The Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities program is the backbone of the federal effort to combat drug use and violence in and around schools. SDFSC funding is currently used by 97% of the nation's school districts and serves more than 37 million youth per year. The SDFSC program is the backbone of youth drug prevention and intervention efforts and has contributed to the 19% decline in drug use over the past four years.

Despite the clear successes of SDFSC – and for the second year in a row – the president’s budget would eliminate the state grants portion of the program. For 2007, this would result in a cut of $346.5 million nationally, and $12.8 million for Michigan. Rep. Levin has co-lead a bipartisan effort to restore $400 million to the Safe and Drug Free Schools State Grant program, securing the support of 88 additional members of Congress in this endeavor.

• Rep. Levin’s letter supporting $400 million for SDFSC