CONGRESSIONAL BILL INCLUDES FUNDING FOR METH CLEANUP

Law enforcement agencies could receive more federal funding in 2004 to
combat the methamphetamine drug epidemic in western Kentucky if the U.S.
Senate approves the measure early next year.

On Monday, the U.S. House approved $700,000 in funds for the effort. The
measure, which passed the House 242-176, is contained in the omnibus
appropriations bill for next fiscal year.

"These funds will help give law enforcement the tools they need to continue
the battle against meth," Rep. Ed Whitfield, a Hopkinsville Republican who
serves western Kentucky's 1st District, said in a news release. "The
discovery, cleanup and removal of meth labs requires excess money that
local departments do not have."

The request for additional money stems from recent discussions Whitfield
has had with local law enforcement about the meth problem, according to the
release.

For the last few years, Congress has responded favorably to Whitfield's
requests for additional funding to fight the illegal drug. The Pennyrile
Narcotics Task Force, for instance, has received a majority of the funding
to clean up meth labs.

Meth labs are set up to manufacture crank, a highly addictive drug that is
a relatively cheap alternative to cocaine for drug users. The labs, often
set up in rural areas, are dangerous because a key ingredient, lithium, is
volatile.

For that reason, lab cleanups are expensive, costing agencies more than
$5,000 to work each site.

The $700,000 will be administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, which
dispenses the funds to the task force to train and equip officers involved
with the investigation and cleanup of meth labs. Funds also are given to
local police departments and sheriff's offices for overtime pay and equipment.

The omnibus bill will go to the Senate for a vote when it reconvenes in
January for the second session of the 108th Congress.