Post by blackcrowheart on May 2, 2006 8:21:23 GMT -5
Meth money sought for tribes, pueblos
www.abqtrib.com/albq/nw_local/article/0,2564,ALBQ_19858_4651928,0\
0.html
<http://www.abqtrib.com/albq/nw_local/article/0,2564,ALBQ_19858_4651928,\
00.html>
WASHINGTON - Sen. Jeff Bingaman has introduced legislation to allow
American Indian tribes to qualify directly for federal grants to combat
methamphetamine trafficking.
The Silver City Democrat said Tuesday that tribes and pueblos were
unintentionally left out as eligible applicants under a methamphetamine
law passed in 2005. The bill makes them eligible for grants from a $99
million law enforcement fund and a $20 million fund to assist children
taken from homes where meth had been used or produced.
"Last month, I was disheartened to read about a Navajo grandmother, her
daughter and granddaughter, who were all arrested for selling meth. We
must correct the law to ensure that Indian country has access to all the
tools needed to fight this terrible problem," Bingaman said in a
statement.
National Congress of Indians President Joe Garcia, the governor of Ohkay
Owingeh, formerly San Juan Pueblo, specifically complained about the
lack of access to anti-methamphetamine funding at the Congress's
legislative summit in February.
Sen. Gordon Smith, an Oregon Republican, is co-sponsoring the bill with
Bingaman.
www.abqtrib.com/albq/nw_local/article/0,2564,ALBQ_19858_4651928,0\
0.html
<http://www.abqtrib.com/albq/nw_local/article/0,2564,ALBQ_19858_4651928,\
00.html>
WASHINGTON - Sen. Jeff Bingaman has introduced legislation to allow
American Indian tribes to qualify directly for federal grants to combat
methamphetamine trafficking.
The Silver City Democrat said Tuesday that tribes and pueblos were
unintentionally left out as eligible applicants under a methamphetamine
law passed in 2005. The bill makes them eligible for grants from a $99
million law enforcement fund and a $20 million fund to assist children
taken from homes where meth had been used or produced.
"Last month, I was disheartened to read about a Navajo grandmother, her
daughter and granddaughter, who were all arrested for selling meth. We
must correct the law to ensure that Indian country has access to all the
tools needed to fight this terrible problem," Bingaman said in a
statement.
National Congress of Indians President Joe Garcia, the governor of Ohkay
Owingeh, formerly San Juan Pueblo, specifically complained about the
lack of access to anti-methamphetamine funding at the Congress's
legislative summit in February.
Sen. Gordon Smith, an Oregon Republican, is co-sponsoring the bill with
Bingaman.