From CADCA Newsletter:
Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) introduced bipartisan legislation on Wednesday to reauthorize and bolster federal underage drinking prevention programs under the Sober Truth on Preventing (STOP) Underage Drinking Act.
Congresswoman Roybal-Allard was joined by Congressman Zach Wamp (R, TN-3), Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D, CT-3), and Congressman Frank Wolf (R, VA-10.). U.S. Senator Chris Dodd (CT) plans to introduce the identical companion bill.
“We need to reinvigorate our message about the impacts of youth alcohol abuse and take the next steps in federal underage drinking prevention efforts,” Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard said. “The investment called for by the STOP Act reauthorization is a cost-effective strategy to reduce the estimated $53 billion toll on our nation each year from the suffering and death caused by underage drinking.”
In 2006, the 109th Congress passed the Sober Truth on Preventing (STOP) Underage Drinking Act authored by Congresswoman Roybal-Allard. The legislation authorized: the establishment of an interagency coordinating committee to address underage drinking; a parent-focused media campaign; federal research on underage drinking prevention; and the creation of community grants to fight underage drinking.
The STOP Act reauthorization (HR 6241) will continue the programs begun with the original STOP Act, and will build upon these public health efforts by increasing the authorized funding level for the Community-Based Coalition Enhancement Act Grants from $5 million to $9 million. The Community based Coalition Enhancement Act Grants was highly successful, with 266 applications submitted for the 23 grants that were available in FY 2009.
The STOP Act reauthorization would also:
• Double the original investment in a multimedia campaign to educate parents and communities about the dangers of underage drinking;
• Authorize an Institute of Medicine report on the literature about the influence of drinking alcohol on the development of the adolescent brain; and
• Establish grants to train pediatric health care providers in how best to screen and treat children and teens who have had alcohol exposures.
