On the heels of calling for a summit with U.S. Justice Department officials to develop a crisis management plan to resolve the growing drug problem in Huntington, Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., announced today that Cabell County has been awarded a $41,600 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) to purchase tactical surveillance equipment, computers, investigative materials, and a digital camcorder for the Detective Unit for the Law Enforcement Division and for funding of overtime.

"When it comes to fighting drugs and crime, every dollar counts," Rahall said. "This grant will help the Cabell County Sheriff's Office and the City of Huntington in their continued efforts to fight the war on drugs here at home. The Byrne-JAG program continues to prove itself vital for local law enforcement across the country."

The Republican Administration had proposed the elimination of the JAG Program in its budget proposal this year. In a letter to the House Budget Committee last month, Rahall expressed his firm opposition to the President's budget proposal to eliminate the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG) and urged Committee members to restore funding.

Joining a number of his colleagues, Rahall warned the Committee that the elimination of this effective program would mean the elimination of effective programs that are critical in the fight against drug -related crime in our communities. The funds have since been largely restored at this point in the process.

"Simply put, the Byrne-JAG program is vital federal support for local law enforcement across the country and essential to preventing drug use, treating non-violent offenders, and improving the effectiveness of prosecution, courts and corrections practices," Rahall said.

The Byrne-JAG Grant Program funds more than 800 task forces in practically every state. Although the administration attempted to zero out this program last year as well, Congress re-authorized funding for the program.

"I am proud to support our state and local law enforcement and that is why I am requesting that no less than $900 million be provided for the Byrne JAG program in the FY 2007 Budget Resolution," Rahall said. "We cannot cut corners when it comes to saving lives and giving our officers the support they need to make our communities safe."

In addition to helping state and local police officers identify and dismantle local, state and regional drug trafficking syndicates, Byrne-JAG funding has been a key weapon in the fight against illegal drugs.

"If Congress had gone along with the President's budget request to eliminate the Byrne-JAG program, we would have reversed the progress we have made in the hard fight against drug abuse in Huntington and our other communities," Rahall said.