Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday accepted the All Rise Leadership Award from the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. The award is given to Members of Congress who exhibit a commitment to combating drug related crime and addiction through drug courts. 

“The Kentucky Drug Court Program plays an integral role in our criminal justice system by combining treatment with law enforcement and rigorous court supervision,” said McConnell.  “We know that the incarceration of drug offenders alone does not necessarily break the cycle of drug-related criminal activity and we must be responsive to the needs of local communities to effectively address this ongoing problem. I will continue to support comprehensive efforts to combat illegal drug use and drug-related crime and look for ways to protect our communities from the horrors wrought by drug abuse, and applaud the dedication of Kentucky’s drug court judges, prosecutors, and supervision professionals.” 

Since enactment of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, Senator McConnell has consistently supported programs for state and local governments to implement and maintain drug courts and reauthorize the Drug Court Grant Program. 

Senator McConnell has demonstrated strong support for the Rural Drug Prosecution Assistance Project which assists the criminal justice system in rural Kentucky in fighting drug-related crime and for over a decade has ensured that the Kentucky National Guard has access to resources for marijuana eradication operations in Appalachia.