U.S. Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) on Oct. 22 hosted White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Director Jim Carroll in Kentucky’s Sixth Congressional District to discuss local solutions toward addressing the nation’s ongoing drug crisis.
“It was a privilege to welcome Director Carroll to the Sixth District to discuss the progress we have made in Kentucky on this issue, as well as additional actions we can take to further confront this challenge,” Rep. Barr said.
Rep. Barr and Director Carroll met with members of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, a local unit of the HIDTA Program funded by ONDCP to coordinate and assist federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies in fighting regional drug threats and reducing drug trafficking and drug production in the United States.
“It was an honor to be welcomed back to Kentucky by Congressman Barr to highlight the Trump administration’s unparalleled support for law enforcement and the HIDTA designations that enhance their work,” said Carroll.
HIDTA County designations for local jurisdictions enhance federal, state and local collaboration to stop drug trafficking and prosecute other drug crimes, according to a statement released by Rep. Barr’s office, which noted that the congressman has collaborated with the HIDTA Task Force to secure four HIDTA County designations in the Sixth District for Madison, Montgomery, Powell, and most recently Clark County, which was designated an HIDTA County in June.
“The drug epidemic is claiming thousands of lives nationwide each year and has deeply affected the Commonwealth,” Rep. Barr said. “For that reason, I have made allocating resources to drug enforcement and rehabilitation for people in recovery a top priority in Congress.”
Carroll said that he, President Donald Trump, and Rep. Barr “share a deep commitment to combating the drug epidemic” at the local, state and national levels. “Working together, we are bringing drug traffickers to justice and saving the lives of those suffering from addiction,” he said.