey guys! I'm Jessie Spellman, a junior in the College at Penn. I'm an urban studies major and have been a part of Model Congress since my freshman year of high school. This is my third year chairing the conference. I love anything related to Italy, its language, its food, and its culture. Feel free to email me with any questions or concerns about this year's conference at jessiet@sas.upenn.edu. Melissa and I look forward to an awesome weekend with you all!! My name is Melissa Rudofsky, and I am a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences at Penn. I am still undecided about my major. I graduated last year from Jericho High School in Long Island, New York. I participated in model congress at Jericho High School for four years. I am involved in various activities at Penn, such as the West Philly Tutoring Project. Please feel free to contact me at any time with any questions or comments you have about parliamentary procedure, the conference, bill topics, or even just about Penn! My e-mail address is mrudof@sas.upenn.edu. I can’t wait to work with you all! Chairs
|
Account LoginConference DatesMarch 31 - April 3, 2011 RegistrationRegistration is now closed. InformationClick here for more details about PENNMC 2011! Check us out on Facebook!
|
