BOSWELL LOBBIES FOR DRUG PREVENTION

NEVADA--Congressman Leonard Boswell told Sheriff Paul Fitzgerald Monday
morning he's lobbying for legislation to provide more funding for drug
prevention programs and specifically the fight against methamphetamines. "I
still see it as the biggest internal threat to our country," Boswell said.

Boswell is touring the 27 counties in the 3rd District this week, holding
roundtable meetings with law enforcement officials to discuss his
Comprehensive Methamphetamine Act bill, which would provide $75 million for
local law enforcement agencies to spend on meth programs.

Money from this grant could be used by law enforcement for education and
programs to research meth addiction, Boswell said.

"We need to give them more tools to fight meth," Boswell said.

From July 1999 to December 1999, the Central Iowa Drug Task Force found 79
methamphetamine labs in Boone and Story counties. During the same period in
1998, the group found 17.

The group spent $51,000 in 1998 and $237,000 in 1999 - a 364 percent
increase in costs. That doesn't include monies spent on rehabilitation and
education, something Fitzgerald said is vital to fighting the drug.

"That's where we're going to have our impact," Fitzgerald said.

Much of the county's funding for fighting methamphetamines comes from state
and federal grants. Methamphetamine abuse has become so widespread, the
county needs as much money as it can get, Fitzgerald said.

"Right now I could triple the efforts and could have plenty of work for
people to go after [meth]," he said.

The county participates in the Central Iowa Drug Task Force, a consortium
of law enforcement agencies from Boone County and the Iowa State Department
of Public Safety. Methamphetamine lab finds are investigated by that agency
but some cleanup is handled by the state.