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ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT WELCOMES WHITE HOUSE NOMINEE

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Attorney General John Ashcroft today welcomed President George W. Bush's announcement of his intention to nominate Asa Hutchinson to be Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

"Asa Hutchinson will bring unparalleled experience in public service to the DEA," Ashcroft said. "I have utter confidence in his ability to approach our nation's drug problem with fresh ideas and strong leadership. He will be a crucial partner in our fight to win the war on drugs, and I look forward to working with him."

Hutchinson has represented the third district of Arkansas in the House of Representatives since 1996. He serves on the Speaker's Task Force for a Drug-Free America, a working group charged with developing new strategies to combat drug abuse among America's youth. He is a veteran in the fight against methamphetamine, having worked to provide funding to local law enforcement for meth lab cleanup and treatment programs.

Hutchinson also serves on the House Transportation, Judiciary, Intelligence and Ethics Committees. Over the last several years he has been instrumental in progress on a number of important issues, including privacy protection, racial profiling and legal assistance for domestic violence victims.

From 1982 to 1985, Hutchinson served as United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas. Appointed by President Reagan when he was 31, Hutchinson was the youngest federal prosecutor in the nation at the time. He assisted in negotiations that ended a three-day standoff between a paramilitary group in Northern Arkansas and law enforcement officers, an accomplishment for which the FBI awarded him a citation.

Hutchinson received his undergraduate degree from Bob Jones University and his law degree from the University of Arkansas. He is a resident of Ft. Smith, Arkansas.

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