Cherokee County's Drug and Violent Crime Task Force should receive $100,000 to help purchase a new Crime Lab Van and support the hiring of another Task Force police officer to help combat methamphetamines, Cong. Rogers said today.

Rogers said funding for the project was among his top priorities for Cherokee County this year, and said he hoped the grant would help local law enforcement combat the growing threat of meth across East Alabama.

Rural areas like Cherokee County have been under siege by the plague of meth," Rogers said. "I am pleased to have secured these funds, and hope they provide some much-needed Federal support for local law enforcement and their ongoing efforts to combat this lethal drug."

Rogers said funding for the grant was contained in the Conference Report on H.R. 2862, the Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2006. The bill passed 397-19. The bill provides funding for Federal agencies such as the Justice Department and the Drug Enforcement Agency.

"These investments are great news for Cherokee County and should help local officials build an even stronger Drug Task Force for area citizens," Rogers said. "I also thank Senators Shelby and Sessions for their ongoing support of these initiatives in the Senate."

Rogers explained the bill must still be passed by the Senate before being sent to the White House for approval.

He also said the funding levels announced today could change slightly depending on separate deficit reduction legislation currently under consideration in Congress