That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that—
the War on Drugs has failed to achieve its goal of reducing drug use;
the War on Drugs has created conditions in the United States that have allowed the opioid epidemic to be as deadly as it is;
the War on Drugs is a racially charged policy that has led to the mass incarceration of millions of Americans, disproportionately affecting communities of color, has stigmatized these communities as the cause of the drug problem, and has economically, politically, and socially crippled these communities for decades;
the House of Representatives condemns the actions and role Harry J. Anslinger played in creating the War on Drugs;
in order to help those impacted, drug use has to be seen as a health issue and not a criminal issue;
the House of Representatives should immediately halt any and all actions that would allow the War on Drugs to continue;
the House of Representatives encourages the creation of a select committee that would be tasked in reviewing all laws associated and consistent with the War on Drugs and prioritizing effective, evidence-based health policy solutions for individuals and communities suffering from addiction;
the House of Representatives should pass legislation that would provide civil remedies and restorative justice for any individual who has been incarcerated or otherwise punished through the Federal criminal justice system due to laws associated and consistent with the War on Drugs;
the House of Representatives affirms that all individuals suffering from the disease of addiction be treated humanely, and with the same respect as all people struggling with any other health matter; and
the House of Representatives hereby apologizes to the individuals and communities harmed through the War on Drugs and acknowledges that actions by this body have demonized and criminalized addiction for more than 80 years instead of accurately treating it as a health concern.