(Washington, DC)—{Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II announced an increase in federal funding to fight Methamphetamine in Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District in the House version of the Science, State, Justice, and Commerce Appropriations bill (H.R. 5672) for Fiscal Year 2007. 

The bill, which passed the House on June 29, 2006 by a vote of 393-23, provides $60.2 billion for the Departments of Commerce, Justice and State. The bill funds several important tools for local law enforcement, like the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program. In order to help Federal, State and local law enforcement address the meth epidemic, the bill provides $367,852,000 for the Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) program, which the Administration proposed to eliminate; $40 million for Drug Court programs, which is $30,128,000 above the current year; $5 million for State Prison Drug Treatment programs, which the Administration proposed to eliminate; and $15 million above the request for Drug Enforcement Agency.

Through the efforts of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine, of which Congressman Cleaver is a member, $99 million was set aside in the bill for grants to fight Meth nationwide, $58.9 million more than the Administration requested. 

“Drugs are a cancer on our society. We must marshal our resources at the federal, state and local levels to rid this poison from our streets. Not only are these drugs dangerous to those who use them, the chemicals used to produce Meth are dangerous to simply be around. Residents should be safe knowing the house next to them will not blow up from a Meth explosion,” said Congressman Cleaver.

“We will use these funds to extend the successful Meth-combating programs already having an effect in Cass County. When it comes to preventing our children from getting hooked on this dangerous drug we must act as a team. With this funding, Congressman Cleaver continues his partnership with local law enforcement in this fight on Meth. We will certainly put every cent to good use,” said Teresa Hensley, Cass County Prosecutor.

Congressman Cleaver co-sponsored the “The Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act” which was signed into law March 9, 2006. The measure is the first-ever comprehensive anti-meth legislation. Previous legislation proposed by individual Members of Congress provided stand-alone solutions to single aspects of the meth problem. The Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act took a big picture approach to the problem by attacking every angle of methamphetamine trafficking – precursor control, international controls, environmental regulation, and criminal prosecution. 

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Belton, Raymore and Peculiar, Missouri. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee.