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WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Cherokee Nation will receive $500,000 to fight methamphetamine laboratories thanks to a special appropriation from Congress.

The money, requested by U.S. Representative Brad Carson (D-Okla.), will be used to create an environmental specialist team dedicated to methamphetamine laboratory assessment and clean up, to purchase adequate disposal equipment and to fund proper training for all team members.

"The Cherokee Nation is committed to working with local law enforcement to eliminate the meth problem in northeastern Oklahoma", said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. "We want to thank Congressman Carson for helping get this special appropriation. It shows that he understands the issues that are important to this area and is working to find solutions."

The use and production of methamphetamine has become increasingly prevalent in the fourteen county jurisdictional area of the Cherokee Nation. As a result, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service has become one of the leading law enforcement agencies in dealing with methamphetamine in northeastern Oklahoma.

The Marshals have developed a narcotics division and have added a drug-sniffing dog. The Cherokee Nation Marshal Service is cross-deputized with four county sheriffs offices, 16 city police departments, four district attorneys’ drug task forces, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control to combat the problem on both Indian and non-Indian owned land.

"This funding is vital to reducing the use of methamphetamine in northeastern Oklahoma, and to ensure that the Cherokee Nation Marshals are properly protected", said Casey Sixkiller, legislative officer for the Cherokee Nation. Sixkiller is one of two Cherokee Nation tribal members who staff the Cherokee Nation’s office in Washington, D.C.

"This is another shining example of the results our D.C. office delivers", Smith said. "They are there to work with Congress and the federal government and help them understand our issues."

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma Attn: (Department Name) P.O. Box 948, Tahlequah, OK 74465 Telephone: 918-456-0671 (Toll Free OK) 1-800-256-0671