Today, Congressman John Moolenaar offered an amendment to the Department of Health and Human Services budget that would make it illegal for the department to use taxpayer funding to purchase crack pipes. The amendment was offered during the House Appropriations Committee's annual debate on funding for HHS. It was accepted by the Democratic majority and included in the final draft of the funding bill passed by the committee.
"This is a common-sense amendment because taxpayers simply do not want their hard-earned money being used to pay for crack pipes. That is why I worked hard to introduce this amendment and make sure tax dollars are never used for that," said Moolenaar. "HHS must be a responsible steward of taxpayer funding and ensure that the programs it funds are helping those who are in need without prolonging their addiction."
Earlier this year it was reported that grants issued by the department were being used by outside organizations to purchase crack pipes as part of "Safe Smoking Kits."
Last week, Moolenaar voted for The Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act, which also bans the use of taxpayer funding for crack pipes. That legislation passed the House, however, it has not come up in the Senate and may not pass this year, prompting the need to attach Moolenaar's amendment to the annual HHS appropriations bill.
Moolenaar is Michigan’s senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, which decides funding levels for federal departments, agencies, and programs. The text of his amendment to ban taxpayer funding for crack pipes is below.
Original source can be found here.
