Capito introduces bipartisan bill to strengthen National Guard Counterdrug Program

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced bipartisan legislation on Monday that would increase support for the National Guard Counterdrug Program, which assists local law enforcement and community groups tackle the growing heroin and opioid abuse problem.

The bill, S. 2977, introduced by Capito and U.S. Rep. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), would extend funding for the National Guard Counterdrug Program from one year to three years, which would better enable longer-term drug interdiction efforts.

“The National Guard Counterdrug Program partners with law enforcement agencies and communities in the fight against drugs, performing analysis, conducting surveillance and providing training and support,” Capito said. “This legislation provides stability and increases effectiveness by authorizing this important program to utilize its funding for up to three years, instead of just one. Doing so will help improve efforts by the National Guard and Department of Defense to deter the threats posed by drugs.”

More than $100 million in drugs, cash, property and weapons have been seized in narcotics cases that have been cracked using counterdrug analysts provided through the program.

“The New Hampshire Guard is providing invaluable support to our law enforcement as they battle every day to keep drugs off our streets,” Shaheen said. “This important partnership has helped shutdown drug dealing networks and stop drugs from coming into our state. My legislation makes a small change to the National Guard’s budget that will allow them to make big improvements to this counterdrug program. Our law enforcement need all the help they can get to battle the heroin and opioid pandemic, and it’s important that we improve these programs that are working.”