Byrne Funds Cut from Stimulus Bill

A proposed boost in criminal-justice funding that is sometimes used for drug treatment and prevention was among the victims of a bipartisan package of cuts to the Congress’ economic-stimulus legislation, CNN reported Feb. 7.

A group of Senators trimmed more than $90 billion from the now $789-billion stimulus plan in order to win sufficient support for passage in the Senate. The cuts included elimination of $300 million in Byrne formula grants and $140 million for Byrne competitive grants. Also cut from the Senate version of the stimulus bill was funding for prisons and law-enforcement, as well as $1-billion in proposed Head Start funding.

However, funding for Native American addiction programs and $75 million for smoking-cessation programs appears to have survived the first round of cuts.