Congress is taking action on the Justice Department's Weed and Seed program, which Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) says could vanish if advocates don't weigh in during the current budget discussions.

CADCA reported June 4 that the House Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Subcommittee on Appropriations recently began working on the FY 2009 CJS Appropriations Bill, which contains funding for the Weed and Seed program. President Bush has called for consolidating the Weed and Seed program with a number of other programs and folding them into the Byrne Public Safety and Protection Program.

"If this recommendation comes to fruition, it will be detrimental to our field, as the total proposed amount allocated to the Byrne Public Safety and Protection Program will be significantly lower than what has previously been allocated to each of the individual programs that are now proposed to be consolidated," according to CADCA.

CADCA is calling on prevention advocates and others to contact Congress and urge lawmakers to keep Weed and Seed funding at $52 million or more.