Senator Shelley Moore Capito announced her co-sponsorship of the HIDTA Enhancement Act, aiming to bolster efforts against drug trafficking and usage through enhanced collaboration among federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies.
The proposed legislation seeks to reauthorize the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) programs with an annual budget of $333 million through 2030. Additionally, it aims to increase the authorization for competitive grants to over $14 million.
Capito emphasized the importance of these programs in addressing the fentanyl crisis, stating, "They do great work. And I wanted to see us capitalize on that because I'm very committed to making sure that West Virginians become healthier and addiction free, and certainly away from fentanyl."
The initiative is part of a broader effort to improve conditions in West Virginia, with Capito and her colleagues advocating for increased resources to tackle the ongoing drug crisis.