CONGRESSMAN SAYS MORE MONEY NEEDED TO CREATE METH TASK FORCE

Additional money is necessary to form more task forces to combat the
growing use of methamphetamines in Alabama, said U.S. Rep. Bud
Cramer, D-Huntsville, in a meeting with regional law enforcement and
community representatives Monday.

Although some money has already been allotted for these meth task
forces, more is needed for the "front line" officers who regularly
deal with the drug, Cramer said.

"There are problems with methamphetamine we've never faced with any
other drug issue," Cramer said.

One agency dealing with the problem is Huntsville-Madison County
Strategic Counterdrug, or STAC.

The team originally received 75 percent of its funding through
federal money made available through the Alabama Department of
Economic and Community Affairs, or ADECA.

This past year, though, the group was required to match 50 percent of
the funds, an amount "which nearly killed us," said STAC team
commander Gerry Norris.

Next year the group will likely need to provide 75 percent of the funds.

Cramer has helped secure more than $5 million from the federal
government to combat meth in Alabama. About $1 million of that money
is allotted to ADECA to help fund these task forces, with the rest
going to local sheriff's departments and to the state's district
attorney offices.

Cramer said he will work to increase funding for the task forces.