WASHINGTON  -  U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) today announced a Byrne Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to the Missouri Department of Public Safety and reiterated her support for the program, which is slated to be cut in the FY 2007 budget.  The grant is in the amount of $4,182,382 and will fund enforcement, prevention and prosecution of drug and violent crimes.

 

“First responders and law enforcement officers rely on this funding to stem the flow of
methamphetamine into Missouri and to prevent the production of methamphetamine in our state. Most methamphetamine is now being imported because of the successful efforts to limit access to methamphetamine ingredients locally.  To face these new challenges, we need to adjust the mission of law enforcement while maintaining the pressure on production of the drugs here.  We need to catch methamphetamine traffickers and dealers on our highways before they deliver their dangerous cargo, and these funds make a big contribution to that mission,” Emerson said.

 

The administration’s draft of the federal budget for FY 2007 would eliminate funding for this program.  Emerson has signed a letter to Budget Committee members asking that the Byrne program be restored at a $900 million level.

 

“Many pressures exist on the federal budget, but I don’t know how anyone can justify cutting funds to fight the spread of methamphetamine.  The Byrne grants fund essential enforcement activities that stand between our children and methamphetamine.  The problem is not going away or diminishing.  Missouri leads the nation in the number of methamphetamine arrests, and we must attack this problem in any way we can.”