Washington, D.C. - During a meeting of the House Science, State, Justice, and Commerce (SSJC) Appropriations Subcommittee today, U.S. Representative Bud Cramer (Ala.-05) pressed U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to provide more methamphetamine funding for law enforcement communities struggling to defeat the meth epidemic.

"I was a prosecutor for ten years before I was elected to Congress and know that our law enforcement community is overwhelmed by the meth issue," said Cramer.  "Congress has worked hard to make sure our local law enforcement has the tools and the resources it needs, but I do not see the Justice Department committing the resources I believe the department should be in order to effectively fight this epidemic."

In today's hearing, Representative Cramer questioned the Attorney General on how the Justice Department intends to distribute methamphetamine enforcement funding across the country.  The Attorney General said the Administration has proposed making $40 million available through need-based grants for communities throughout the country.

Representative Cramer continued with General Gonzalez, "I believe we need more leadership from the Justice Department.  It is a matter of making sure all of our law enforcement communities are able to partner with the federal government and to make sure we are on parallel paths to effectively combat methamphetamines."

Representative Cramer has been on the forefront in the fight against methamphetamine abuse since arriving in Congress in 1991.  He is a member of the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine, a bipartisan group with over 100 members that work together to raise national awareness of the problems and dangers associated with the abuse and production of meth.  Cramer is also a cosponsor of numerous pieces of legislation that would provide additional resources and support to enforcement officials across the country.