[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 39 (Monday, April 3, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E474]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             2000 EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. J.C. WATTS, JR.

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 29, 2000

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3908) making 
     emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year 
     ending September 30, 2000, and for other purposes:

  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Chairman, last night in my district in 
McClain County, Oklahoma, a home was completely destroyed in a 
methamphetamine lab explosion. The explosion was so intense the toxic 
waste disposal team could not clean the area for several hours. Every 
day in Oklahoma, families are exposed to toxic fumes that are disbursed 
in meth lab explosions. Earlier this month, in Grove, Oklahoma, 26 
people were rushed to the emergency room as a result of another meth 
lab explosion. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation estimates 
that there are 900 meth labs in Oklahoma, and thousands upon thousands 
of these illegal meth labs across the country.
  The DEA, which funds the clean up of these illegal meth labs, has 
already run out of funds for this year.
  Today, this body has the opportunity to help the people of Oklahoma 
and thousands of other communities across this country. Representative 
Hutchinson's amendment will use existing Justice Department funds to 
supply the Drug Enforcement Administration with 15 million dollars to 
clean up meth labs across the nation.
  I urge my colleagues to stand with Representative Hutchinson and 
myself to provide our communities with protection from these dangerous 
illegal meth labs. Vote ``yes'' on the Hutchinson amendment.

                          ____________________