Washington, D.C. – The Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Bill for FY2008 came to the Senate floor today, and with the unanimous passage of an amendment first proposed by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), the drug court funding levels were returned to the historical average $40 million mark for the first time since 2005. Though the House of Representatives had passed the spending measure at the $40 million mark, the Senate Appropriations Committee had approved only $25 million for the Department of Justice (DOJ) Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program prior to Senator Dorgan’s amendment proposal.
“This is a great day for drug courts.” said NADCP Chief Executive Officer West Huddleston. “Today, Congress secured a second chance for hundreds of thousands of citizens caught in the cycle of addiction and crime, giving them and their families tremendous hope. This critical investment in drug courts will yield innumerable returns for thousands of communities across this nation such as improved public safety and civility by reducing drug dependence and associated crime one life at a time.”
Though historically receiving an average $40 million appropriation through the DOJ discretionary grant program, drug court funding suffered deep cuts in FY2006, falling 75% to $10 million, which was carried over in the Continuing Resolution for FY2007.
“We are deeply grateful to Senator Barbara Mikulski, Chairwoman of the CJS Appropriation Subcommittee, and Senator Richard Shelby, Ranking Member of the CJS Appropriation Subcommittee, for working with Senators Biden, Dorgan, Hagel, Levin, Reed, and Stabenow to include $40 million in the FY 2008 Commerce, Justice Science Appropriations bill for the Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program,” added Mr. Huddleston. “This incredible achievement could not have happened without the strong support of the over 34 Members of the Senate who signed a letter in support of $40 million for the program earlier this year. Those Senators include Senator Harkin and Senator Durbin both members of the CJS Appropriations Subcommittee. Drug court judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, treatment providers, administrators, probation agents and law enforcement officers throughout the nation joined forces with NADCP and worked tirelessly over the past nine months to demonstrate the necessity of restoring drug court funding. The Senate and the House listened and responded with overwhelming support.” |
