Measure Funds Drug Fight

METHAMPHETAMINES, OXYCONTIN TARGETED

WASHINGTON - A spending bill approved by Congress this week takes aim at
fighting methamphetamines in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley and prescribes
steps to combat illegal use of OxyContin, a highly addictive painkiller.

The $39.3 billion spending bill for the departments of Commerce, Justice
and State includes a half-million dollars for the state police to continue
efforts to battle production and distribution of methamphetamines in the
valley. It directs the Drug Enforcement Administration to develop a
coordinated strategy to tackle illegal use of OxyContin.

In addition, the bill includes:

a.. $6.5 million to improve Virginia's Integrated Criminal Justice
Information System, so public safety officials may use one computer
terminal to get data from various crime data bases; a.. $1 million for the
Virginia State Police to begin installing video cameras in their vehicles
to document crime scenes or traffic stops; a.. $6.5 million for George
Mason and James Madison universities to set up a joint program to prevent
cyberterror attacks on banks, telecommunications systems and energy
sources. The bill also directs establishment of a faith-based, pre-release
program at a federal prison near Petersburg. The provision was inserted by
Rep. Frank R. Wolf, R-10th, who is chairman of a House appropriations
subcommittee with authority over the three departments.

Wolf and Sen. John W. Warner, R-Va., announced the bill's details.