Dear Representative Johnson,
I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to advise you of our support for H.R. 9390, the “Supporting Opportunities to Build Everyday Responsibility (SOBER) Act.”
Alcohol abuse is a serious national issue that is estimated to kill over 175,00 people each year. Crimes attributable to alcohol abuse have been estimated to cost the United States $84 billion annually, more than twice the costs of drug-attributable crime. In fact, one in four Federal prisoners and nearly one in three State prisoners reported drinking alcohol at the time of their offense. The severity of this problem has led to the creation of new, innovative programs on the State and local level, one of which is 24/7 sobriety programs. First launched in South Dakota and quickly adopted in many other States and localities, these programs have shown that they are an evidence-based, cost-effective way to reduce crime and violence.
A 24/7 sobriety program is intended to help people with substance use disorders achieve long term sobriety. The legislation you have introduced would expand the grant program, administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, that would help sustain and support these types of programs. With the expansion of these programs, our officers would be able to focus more of their limited time and resources on other crimes, keeping our communities safe.
On behalf of the more than 377,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I thank you for your leadership on this issue. If I can be of any help or provide additional information in support of this legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco in our Washington, D.C. office.
Sincerely,
Patrick Yoes
National President