Black Caucus' New Agenda Focuses on Fighting Drugs

By HEATHER KNIGHT, Times Staff Writer

WASHINGTONThe Congressional Black Caucus introduced
a new legislative agenda Thursday that targets the
war against drugs, offering proposals to strengthen rehabilitation
programs, expand the court system and increase antidrug
education efforts.
The caucus, chaired by Rep. Maxine Waters (DLos Angeles),
also unveiled measures to exempt grandmothers and other
caregivers from welfare reform, to build computer centers in
lowincome communities, to reduce capital gains taxes for small
businesses and to help rebuild schools.
The new agenda is a marked departure from the Black Caucus'
traditional demands for biggovernment spending programs,
reflecting the predominantly liberal and Democratic group's need to
work with a conservative, GOPled Congressand its desire to
reflect the concerns of members' constituents.
"In listening to our constituents, we have to always be on top of
their beliefs," said Waters. "Our communities are devastated by
drugs and we're tired of sitting here watching failing programs like
'Just Say No.' "
The caucus has discussed its agenda with leaders of both
parties, including Vice President Al Gore and House Speaker Newt
Gingrich (RGa.), and said that it remains optimistic about the
passage of its proposals.
"We have no permanent friends. We have no permanent
enemies. We have permanent interests," said one caucus member,
reciting the group's motto.
The group's legislative package contains 11 bills, with seven of
them aimed at curbing drug abuse. The antidrug legislation would
give an additional $300 million to rehabilitation programs in atrisk
areas, create a radio and billboard antidrug campaign in
lowincome communities, expand drug courts that prosecute
firsttime or smalltime drug offenders, fund drug treatment in
prisons, teach developing countries how to grow crops other than
coca and establish a Justice Department program to monitor the
confiscation and disposal of drugs by local police departments.
Other proposals include exempting grandparents and other
family caregivers from the work requirement contained in the
welfare reform law, creating a small business development fund to
assist women and minorityowned businesses, awarding grants to
nonprofit organizations to build community computer centers and
giving grants to public school districts to improve their buildings.
The caucus said that these initiatives would not put any strain on
the proposed budget deal because they could fit within planned
funding. The caucus said that the proposals would benefit all
Americans, regardless of race.
"These are family and pocketbook issues that are of real
concern," said Rep. Sheila Lee (DTexas). "So far, the 105th
Congress has yet to get down to carrying out the business of the
people."

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