[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 47 (Thursday, April 13, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S2713]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RESOLUTION ON METHAMPHETAMINE CLEAN UP FUNDS

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, today I rise in support of Senator 
Grassley's Sense of the Senate Resolution urging President Clinton to 
see to it that the Department of Justice reprogramms $10,000,000 in 
recovery funds within the Community Oriented Policing Service (COPS) so 
the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) can continue to reimburse 
state and local law enforcement officials in the proper removal and 
disposal of hazardous materials recovered from clandestine 
methamphetamine laboratories.
  Mr. President, Wyoming is one of a number of states that has 
experienced an astronomic increase in methamphetamine production, 
trafficking and use. In fact, during fiscal year 1998, of all cases 
prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's office in Wyoming, 45% were drug 
cases and of that nearly 75% were methamphetamine related.
  When law enforcement officials bust a methamphetamine laboratory not 
only do they have to prosecute the individuals involved but they must 
also dispose of the highly toxic chemicals that were used to produce 
this illegal drug. It is estimated that it costs between $3,000 and 
$100,000 for the safe clean up of methamphetamine labs. It is very 
important to see to it that methamphetamine labs are properly handled 
because six pounds of toxic waste are produced for every pound of 
methamphetamine manufactured.
  Wyoming's law enforcement officials rely exclusively on the funds 
that the DEA provides to state and local law enforcement officials for 
the clean up of methamphetamine labs. Because of this growing problem, 
the allocated funds the DEA uses to reimburse state and local law 
enforcement officials ran out last month. As a result, numerous towns 
and communities across the country are no longer able to rely on the 
DEA for much needed funding.
  Mr. President, it is my hope that President Clinton will see to it 
that the Justice Department approves this reprogramming of funds so law 
enforcement officials across the country can continue to fight the 
growing problem of methamphetamine production.

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