ANTI-CRIME FUNDING ADVANCES IN SENATE

Update: Drug Abuse

Money for several initiatives to fight crime and drugs in Iowa advanced in
the U.S. Senate this week.

WHAT'S NEW: The Senate Appropriations Committee approved money for an
anti-methamphetamine task force in Iowa and crime lab equipment and to
equip anhydrous ammonia tanks with special locks.

The Iowa Forensic Lab is in line for $1 million to equip Iowa's forensic
science labs and reduce a backlog of cases. The Iowa Methamphetamine Task
Force is scheduled to get $1 million. Federal officials would send $250,000
under the legislation to the "Tanks-A- Lock" program to safeguard against
theft of the farm fertilizer, which is often used to make meth.

The legislation contains $850,000 for the Iowa Big Brothers Big Sisters
Rural Mentoring Initiative, which would expand the city program to the
state's rural communities.

WHAT WAS SAID: Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Ia., who sits on the Senate
Appropriations Committee, said: "The increased funding for the task force
and science lab will allow local law enforcement to combat the spread of
methamphetamine with better equipment, better training, coordination and
increased personnel. The special locks on ammonia tanks are a unique way
that we can thwart meth-makers in their search for ingredients to make the
illegal and dangerous drug."

OTHER ITEMS: The legislation includes $500,000 for a pilot project that
would provide drug treatment services through the Iowa Department of Public
Health to county jails.

WHAT'S NEXT: The $3.1 million in appropriations for Iowa must be approved
by both the full Senate and the House and must be signed by the president.