CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE
104th Congress (1996)


HR 3548, THE STATES' RIGHTS ACT (6/21/96)
Representative Scott Klug (R-WI) has introduced legislation, HR 3548, 
the States' Rights Act, which would repeal the law that limits federal 
highway funds to states that do not have a 21 year-old drinking age.
BACKGROUND: 
Last year, Rep. Klug introduced HR 607, the States' Rights Empowerment 
Act, which would repeal federal penalties for noncompliance  by states 
relating to the use of safety belts and motorcycle helmets, the 
national maximum speed limit and the national minimum drinking age.  
The bill was the subject of hearings in March, 1995, and the provision 
on the elimination of the maximum speed limit was included in highway 
transportation legislation.  No action was taken on the drinking age 
provision.

On May 29, 1996, Rep. Klug introduced HR 3548, which would only address 
the 21 drinking age.  Rep. Klug, while recognizing the potential problems 
related to underage drinkers crossing state lines to buy alcohol, feels 
that states' rights take precedence over possible health and safety 
issues.  

NCADD opposes HR 3548.  A national minimum drinking age is critical to 
preventing and reducing alcohol-related problems.

If you have further questions about this legislation, please contact 
our Public Policy Office via e-mail:   publicpolicy@ncadd.org.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: 
Write or call (Capitol Hill switchboard telephone number 202/737-8122) 
your member of the House of Representatives and ask him or her to oppose 
HR 3548.
SAMPLE LETTER: 
The Honorable --
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C.  20515

Dear Representative --:

I strongly urge you to oppose HR 3548, the States' Rights Act of 
1996.  This legislation, which would essentially eliminate the 
national minimum drinking age of 21, would take a giant step 
backwards in our efforts to reduce alcohol-related problems among 
young people.  

The uniform drinking age was established by Congress in 1984 
because the patch-work quilt of state laws encouraged young people 
to drive over state lines to buy alcohol--only to get back on the 
road after drinking.

Alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death 
among young people.  However, since the uniform drinking age was 
established, deaths among drivers between the ages of 18 and 20 
have been reduced, and research has shown that the increased minimum 
drinking had a significant effects on those statistics .

It makes absolutely no sense to change this modest, sensible law 
at a time when alcohol is still the drug of choice among high 
school students.

Please oppose this ill-advised legislation.  For your information, 
I have enclosed a few statistics that you should find useful.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,



FACTS CONCERNING AGE 21 "DRINKING LAWS"

Background

*	Age 21 laws have saved an estimated 13,968 lives and over 
$30 billion in economic costs since 1975.

*	Age 21 laws saved an estimated 816 lives and $1.8 billion 
in economic costs in 1993 alone.

* 	There was no cost to the states to implement or enforce 
these laws.  States were already enforcing a minimum drinking 
age although, in most cases, the minimum age was lower 
(typically age 18).


Legislative History

*	The National Minimum Drinking Age Act was signed into 
law on July 17, 1984 by President Reagan.  The Act strongly 
encourages states to have laws prohibiting the "purchase and 
public possession" of alcoholic beverages by anyone under the
age of 21 by withholding a portion of federal-aid highway funds
from states without such laws.

*	On March 26, 1986, the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and the Federal Highway Administration published 
a joint final rule implementing the statute.

*	On July 1, 1984, only 18 states had Age 21 laws.

*	All states and the District of Columbia now have Age 21 laws.


Legislative Effectiveness

*	The estimated number of lives saved by minimum drinking age 
laws between 1975 and 1984 is estimated to be about 5,530.  Lives 
saved between 1985 and 1993 (since the federal law was passed) are 
estimated to about 8,438.

*	A Government Accounting Office (GAO) study in 1987 concluded 
that raising the drinking age reduced alcohol-related crashes and 
probably reduced alcohol consumption.  It also concluded that when 
the drinking age was lowered, crashes increased.


Source:  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Feb. 1995