America in Recovery is one of those grassroots ideas that only comes along once in awhile. This is a carefully designed low cost approach that is fully funded by small business - strictly without government money. It is a non-partisan approach that represents new thinking for advancing our country and cutting the costs of government. This is about entrepreneurship and creative volunteerism seeking to serve. This is small business helping people, improving productivity, reducing prison populations, cutting welfare, and adding taxpayers to the system.

Everyone knows someone affected by substance abuse - if not yourself, then someone in your immediate family, extended family, an associate, or a neighbor. You know such people and your constituents know such people. This is not a political issue - it is a fact of life in America, and America in Recovery is a win for everyone.

Our President has asked us to find ways for the private sector and volunteerism to help unburden our government and our taxpayers. This country continues to be built by entrepreneurship and small business, so how can that creativity of new ideas be put to work? Particularly in these challenging post 9-11 times and with our economy even more stressed by the fight against terrorism, America needs ways to improve productivity. Most states are in budget shortfalls and many are turning convicted addicts out of jails and prisons because of the expense. It's well known that incarceration of addicts doesn't work anyway, only treatment works. But without treatment, people who have served their time commonly return to prison.

How can we turn these people into productive citizens who feel good about themselves? How can we help them stand up on their own two feet and learn to take care of themselves? Can we imagine a solution that does this and reduces the cost to government at the same time?

America in Recovery is such a solution.

Please refer your constituents who are ministers, counselors, drug court judges, and recovery organization leaders, and pray for the success of America in Recovery.