ICYMI: McKinley-Sponsored Amendment to Combat Illegal Drug Trafficking Passes HouseAmendment to Increase Funding for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program Included in Government Spending Bill
Washington,
July 21, 2018
An amendment to boost funding for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program (HIDTA) to $160 million was included in an appropriations bill passed by the House yesterday. The amendment, offered by Congressman David B. McKinley, P.E., (WV-1), will provide additional funds to assist local law enforcement combat illegal drug trafficking in critical regions across America.
An amendment to boost funding for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program (HIDTA) to $160 million was included in an appropriations bill passed by the House yesterday. The amendment, offered by Congressman David B. McKinley, P.E., (WV-1), will provide additional funds to assist local law enforcement combat illegal drug trafficking in critical regions across America.
“The HIDTA Program provides federal assistance to local law enforcement agencies operating in critical drug-trafficking regions. This program has proven effective at disrupting drug distributor networks and taking dealers off the streets. Our office works every year to increase HIDTA funding, as we’ve seen firsthand the positive impact it has on our communities,” said McKinley. “In 2010, the First District didn’t have any counties designated under the HIDTA Program. Through our advocacy, it now has seven designated counties, and another two going through the application process. This increased funding will enable more resources to come to the state to fight the scourge of the opioid epidemic,” McKinley added. Background The HIDTA Program was created by Congress in the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 in order to provide assistance to state and local law enforcement agencies in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States. The program has proven effective at disrupting the illegal drug trade and taking dealers off the streets. McKinley leads the appropriations letter every year to increase funding for the program, and because of his advocacy, West Virginia now has 20 counties with HIDTA designation. This includes seven in the First District: • Brooke County • Hancock County • Harrison County • Marshall County • Monongalia County • Wood County • Ohio County |
