Washington, D.C. - A bipartisan amendment proposed by U.S. Reps. Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Mark Souder (R-IN) to add $25 million to the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign passed last night by a vote of 268 to 151. The added funds will help a media campaign that sends anti-drug messages to today’s youth. Larsen co-chairs the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine.

“Evidence shows that teens frequently exposed to strong anti-drug messages are 38 percent less likely to try methamphetamine,” Larsen said. “We have to do everything we can to reach today’s youth about the dangers of using drugs like meth.”

Over the last few years, the campaign has suffered large-scale funding cuts. When it was created in fiscal year 1999, it received $195 million. In fiscal year 2002, it only received $180. And this year funding was proposed at $120 million. In addition, the costs of advertising have skyrocketed.  In real advertising dollars, the campaign is operating at less than half of its original strength.

“As meth use spreads across the U.S., we have to work harder to spread the message to our kids that meth is a dangerous and deadly drug,” Larsen said. “With kids watching an average of three hours of television a day, the media campaign is an effective way to reach them.”

The Larsen-Souder amendment restored $25 million to the campaign, bringing the total for fiscal year 2006 to $145 million in the Transportation, Treasury, HUD, Judiciary, District of Columbia Appropriations Act 2006 (H.R. 3058). The bill is expected to pass today. The Senate and House must agree on a final version before the President can sign it into law.

“We have a long way to go in our fight against meth,” Larsen reminded. “Restoring funding to the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign is a strong step in the right direction.”

The amendment was offset by cutting two General Services Administration Federal Building accounts. Even with the offset, those accounts will still receive a substantial increase in funding.