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Washington, D.C. – Congressman Pete Visclosky today announced that he has secured critical resources to fight crime in Northwest Indiana. The Lake County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) is slated to receive no less than $3 million and the Indiana National Guard’s Counter Drug Program is slated to receive $3 million. HIDTA’s funding is included in the Fiscal Year 2010 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill and the National Guard’s Funding is included in the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Appropriations bill.
“Drug trafficking is at the root of much of the crime in Northwest Indiana’s communities,” said Visclosky. “I know that people are concerned about the toll drug traffickers and drug dealers are taking on our communities, and this funding will help combat drugs in a comprehensive, cohesive fashion to make our communities safer, better places to live.”
The Federal Government designated Lake County a HIDTA in 1996 to aid Northwest Indiana in addressing drug and gang crime. The HIDTA, which is administrated by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), has made over 3,900 arrests and seized drugs and firearms worth a combined street value of over $251 million. ONDCP will set the HIDTA’s final funding level, which must meet or exceed the $3 million it received last year.
“The Lake County HIDTA would like to thank U.S. Representative Pete Visclosky for his continued support into the year 2010,” said Lake County HIDTA Director Chuck Porucznik. “The HIDTA program funds will continue to enhance law enforcement efforts in Lake County to rid the community of violent gangs, drugs and illegal guns. The mission of the Lake County HIDTA is to reduce drug availability and usage by creating intelligence-driven drug task forces (initiatives) aimed at eliminating or reducing domestic drug trafficking and its harmful effects through the enhancement and coordination of drug trafficking control efforts among federal, state and local enforcement agencies.”
The funding for the Indiana National Guard’s Counter Drug Program will be used to support interdiction and drug demand reduction activities. The program works in close partnership with the HIDTA to combat illegal narcotics. In 2008, six National Guardsmen assisted in a HIDTA case that resulted in $6.4 million in seizures. The Guard also provides drug education programs to 23 community-based organizations and schools, impacting the lives of thousands of students last year.
“The Indiana National Guard, specifically the Lake County based Drug Demand Reduction operation relies heavily on the funding supplied by Congressman Visclosky,” said Indiana National Guard Adjutant General R. Martin Umbarger. “To date in FY 09 the Drug Demand Reduction program called Stay On Track, has reached nearly 7,000 middle and high school students in Lake, Porter, Newton, Jasper and Benton Counties. Stay on Track teaches the students the harmful effects of drug use, decision making and goal setting skills.”
The Fiscal Year 2010 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill passed the House of Representatives yesterday. The Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Appropriations bill has been approved by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. It is scheduled for consideration in the full Appropriations Committee on July 21 and on the floor of the House of Representatives on July 30. Subsequent to House passage it must be approved by the Senate before it can be signed into law by the President. |
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