Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC-10) today announced that his request for a grant to the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office was included in today’s House Appropriations bill, which is broadly expected to pass later this evening. The request would help fund a fingerprint system for the Sheriff’s crime lab.

The provision will be included in today’s FY06 Science, Departments of State, Justice and Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, which is pending final approval in the U.S. House today.

“Fighting crime is a high priority in western North Carolina,” said Congressman McHenry, who is vice-chairman of the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Drug Policy. “This request will help the Sheriff’s office purchase the Omnitrack Fingerprint Identification System to classify and identify fingerprints, as well as search the federal system to match criminals with crimes.”

Each year, the House and Senate authorize the activities of the federal government, then appropriate revenue to fund them. Upon passage, the bill must go through the U.S. Senate before a House and Senate Conference committee agrees on an exact dollar amount.