[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 73 (Friday, June 9, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1103]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1103]]
                 BYRNE JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. LEE TERRY

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 9, 2006

  Mr. TERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the importance of 
the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant program.
  The White House again proposed eliminating this critical asset in the 
war on drugs. That would be a tremendous mistake. Congress must protect 
this funding to address the clear and present danger of meth in our 
communities.
  In my home state of Nebraska, 60 percent of prison inmates are 
serving time for meth-related crimes. State social services programs 
are overwhelmed by the rising number of children coming from meth 
homes. The number of babies born addicted to meth is an unspeakable 
tragedy.
  Each day, our dedicated law enforcement officers put their lives on 
the line to rescue families and communities from the scourge of meth. 
Anything less than full funding of Byrne-JAG would break faith with 
those who risk their lives to keep meth off our streets and away from 
our children.
  In Nebraska, Byrne task forces were responsible for 5,500 drug 
arrests last year. Nationwide, Byrne task forces seized 5,600 meth 
labs, 55,000 weapons, and massive quantities of narcotics, including 
2.7 million grams of meth.
  The results of Byrne task forces are real, they are quantifiable, 
they are defensible, and they demonstrate the power of using federal 
dollars to leverage state and local investment in public safety.

                          ____________________