Washington, D.C. – In his ongoing effort to eradicate methamphetamine from Iowa’s communities, U.S. Congressman Steve King last night urged his colleagues to support measures to give Iowa law enforcement officers the resources to fight meth as the House debated H.R. 5672, the Science, State, Justice, and Commerce Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2007. The bill, passed out of the House last night, now goes to the Senate.

King has been working with his colleagues for funding for the Sioux City Police Department National Training Center as part of H.R. 5672. While the center was included as a priority in the bill, projects will not receive final funding amounts until the bill goes to House and Senate Conference.

“Law enforcement departments in 38 states across the nation know how important the National Training Center is to fight the meth problem that infests our country, hurting our kids and crippling our communities,” said King.

King worked closely with Rep. Frank Wolf, Chairman of the House Science, the Departments of State, Justice, and Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, to secure a place for the training center in H.R. 5672. 

The House also approved an amendment co-sponsored by King that restores $50 million to Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne-JAG Grants) funding for next year by reducing a planned $72 million increase for the U.S. Census. The amendment was introduced by Reps. Lee Terry (R-NE) and Mark Kennedy (R-MN).

Iowa has approximately 25 police task forces that use Byrne-JAG grants to stop methamphetamine cooking, trafficking and abuse.  The House funding bill for next year now includes $444 million for Byrne-JAG.

“Iowa’s law enforcement officers fight the war every day to rid communities of the meth that is killing our kids,” said King.  “Law enforcement could spend the bulk of their time and resources just fighting this terrible drug, so this federal funding is critical to make sure they are able to do what they need to protect our communities.”

Last year Byrne-JAG funding was funded at 45% of what was needed by local law enforcement in states plagued with methamphetamine abuse. King pushed for full funding of the grants then too.

According to the U.S. Attorney General, the number of meth cases nationwide has quadrupled over the last ten years. King is a member of the House Caucus to Fight Meth.  He has also authored legislation to make Iowa's tough meth precursor law federal law.