U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the Montana Department of Justice will receive a $1 million grant as part of the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Anti-Methamphetamine Program under the Department of Justice. This program provides funding to law enforcement to aid them in slowing the purchasing and distribution of meth that is ravaging Montana communities and families.
“This funding will help support our law enforcement and give them resources and tools needed to protect our communities from Montana’s devastating meth crisis,” Daines said.
Daines’ Work to Combat Montana’s Drug Epidemic:
Last December, Daines voted for a bipartisan bill that helps combat Montana’s meth crisis.
Last September, Daines announced the Trump Administration would be committing $4,030,370 towards combatting the opioid epidemic in Montana.
In April of 2019, Daines held a roundtable discussion in Missoula with local law enforcement to hear from folks fighting Montana’s meth crisis.
Following the roundtable in Missoula, Daines sent a letter to Customs and Border Protection officials asking for specifics on meth seizures at the southern border.
In February of 2019, Daines visited Kalispell Regional Healthcare to learn about the hospital’s work with drug-addicted babies in their NICU.
In early February of 2019, Daines visited the Rimrock Foundation in Billings to see firsthand the growing issue of meth abuse in Montana.
Last year, Daines’ bill, the Child Protection and Family Support Act, to allow moms to stay together with their babies while undergoing meth abuse treatment, was signed into law.
In 2018, the Senate passed comprehensive opioids legislation which included Sen. Daines’ Mitigating METH Act, which expands the state targeted response to the opioid crisis grants to include Indian tribes as eligible recipients. The legislation also included the STOP Act which helps stop illegal drugs from coming in at the border or being shipped through the postal service.