Recent Press Releases

Washington, D.C. —  The Senate today passed Senator John Thune's amendment to the Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Resolution that would provide for a total of $99 million in funding for the COPS Meth Hot Spots Program for 2008. This important program trains state and local law enforcement to investigate and lock up meth offenders. Sens. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Mark Pryor (D-AR) cosponsored the amendment.

Senator Thune made the following comments:

"Methamphetamine trafficking and abuse has become a serious problem in South Dakota, particularly on our Indian reservations. Young people, ages 12-14, who live in small towns like those across South Dakota are over 100 percent more likely to use meth than those living in large cities.

"In addition to the costs associated with investigating, prosecuting, and locking-up meth offenders, there are significant environmental clean-up costs involved. The ingredients used to make meth are toxic, and meth producers and users often dump waste into our streams, rivers, fields, and sewage systems.

"My amendment would not only provide much-needed funding for law enforcement expenses associated with meth, but also for environmental clean-up to protect our lands and water systems from the harmful effects of this dangerous drug.

"I'm glad my amendment was accepted in the Senate, and I'm hopeful it will be signed into law soon, so we can continue to crack-down on the growing meth abuse problem in rural states like South Dakota."