Washington, DC -  With meth and other illegal drugs continuing to pose a significant challenge for rural law enforcement officials across East Alabama, Congressman Mike Rogers said today progress is being made to secure additional funding for the drug task force in Cherokee County.

Rogers said H.R. 2862, the Fiscal Year 2006 Science, the Departments of State, Justice, and Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, passed the House today 418-7. A specific line item for the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department Drug and Violent Crime Task Force is listed in the bill, and Rogers said a specific funding amount for the initiative should be added to the legislation in the next few months after the bill goes to a House-Senate conference.

“Meth has become a full-scale epidemic for many of Alabama’s rural areas, and in particular Cherokee County,” Rogers said. “I am pleased to have secured this earmark and thank Senators Shelby and Sessions in advance for their assistance as the process moves forward.”

Rogers said the bill’s funding for the Cherokee County drug task force is known as a “soft earmark.” Typically these projects receive specific dollar amounts later in the process as a way to expedite the legislative process now, he said.

“We still have a few steps to go but this is definitely good news,” he added. “The criminals who make this evil drug are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their methods, so it’s important we do everything we can to support the efforts of our local law enforcement to combat and deter this growing menace.”