Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joe Donnelly voted for The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010, which passed in the House with bipartisan support. Included in the bill is funding that he requested for three north central Indiana law enforcement agencies to enhance their ability to fight crime and methamphetamine use. In addition, Donnelly introduced today the Combat Methamphetamine Enhancement Act of 2009.
“I am proud to support legislation that will strengthen our local law enforcement agencies and help them to combat methamphetamine usage in our communities,” Donnelly said. “The funding that Congress provides to our law enforcement officials is important because it helps them to keep us safe.”
Donnelly was able to secure funding for the St. Joseph County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, the Elkhart County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney and the Kokomo Police Department.
The prosecuting attorney of St. Joseph County would receive $100,000 for the Methamphetamine and Illegal Firearms Investigation and Prosecution Project, which aims to prosecute individuals who put the safety of citizens at risk by transporting drugs and illegal firearms into St. Joseph County.
The Elkhart County Prosecuting Attorney would receive $250,000 for a criminal intelligence and interdiction initiative, which would help Elkhart to proactively combat organized crime and illegal narcotics, including methamphetamine. Donnelly requested this funding along with Congressman Mark Souder.
The Kokomo Police Department would receive $100,000 to help expand a forensic crime lab, which would allow local law enforcement agencies to be more efficient in fighting crime through the use of this facility.
The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010 will now go to the Senate for its consideration.
In addition, Donnelly introduced the Combat Methamphetamine Enhancement Act of 2009, which would strengthen the existing federal law that requires cold medications containing pseudoephedrine and ephedrine (the ingredients commonly used to make methamphetamine) to be placed behind a pharmacy counter. It also would require a signature and proof of identification before purchase and limit the amount of pseudoephedrine and ephedrine products that one person could buy in a single day or month.
Although a similar bill was passed in 2006, the Drug Enforcement Administration has found that many retailers are not complying with the law. This legislation would enforce stricter penalties for retailers who do not comply with the law. A companion bill was passed unanimously in the Senate last week.
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