Combating the Meth Scourge

The use and production of Methamphetamines, otherwise known as ‘Meth,’ inflicts considerable damage on our state’s rural communities. Over the last several years there has been an increase from 7% to 22% in the number of rural Colorado Meth treatment admissions. Meth not only tears families apart and finances an underground black market economy in many of our rural counties, it also places great strain on local law enforcement departments.

To help bolster local law enforcement departments, the United States Senate recently passed the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Act of 2007, which restores critical investments in local law enforcement. Specifically for Colorado, I worked to secure over $2.9 million in funding to combat meth production and use in communities throughout Colorado including the counties of Weld, Larimer, Delta, Montrose, Moffat, Routt and Larimer, among several others. Click here for more specifics on our efforts to provide funding to combat meth production and use.

I am also pleased that this bill includes a provision supplying $1.4 billion for State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance, including $660 million for Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants and $190 million for Byrne Discretionary Grants. This program provides grants to states and local governments for law enforcement to implement comprehensive plans for combating meth-related crimes, and effectively treating the harmful social ills the meth-trade creates.

The bill also includes over $550 million for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), which provides local law enforcement agencies throughout the Nation, and many in Colorado, with more funds to create and expand community policing initiatives that involve local residents in the formulation of proactive solutions to help fight crime in their communities.

Many law enforcement officials throughout Colorado are unable to effectively combat meth in their respective communities simply because they don’t have enough men and women to do the job. To help meet their personnel needs, the Senate included $110 million for the Universal Hiring Program (UHP), which would allow local law enforcement agencies to apply for funds to put more cops on the beat.

The fight to keep methamphetamine users and dealers out of our communities is a long and difficult one. To prevail, local and State law enforcement officials must have the resources necessary to effectively combat this scourge. I am hopeful that the President will not live up to his veto threat of this bill and I hope he is listening to the same voices in the law enforcement community that I am.

As Colorado’s former Attorney General and top law enforcement officer, and now as its United States Senator, I will continue to make funding these resources a top priority.

Sincerely,

Ken Salazar
United States Senator