Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Brian Baird secured $2 million to fund the Washington State Meth Initiative in the Fiscal Year 2005 Omnibus Appropriations bill. These funds will be used for law enforcement, treatment and prevention programs, and meth lab cleanup efforts. Funds will also be used to support the “Meth Moms” program, which works to help meth addicted women get into treatment and reunite them with their children.

“The fight against methamphetamine must be won,” said Rep. Baird. “We cannot allow our children’s lives to be devastated by this scourge. Using their model of law enforcement, prevention and treatment, the Washington State Meth Initiative has made great strides in the eradication of meth in our state.”

Rep. Baird is a co-founder of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine and was instrumental in securing High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) designation for Clark, Cowlitz and Lewis counties. He has been a tireless champion of meth prevention and has worked during his time in Congress to raise awareness about the dangers of methamphetamine and secure funding for programs such as the Washington State Meth Initiative.

The Omnibus Appropriations bill is expected to be signed into law within ten days.