WASHINGTON - Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI) announced that he has secured $800,000 for the Wisconsin Methamphetamine Law Enforcement Initiative and regional Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement and Response Task Force (CLEAR) in order to combat increasing methamphetamine proliferation in Wisconsin. Kohl is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and had identified this project as a priority for funding in the Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS) Appropriations bill, which the committee approved this afternoon.

"While much progress has been made in the fight against meth, this is no time for complacency," Kohl said. "The Wisconsin Methamphetamine Initiative and CLEAR teams have done a great job finding and eradicating hundreds of meth labs across Wisconsin, but they can do more if we give them the resources to expand their operations."

The initiative is the only statewide project addressing the use of methamphetamine and recently implemented the Drug Endangered Children's (DEC) program to meet the needs of children found living in clandestine laboratories. Through education, awareness and coordination with local law enforcement, the initiative has prevented the number of methamphetamine labs and users from sky-rocketing. Despite this record of success, reports of methamphetamine production and abuse in the eastern and northwestern portions of the state continue.

In response to the growing number of requests for assistance from police and sheriff's departments, CLEAR must increase in size. CLEAR is seeking to expand their current squad of 105 members and will target the currently underrepresented eastern half of Wisconsin. Providing essential equipment and training is imperative to protect law enforcement officers from the extreme dangers posed by clandestine laboratories and dangerous criminals under the influence of meth. This plan remains a top priority among state and local law enforcement and legislators, and the program is worthy of robust funding.

The CJS Appropriations bill must now go before the full Senate for consideration.

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