U.S. House Overwhelmingly Votes to Kill Select Committee on Narcotics in Cost Saving Measure

ON CAPITOL HILL February 1993

The U.S. House of Representatives voted January 26 by 237-180 to kill the Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control, which is headed by Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) (Mary Jacoby, "In a Shocker, House Kills Narcotics Panel, Takes Aim at Three Other Selects," Roll Call, 1/28/93, p. 1).

Eighty-three Democrats joined Republicans in voting to kill the narcotics committee. After the vote, Rangel expressed surprise, blaming strong sentiments for reform. "I was really, really surprised," said Rangel. "I guess the word 'reform' had a magic tone to it that prevailed over all the speeches." The Committee goes out of business March 31, 1993, but is being replaced by an anti-drug caucus.