[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2613 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2613

To provide additional funding to combat methamphetamine production and 
                     abuse, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 27, 1999

  Mr. Latham introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
    Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on 
Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
   each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the 
                jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To provide additional funding to combat methamphetamine production and 
                     abuse, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Methamphetamine Use Response 
Act of 1999''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) The term ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of 
        the Drug Enforcement Administration.
            (2) The term ``Committees'' means the Committees on 
        Appropriations and the Committees on the Judiciary of the House 
        of Representatives and the Senate.
            (3) The term ``midsize city'' means a city with a 
        population under 250,000 and over 20,000.
            (4) The term ``rural area'' means a county or parish with a 
        population under 50,000.
            (5) The term ``small city'' means a city with a population 
        under 20,000.

SEC. 3. REPORT ON METHAMPHETAMINE CONSUMPTION IN RURAL AREAS, SMALL 
              CITIES, AND MIDSIZE CITIES.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
submit to the Committees annually a report on the problems caused by 
methamphetamine consumption in rural areas, small cities, and midsize 
cities.
    (b) Concerns Addressed.--Each report submitted under this section 
shall include an analysis of--
            (1) the manner in which methamphetamine consumption in 
        rural areas differs from methamphetamine consumption in areas 
        with larger populations, and the means by which to accurately 
        measure those differences;
            (2) the incidence of methamphetamine abuse in rural areas 
        and the treatment resources available to deal with 
        methamphetamine addiction in those areas;
            (3) any relationship between methamphetamine consumption in 
        rural areas and a lack of substance abuse treatment in those 
        areas; and
            (4) any relationship between geographic differences in the 
        availability of substance abuse treatment and the geographic 
        distribution of the methamphetamine abuse problem in the United 
        States.

SEC. 4. CLEANUP OF METHAMPHETAMINE LABORATORIES AND PRODUCTION 
              MATERIALS.

    (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated for the Drug Enforcement Administration for each fiscal 
year after fiscal year 1999, $20,000,000 in order to carry out the 
activities described in subsection (b).
    (b) Availability of Amounts.--
            (1) In general.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
        authorization of appropriations in subsection (a) shall be 
        available to the Drug Enforcement Administration for activities 
        to alleviate the growing financial burden on rural communities, 
        small cities, midsize cities, and other communities resulting 
        from the cleanup of clandestine laboratories and other drug-
        related hazardous waste.
            (2) Specific activities.--The activities covered by 
        paragraph (1) shall include the following:
                    (A) The cleanup of clandestine laboratories and 
                other drug-related hazardous waste across the United 
                States, whether initiated by the Drug Enforcement 
                Administration or by State or local entities.
                    (B) The improvement of current contract-related 
                response times for cleanup of such laboratories and 
                waste through the provision of additional contract 
                personnel, equipment, and facilities.
    (c) Supplement Not Supplant.--The amounts authorized to be 
appropriated by subsection (a) for the Drug Enforcement Administration 
for a fiscal year are in addition to any other amounts authorized to be 
appropriated for the Administration for the fiscal year for the 
activities described in subsection (b).

SEC. 5. INVESTIGATIVE ASSISTANCE RELATING TO METHAMPHETAMINE FOR STATE 
              AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Because of the strong connection between 
        methamphetamine trafficking and Mexican drug trafficking 
        organizations, many local law enforcement agencies are 
        confronted with methamphetamine trafficking suspects who speak 
        Spanish.
            (2) Most local law enforcement agencies lack the foreign 
        language and specialized investigative skills necessary to 
        communicate with and monitor suspected drug traffickers, 
        thereby limiting their ability to respond effectively to 
        methamphetamine trafficking.
            (3) Informants, witnesses, communications intercepts, and 
        other investigative tools are of limited use if an investigator 
        cannot understand the language employed.
            (4) The timely provision of select Drug Enforcement 
        Administration Special Agents with Spanish language capability 
        and specialized clandestine laboratory training could greatly 
        assist in the efforts of State and local law enforcement 
        against methamphetamine traffickers and their operations.
    (b) Investigative Assistance.--
            (1) In general.--The Administrator shall establish within 
        the Drug Enforcement Administration a select cadre of Special 
        Agents with Spanish language capabilities who shall work with 
        State and local law enforcement agencies across the United 
        States on matters relating to the combating of methamphetamine-
        related drug trafficking.
            (2) Composition of cadre.--The cadre established under 
        paragraph (1) shall consist of 20 Special Agents with the 
        requisite Spanish language skills.
            (3) Allocation.--The Administrator shall determine the 
        allocation of the Special Agents in the cadre referred to in 
        paragraph (1) through ongoing assessments of the national 
        methamphetamine threat.
            (4) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated for the Drug Enforcement Administration for 
        fiscal year 2000, $4,700,000 of which--
                    (A) $3,000,000 shall be available for purposes of 
                establishing the cadre required by paragraph (1), 
                including the hiring and training of agents to fill the 
                cadre; and
                    (B) $1,700,000 shall be available to cover the 
                permanent change of stations (PCS) costs associated 
                with the transfer of senior agents selected to staff 
                the cadre.

SEC. 6. ADDITIONAL TRAINING FOR DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION AND 
              STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The spread of methamphetamine abuse and production 
        across the United States has forced law enforcement agencies to 
        address challenges that exceed the many years of experience of 
        the personnel within such agencies.
            (2) Unlike cocaine or heroin, methamphetamine can be 
        produced easily from readily available everyday products using 
        recipes readily available on the Internet.
            (3) The chemicals involved in methamphetamine production 
        can be caustic or explosive if handled improperly.
            (4) In order to meet the demand for training and 
        certification of local law enforcement personnel to meet the 
        challenges posed by methamphetamine production and abuse, it is 
        necessary to expand the training capabilities of the Drug 
        Enforcement Administration.
            (5) Most of the costs associated with the training of State 
        and local law enforcement personnel are costs relating to air 
        travel.
            (6) Because the Drug Enforcement Administration already 
        provides training for State and local law enforcement 
        personnel, the establishment of regional training centers in 
        the Administration will both reduce travel costs associated 
        with the training of such personnel and enhance the training 
        provided.
            (7) Such regional training centers will permit enhanced 
        training of State and local law enforcement personnel at 
        reduced cost over the long term.
    (b) Regional Satellite Training Centers.--
            (1) Requirement.--The Administrator shall establish within 
        the Drug Enforcement Administration four regional satellite 
        training centers for purposes of providing clandestine 
        laboratory training to Federal, State, and local law 
        enforcement personnel. The Administrator shall establish the 
        training centers at appropriate locations throughout the United 
        States.
            (2) Personnel.--The Administrator shall assign to the 
        centers established under paragraph (1) 12 Special Agents, 4 
        Drug Prevention Specialists, and 8 Support personnel, as 
        appropriate.
            (3) Activities of drug prevention specialists.--The Drug 
        Prevention Specialists assigned to the centers under paragraph 
        (2) shall work with communities that have been previously 
        assisted by the Mobile Enforcement and Regional Enforcement 
        Teams of the Drug Enforcement Administration in order to assist 
        such communities in the development of drug prevention programs 
        and coalitions and provide a solid foundation for the long-term 
        elimination of drug trafficking, abuse, and violence in such 
        communities.
            (4) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated for the Drug Enforcement Administration for 
        fiscal year 2000, $30,000,000 for purposes of establishing the 
        regional centers required by paragraph (1), including the 
        assignment of personnel to such centers under paragraph (2), 
        and for training-related support for such centers.
    (c) Specialized Clandestine Laboratory Training.--
            (1) Specialized clandestine laboratory training.--In 
        addition to any other clandestine laboratory training programs 
        currently administered by the Drug Enforcement Administration, 
        the Administrator shall establish the following:
                    (A) Advanced Clandestine Laboratory Investigations 
                schools for State and local law enforcement personnel.
                    (B) Additional Basic Clandestine Laboratory 
                Certification Schools for both Drug Enforcement 
                Administration personnel and State and local law 
                enforcement personnel.
                    (C) A program, to be known as the ``Train the 
                Trainer'' program, in accordance with paragraph (2).
            (2) Train the trainer program.--The purpose of Train the 
        Trainer program shall be to provide State and local law 
        enforcement personnel with the skills necessary to provide 
        clandestine laboratory recertification and awareness training 
        to other law enforcement personnel within their jurisdictions.
            (3) Authorization of appropriations.--
                    (A) Authorization.--There is authorized to be 
                appropriated for the Drug Enforcement Administration 
                for each fiscal year after fiscal year 1999, the 
                following:
                            (i) $750,000 for Advanced Clandestine 
                        Laboratory Investigation Schools required under 
                        paragraph (1)(A).
                            (ii) $2,000,000 for the additional Basic 
                        Clandestine Laboratory Certification Schools 
                        required under paragraph (1)(B).
                            (iii) $1,000,000 for the awareness 
                        materials required for the Train the Trainer 
                        program required under paragraph (1)(C).
            (B) Supplement not supplant.--The amounts authorized to be 
        appropriated by subparagraph (A) are in addition to any other 
        amounts authorized to be appropriated for the Drug Enforcement 
        Agency for the activities referred to in paragraph (1).

SEC. 7. ANNUAL STRATEGY ON METHAMPHETAMINE PRODUCTION AND ABUSE.

    (a) Requirement.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Attorney General 
shall submit to the Committees a report containing a detailed strategy 
to combat the problem of methamphetamine production and abuse in the 
United States.
    (b) Initial Report.--The first report submitted under this section 
shall include the following:
            (1) An assessment of the progress made in achieving the 
        goals first outlined in the April 1996 document entitled 
        ``National Methamphetamine Strategy'', including a description 
        of any successes and failures in achieving such goals.
            (2) A description of the progress made in controlling 
        methamphetamine in light of the goals established by the 
        Performance Measures of Effectiveness established by the 
        National Drug Control Strategy.
            (3) Any recommendations for legislative action that the 
        Attorney General considers necessary to implement the strategy 
        under subsection (a).
    (c) Subsequent Reports.--Each report submitted under this section 
after the first such report shall include the following:
            (1) An evaluation by the Attorney General of the progress 
        made in implementing the strategy.
            (2) A description of the successes and failures associated 
        with implementing the strategy contained in the report.
            (3) Any recommendations for legislative action that the 
        Attorney General considers appropriate to facilitate the 
        continuing implementation of the strategy.

SEC. 8. THEFT AND TRANSPORTATION OF ANHYDROUS AMMONIA.

    (a) In General.--Part D of the Controlled Substances Act (title II 
of Public Law 91-513; 21 U.S.C. 841 et seq.) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:

                          ``anhydrous ammonia

    ``Sec. 423 (a) It is unlawful for any person--
            ``(1) to steal anhydrous ammonia; or
            ``(2) to transport stolen anhydrous ammonia across State 
        lines.
    ``(b) Any person who violates subsection (a) shall be imprisoned or 
fined, or both, in accordance with section 403(d) as if such violation 
were a violation of a provision of section 403.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for that Act is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 421 the 
following new items:

``Sec. 422. Drug paraphernalia.
``Sec. 423. Anhydrous ammonia.''.
    (c) Assistance for Certain Research.--
            (1) Agreement.--The Administrator shall seek to enter into 
        an agreement with Iowa State University in order to permit the 
        University to continue and expand its current research into the 
        development of inert agents that, when added to anhydrous 
        ammonia, eliminate the usefulness of anhydrous ammonia as an 
        ingredient in the production of methamphetamine.
            (2) Reimbursable provision of funds.--The agreement under 
        paragraph (1) may provide for the provision to Iowa State 
        University, on a reimbursable basis, of $500,000 for purposes 
        the activities specified in that paragraph.
            (3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is hereby 
        authorized to be appropriated for the Drug Enforcement Agency 
        for fiscal year 2000, $500,000 for purposes of carrying out the 
        agreement under this subsection.
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