U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein to Call for Increased Federal Funding for Anti-Meth Program at Fresno Meth Summit
January 8, 2001

Fresno, Calif. – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein will call for increased funding for a program that has been successful in combating the trafficking of methamphetamines in the Central Valley at a Meth Summit being held in Fresno tomorrow.

“I intend to call for more money for the Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, because this area truly faces a crisis,” Senator Feinstein said. “If we don’t provide the funding in the Central Valley, then the rest of the country will face exponentially more costs as the meth flows outward from the Central Valley.”

The Meth Summit is co-sponsored by Senator Feinstein, Senator Barbara Boxer, Rep. Cal Dooley, and Rep. Gary Condit, and will be held from 2:30 - 5:00 p.m. at the Downtown Club (2120 Kern Street) in Fresno.

At the summit, over 80 federal, state, and local law enforcement and elected officials will discuss ways to build upon the success of the Central Valley HIDTA program. In 2000, the program dismantled 18 drug trafficking organizations and was the basis for more than 159 cases.

Last year, Congress approved $1.5 million for the Central Valley HIDTA program.