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doesn't help much to see brown heroin and marijuana still comingacross the border in unmanageable amounts. Mexico is one of thefew countries to commit not only its resources, but enter into bilateral agreements with the United States to make it look as thoughwe can have some type of objective eradication.We want to look at reports of heroin addiction in the Brownsvillearea, including drug treatment and prevention activities in theregion and the need for comprehensive drug education.These are not theoretical concerns. In 1982, the last year forwhich figures are available, there were 1,7:35 drug abuse relatedemergency room episodes in Dallas, while in San Antonio in 1982,there were 1,226 emergency room episodes.The medical examiner in Dallas in 1982 reported 47 drug-relateddeaths. In San Antonio, there were 46 drug-related deaths.These figures graphically show the seriousness of the drug abusethreat.After hearing from the mayor of Corpus Christi, Mr. LutherJones, we'll receive testimony from various Federal officials representing the spectrum of Federal concern about illegal drug traffick-ing and drug use. The Federal witnesses will range from Mr.Daniel Hedges, U.S. attorney for the southern district of Texas, toRear Adm. William Stewart, the Coordinator of the National Narcotics Border Interdiction System for the Gulf Region.From these Federal officials, we want information on the extentof drug trafficking in south Texas, the method of operation of thetraffickers, and what additional resources are necessary before weare able to make a dent in the problem we are facing. We particularly want to have information as relates to NNBIS. It was formedfor the specific purpose of interrupting and impacting the smuggling of drugs into this country. We have questions of how effectiveit is and how its functions differ from the other task forces thathave been formed.One of the issues that we want to explore with the panel of locallaw enforcement officials is the extent of cooperation, includingsharing of intelligence informatio. that they've had with the Fed-eral law enforcement officials.I might point out that this committee has been disappointed withthe degree of cooperation that we've seen in Florida, California,and other areas.This afternoon we'll focus on drug abuse treatment and prevention activities. From those witnesses, we want to learn which drugsthey encounter most frequently in treating drug abusers, whatimpact the passage of the alcohol, drug abuse, mental health blockgrant has on the availability of drug abuse treatment and prevention activities in south Texas.Finally, we'd like to know what the witnesses would think of theFederal drug strategy which has been created by this administration.Tomorrow we'll receive testimony from representatives of localcommunities and school districts to see the impact of drug abuse,and, once again, we'll examine the drug law enforcement issues.This time, with Texas law enforcement officials.Our hearings will conclude with a panel of State representativeswho are concerned about drug trafficking.

3Since both the ranking minority member of our committee and Ihave served in the State legislature, we respect and appreciate thefact that so many of you have taken time out to share your viewswith us, because in the final analysis, you are faced with the problems on a day-to-day basis. And we feel it's up to us to provide theresources for you to be able to do a more effective job.Before I call on Mayor Jones, I, again, would want to thank Solomon Ortiz for bringing us here.I have to be very candid in saying that when we had our reapportionment in the State of New York and found out we werelosing five outstanding world leaders, in terms of Congressmen, wewere a little upset to find that the sovereign State of Texas waspicking up three of them. [Laughter.]I'd like to say that the quality that you bring to the Congressmakes the pain a little easier to bear.I'd like to recognize Benjamin Gilman, the ranking Republicanmember of our committee.[Mr. Rangel's opening statement appears on p. 135.]OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORKMr. GILMAN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.I want to associate myself with your remarks and commend youfor arranging this hearing on drug trafficking and abuse in theTexas gulf coast area.I want to commend our colleague, Congressman Ortiz, for his efforts in encouraging and helping to arrange for these hearings ofour select committee to spotlight the drug trafficking problem inthe Corpus Christi and gulf coast region.I certainly welcome our good colleague, Kent Hance, in joiningus today and thank him for taking time out from his schedule toparticipate in this hearing.Narcotics trafficking and drug abuse has certainly reached epidemic proportions from the gold coast of Florida to the gulf coast ofTexas, from New York to Los Angeles, throughout our Nation andthroughout the world.Unfortunately, we find that we've only been making too small adent in combatting this deadly menace that's been underminingour political and our economic and our social institutions and creating havoc for our citizens, many of whom erroneously believethat the way to escape the pressures of society and to seek someform of relaxation is through the abuse of drugs.Out of a total population, I guess it's about 14.5 million in theState of Texas, it's been estimated that there are as many as700,000 drug abusers.Our Narcotics Select Committee has been investigating some ofour Nation's hot spots in the trafficking of narcotics. Earlier thisyear, our committee held hearings on the domestic cultivation ofmarijuana in California, where our committee observed firsthandthe massive marijuana fields and the sophisticated operations ofmarijuana growers in the northern California region.testiIn our recent investigations in south Florida, we receivedcommunieffectsofnarcodollarsonlocalmony on the disrupting

4ties and heard State and local law enforcement officials complainabout the lack of cooperation with the Federal drug law enforcement agencies.During the summer recess, our committee met with the heads ofthe drug-producing nations in Latin America, where we tried to encourage them to eradicate narcotics at their source.Today we'll be focusing our attention on drug trafficking anddrug abuse in the Texas gulf coast area to determine, among otherthings, the magnitude of the trafficking in this region and theextent to which these drug traffickers are shifting their operationsin south Florida to this Texas gulf coast region.The proximity of Corpus Christi to the border areas is a source ofconcern for all of us, and while the Mexican Government has beencooperative in their efforts to eradicate the illicit cultivation ofmarijuana, we have been receiving some disturbing reports of lateof increased border trafficking in heroin, cocaine, andother dangerous substances.This committee and our colleagues in Congress are anxious to determine how we, as a nation, can more effectivelycombat drugtrafficking, the sordid business activities that bring so much miseryto so many of our citizens and how we can best develop more effec-tive drug prevention, better treatment, and better rehabilitationservices, and programs to warn our citizenry, particularly ouryoung people, of the dangers of drug abuse and to try to help thosewho have become dependent upon this deadly substance.Mr. Chairman, we look forward to hearing from our panelistsfrom Federal, State, and local levels to learn of theirtocombat drug trafficking and abuse and, most important, effortswhat we,as lawmakers, can do to assist them in their efforts.Thank you, Mr. Chairman.[Mr. Gilman's opening statement appears on p. 139.]Mr. RANGEL. Thank you, Mr. Gilman.The Chair recognizes Congressman Kent Hance from Texas.As most of you know, all of us have legislative committee responsibilities and volunteered to serve on the Select Committee on Narcotic Abuse and Control.I'm happy on my Ways and Means Committee, which has tax jurisdiction that one of my friends and colleagues on that committeeis Congressman Kent Hance, who is just joining with us today because of his concern with this very serious problem.OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. KENT HANCE. AREPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF TEXASMr. HANCE. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I appreciatebeing here and appearing with your committee, and also being inthe district of my good friend, Solomon Ortiz.Solomon is doing an outstanding job for this committee and forthis district, and I'm also honored to be here with Mr. GilmanfromNew York.I think that the problem of drug abuse is a problem that affectsevery person in this State and every person in this Nation, eitherdirectly or indirectly. If it's not directly affecting you, you're indi-

5rectly affected by the tax dollars that we spend, by the amount ofmoney that we have to spend in rehabilitation.Hopefully, with some of the recommendations that SolomonOrtiz has come forward with, we can make prevention the No. 1item of cure and adjust rehabilitation accordingly. It would savethe taxpayers lots of dollars if we are able to do this.I appreciate the opportunity to be here and look forward to hearing each and every witness.Thank you, Mr. Chairman.Mr. RANGEL. Before we start our witnesses and before I recognizeSolomon Ortiz for the purpose of making his opening statementand introducing the mayor, I would like to point out that the committee has taken on a very ambitious schedule here for 2 days, andbecause of the deep interest and so many witnesses wanting tomake a contribution, we're going to ask that the committee members, by unanimous consent, allow the entire prepared statementsto be entered into the record and ask our witnesses whether theywould consent to confine their testimony to 5 minutes so that thepanel members will have an opportunity to question and get someof the answers to questions we have.I would like to point out that when the committee leaves, we justdon't leave entirely because Congressman Ortiz has promised tohave his staff to serve as a liaison to us, and if there are otherquestions, we have our chief of staff, Jack Cusack, our chief counsel, Richard Lowe, our ranking Republican counsel, Elliott Brown,and our staffs are prepared to receive information from thosepeople who are not scheduled to testify but may want to make acontribution.Once again, I thank Congressman Ortiz for his efforts and recognize him.OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ, AREPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF TEXASMr. ORTIZ. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and good morning.I want to welcome Chairman Rangel, we pronounce it Ran-hel'[phonetically, Spanish pronunciation] in south Texas, Mr. Chairman, and my distinguished colleagues to Corpus Christi.It is, indeed, a pleasure and an honor for you to be in our beautiful city today.I also want to welcome those of you who have so graciouslyagreed to participate in this most important venture.Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for conducting these hearings. Boththe residents of Texas' 27th District and I deeply appreciate yourwillingness and that of the Select Committee on Narcotics Abuseand Control to examine drug trafficking and abuse on the Texasgulf coast.I also wish to express my thanks to my colleagues for joiningwith me in examining the issues of drug use and abuse.The select committee's primary objective for the 98th Congress isthe development of a Federal strategy for the prevention of drugabuse and trafficking. In its efforts to accomplish this goal, thecommittee has initiated and participated in several activities.I0

6A series of hearings were held to evaluate the performance andeffectiveness of Federal drug programs and their administeringagencies.The committee has also studied the .1.omestic cultivation of marijuana.Additionally, it has examined international narcotics programs,drug smuggling in Florida, drug treatment and prevention pro.grams, and evaluated education programs.To assist in fulfilling the overall mission of the committee, wehave scheduled these hearings in Corpus Christi, and we intend tofocus on several areas during the next 2 days.We will examine drug smuggling and trafficking in south Texasand its relationship to the nationwide distribution system.We will study the drug addiction problem in south Texas andevaluate treatment and prevention programs.We will focus on soliciting information from administrators, educators, and pa?ents in order to develop comprehensive drug education legislation.Now, we are all aware of the growing problem in this area ofnarcotics trafficking and drug abuse. The problem affects everysegment of our society from the very young to the very old.The recent bumper crop of coca plants in South America and inmarijuana and poppy fields in Mexico, along with inadequate lawenforcement at all levels and political instability in these countries,has led to the increasing supply of narcotics available in southTexas.Because of greater quantities, the price of these and other drugsis steadily dropping, thereby increasing their availability to agreater number of people.Unfortunately, we now have children 9, 10, and 11 years of ageexperimenting with drugs and alcohol.We all know that there is a serious drug problems in our country. Previous testimony has revealed the need to educate ourschoolchildren, an education that must begin early in their life. Itshould be a joint effort between parents and educatorsit must involve the entire community.The question becomes, "What should be the curriculum, andwhen do we begin this educational process?"Hopefully, during the course of these hearings, the witnesses, especially the educators, will provide the necessary guidance.Another problem in the area is the lack of available treatment.There are too few facilities to serve the many people requiringservices and not enough money to treat them properly.It is my sincere hope that the proceedings today and tomorrowwill assist the committee in gaining a better understanding of theserious problems in the area and provide input for finding a satisfactory solution.Again, I thank all of you for attending. With your help, I feelconfident that this endeavor will prove productive and successfulfor all concerned.At this time, I would like to introduce a dedicated public official,my good friend, Mayor Luther Jones.[Mr. Ortiz' opening statement appears on p. 142.]11

7TESTIMONY OF HON. LUTHER JONES, MAYOR OF CORPUSCHRISTI, TXMayor JONES. Chairman Rangel and gentlemen of the committee,it's my great privilege as mayor of the city to welcome you to ourcity.I suppose, under these circumstances, mayors are supposed tobrag a little bit, but you have told me that 5 minutes is all we'regoing to have. Senator 'rruan was substantially worried about the30 minutes that was shown in the program, so I'll confine my comments to that 5 minutes.I don't think you can avoid thinking in terms of the beauty ofwhere we are sitting right now and the beauty of where you stayedlast night at the hotel.There's a lot of things that I could say about our city, but I thinkthat Corpus Christi Bay, that 15-mile expanse of water, has hadover 600 oil and gas wells drilled in it, that there's 200 gas wellsand oil wells producing out there today, and when you get back toWashingtonand I lived up there for 6 years, and I know howdeep the snow gets in that part of the countrythat I hope thatyou will remember that Corpus Christi and that beautiful baydown here produces a substantial portion of the gas that coniesyour way. We're proud of that, and we're proud that it's been donewithout any adverse effect on the environment.The citizens of this community have a substantial investment inthis convention center, and to keep our city beautiful is one of ourprime objectives.We're also proud of Solomon Ortiz. Solomon started his politicalcareer in Nueces County as a constable. He was elected to countycommissioner. He was then elected as a sheriff. And he has neverlost an election, and he has never lost his contact with his constituents in our community. And we're extremely proud of him.We're proud that you saw fit to bring this committee to our city.The witnesses that are going to testify today in substantial detailon a number of items, but I'd just like to mention, within the5minutes, a few.There's 1,25() to 1,500 heroin addicts with an average of a 350 -aclay habit in Corpus Christi. There's seven deaths in this city thatappear to be drug overdoses from January to October of this year.The Corpus Christi Independent School District drug policy insti-tuted in May 1981 has led to 42 suspensions of students for drugand alcohol abuse; 31 of these suspensions were marijuana related;6 were alcohol related; and 5 were related to drug paraphernalia.The Corpus Christi Police Department has made 1,362 drug-related arrests between January and November of this year. Forty percent of these arrests were associated with marijuana; 3 percentwith cocaine; 3 percent with speed; and 4 percent were related toheroin.Our police department believes that these statistics reflect thegeneral ratio of usage of these drugs in the community and predicta rise in the use of cocaine as the drug becomes more readily available and, tragically, more popular among even professionals in thecity.

8One last sobering local statistic, the methadone clinicfor theCoastal Bend, an agency federally funded to treat 105 clientspermonth, currently treats 125.I would like at this time, if I may, to approach the bench andpresent to our distinguished Congressmen a key to our city,whichcan be worn as a tie clasp, and say again to you gentlemen, wearehonored that you come to our city and that you come here to listento this problem as it affects us and as it affects the entire Nation.Thank you.[The prepared statement of Mayor Jones appears on p. 145.]Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Mayor, what were you saying about the rehabilitation clinic?Mayor JONES. It is staffed for 105 clients per month, and it treats125.Mr. RANGEL. Well, do you receive any State or Federal assistancefor the operation of this clinic?Mayor JONES. Yes, we do.Mr. RANGEL. And has there been an increase in theofservices that you have been able to provide in the city numberof CorpusChristi for drug addicts or preventive care?Mayor JONES. No, sir. And the funds have not increased.Mr. RANGEL. And then, the reduction of Federal funds, you havefelt the impact locally in your city?Mayor JONES. Yes, sir. And I would add that it's probably verydifficult to determine the extent of that impact. The statistics I justquoted, I think probably, are the closest I can come to answeringthat.Mr. RANGEL. Has the State legislature attempted to make up forthat shortfall in Federal funds?Mayor JONES. To my knowledge, they have not, but I wouldIcannot say positively. I know that it has probably been discussed. Ialso know that there are substantial othe

Palmer Drug Abuse Program, Brownsville. 211. David M. Pollard, Kleberg County Substance Abuse Program, Kingsville . The medical examiner in Dallas in 1982 reported 47 drug-related deaths. In San Antonio, there were 46 drug-related deaths. These figures graphically show the seriousness of the drug abuse