[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1618-E1619]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


           CSAT KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION GRANTS

                                 ______
                                 

                    HON. JUANITA MILLENDER-McDONALD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 31, 1997

  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I insert the following letter 
for the Record:

                                                     U.S. Congress


                                     House of Representatives,

                                    Washington, DC, July 25, 1997.
     David J. Mactas,
     Director, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, SAMHSA/CSAT, 
         5600 Fishers Lane, Rockwall II Building, Suite 615, 
         Rockville, MD.
       Dear Mr. Mactas: We are writing to express our concerns 
     about attempts that have been made to close down vital 
     Pregnant Postpartum Women and Infants (PPWI) programs despite 
     the fact that the Labor, Health and Human Services, and 
     Education Subcommittee has provided full funding to continue 
     all of these programs. We are particularly concerned about 
     the Tarzana treatment center, as it has helped numerous

[[Page E1619]]

     women, children and families in all of our Southern 
     California Districts.
       Both categories of women and children programs provide 
     intensive substance abuse treatment as well as strong support 
     services and childcare for infants and children of women in 
     treatment. Families depend on these programs to become 
     healthy and self-sufficient. In addition, invaluable outcome 
     data is collected and analyzed at the completion of the five 
     year grants. This information is shared with other treatment 
     programs to ensure that the best modalities of treatment are 
     replicated in other regions of the country.
       We are concerned that you will continue to direct certain 
     women and children treatment programs to close down as you 
     did last fall, despite the congressional intent to fully fund 
     these programs in the Continuing Resolution for fiscal year 
     1997. To ensure that these programs will not be forced to 
     shut down, we would like to receive your written confirmation 
     indicating that when Congress appropriates these funds for 
     all of the women and children programs, you will distribute 
     this money to the thirteen Residential Women and Children and 
     eleven Pregnant and Postpartum Women and Infants programs.
       All of the CSAT Knowledge Development and Application 
     grants are key to ending the vicious cycle of addiction. The 
     PPWI programs, in particular, give women a second chance and 
     their children the healthy start they need to break this 
     cycle.
       Thank you in advance for providing us with written 
     assurance that CSAT will enforce the legislation passed by 
     Congress and signed by President Clinton, and that none of 
     these programs for women and children will be shut down in 
     fiscal year 1998.
           Sincerely,
     Juanita Millender-McDonald,
       Member of Congress.
     Brad Sherman,
       Member of Congress.
     Lucille Roybal-Allard,
       Member of Congress.
     Howard Berman,
       Member of Congress.

       

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