Congressman Dennis Cardoza
18th Congressional District of California

WASHINGTON, DC – Several million dollars have been restored to drug-fighting efforts in California and the Central Valley, Congressman Cardoza announced today.

The $234 million High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program was slated for a cut of $14 million in funding for 2010.  Of the $14 million, $2.4 million goes to the Central Valley to help address marijuana and methamphetamine production. This cut would have significantly undermined the Central Valley’s fight against marijuana and methamphetamine production at a time when drug production is increasing throughout the region.

“This program is critical for my district and the state of California, and its full funding is imperative for fighting the production of methamphetamine and marijuana production in my district,” Congressman Cardoza wrote to the House Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government in June.

Following the letter, the subcommittee reinstated the funding and it was included in the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act that was passed in the House of Representatives this week.

“This is a win for our law enforcement efforts throughout California and especially the Central Valley,” said Congressman Cardoza. “I am grateful to the committee for restoring this funding, which is vital to law enforcement’s fight against drug trafficking throughout the Valley.”