----- Alert on Byrne JAG funding for FY 2008 ------ 

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce-Justice-Science marked up its version of the FY 2008 bill last night.  The bill includes $600 million for Byrne JAG.  This is a substantial increase over last year’s enacted level of $525 million! 

We are making real progress, and this development is solid evidence of the effectiveness of our broad-based effort, led by the NNOAC and its JAG coalition partners.  Our efforts are leading to additional resources to help you do your job more effectively and enhance security on America’s streets.

We will keep you posted on developments over the next couple of weeks.  We still need you to make every effort to make your voice heard to your senators and representatives this month. 

Congratulations – and let’s keep pressing!

Regards,

The Charles Group

 One further update….the full House Appropriations Committee yesterday approved for floor consideration the FY 2008 Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill.  This is the bill the funds the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).

HIDTA would receive $226 million, an increase of $1.7 million over this year’s enacted amount. 

Floor action is expected this week.

Regards,

The Charles Group

from National Narcotic Officers' Association Coalition Newsletter

Byrne JAG reauth “hot lined” in Senate...

Senator Feinstein’s Byrne Justice Assistant Grant reauthorization was fast-tracked on Thursday in the Senate. Prodded by law enforcement groups including NNOAC, IACP, Sheriffs, and others, Sen. Feinstein’s staff worked with Judiciary Committee and leadership staff in the Senate to get approval for the bill. It passed on the floor by unanimous consent on Thursday afternoon. The bill extends the JAG authorization through 2012 at $1.1 billion, which is what law enforcement, prevention, treatment, and other groups have been advocating actively for over the past three years.

It now must pass the House, and we expect many of these groups that have acted as a coalition over the past two years to push together for passage in the House. The House could be a tougher sell, given the active opposition to the JAG program – as currently administered – by many Democrats and a few Republicans. Specifically, Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee, a member of the Judiciary Committee that has to approve the bill, wants tougher evidence standards adopted in exchange for funding received through JAG. Deals could be cut to build support, but don’t expect an easy journey.