Senate Bill 1734

    Florida Senate - 2000        (NP)                      SR 1734

    By Senator Brown-Waite





    10-1173-00

  1                    Senate Resolution No.     

  2         A resolution recognizing the Florida National

  3         Guard Counterdrug Program for its value and

  4         benefit to the state.

  5

  6         WHEREAS, the National Guard Counterdrug Program employs

  7  dedicated soldiers and airmen who possess unique skills that

  8  support federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and

  9  community-based organizations in every state and territory in

10  the nation, and

11         WHEREAS, the Florida National Guard has provided

12  counterdrug military support to the state for over 10 years,

13  and

14         WHEREAS, the counterdrug support provided by the

15  Florida National Guard has resulted in real and measurable

16  contributions in reducing both the demand for and the supply

17  of drugs in this state by providing training support to combat

18  drugs to law enforcement agencies and community-based

19  organizations, and

20         WHEREAS, the Florida National Guard Counterdrug Support

21  Program is recognized in the Florida Drug Control Strategy as

22  a critical component in accomplishing the drug demand and

23  supply reduction goals as stated therein, and

24         WHEREAS, the Florida National Guard Counterdrug Program

25  is vital to these efforts, since it is a community-based

26  military asset uniquely positioned to help combat a

27  community-based drug problem, and

28         WHEREAS, the Congress of the United States has

29  authorized a 4,000-member troop ceiling nationally for

30  counterdrug support to the states and territories, and

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 2000        (NP)                      SR 1734
    10-1173-00




  1         WHEREAS, Congressional funding has traditionally fallen

  2  short of the amount required to employ the 4,000 troop ceiling

  3  as authorized, and

  4         WHEREAS, the unique personnel and equipment

  5  capabilities of the Florida National Guard are in such high

  6  demand that many requests for support go unfilled, and

  7         WHEREAS, National Guard counterdrug funding has been

  8  inconsistent from year to year, thus affecting the Florida

  9  National Guard's ability to execute consistent and stable

10  counterdrug support operations within the state, NOW,

11  THEREFORE,

12

13  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:

14

15         That the Senate officially recognizes the value and

16  benefit of the National Guard counterdrug support provided to

17  law enforcement and community-based organizations throughout

18  the State of Florida and the United States; and

19         That the Senate strongly encourages the President and

20  Congress of the United States to provide consistent and stable

21  funding for the National Guard Counterdrug Program to the

22  level that enables the 4,000 troop ceiling that Congress has

23  authorized for counterdrug support to be employed in support

24  of the Governors' counterdrug state plans nationwide.

25         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution,

26  with the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to the

27  Florida National Guard as a tangible token of the sentiments

28  of the Florida Senate.

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