[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 159 (Tuesday, December 13, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H11462-H11467]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
METHAMPHETAMINE REMEDIATION RESEARCH ACT OF 2005
Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 798) to provide for a research program for remediation of
closed methamphetamine production laboratories, and for other purposes,
as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 798
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 ``Methamphetamine Remediation
Research Act of 2005''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) Methamphetamine use and production is growing rapidly
throughout the United States.
(2) Some materials and chemical residues remaining from the
production of methamphetamine pose novel environmental
problems in locations where methamphetamine laboratories have
been closed.
(3) There has been little standardization of measures for
determining when the site of a former methamphetamine
laboratory has been successfully remediated.
(4) Initial cleanup actions are generally limited to
removal of hazardous substances and contaminated materials
that pose an immediate threat to public health or the
environment. It is not uncommon for significant levels of
contamination to be found throughout residential structures
where methamphetamine has been manufactured, partially
because of a lack of knowledge of how to achieve an effective
cleanup.
(5) Data on methamphetamine laboratory-related contaminants
of concern are very limited, and uniform cleanup standards do
not currently exist. In addition, procedures for sampling and
analysis of contaminants need to be researched and developed.
(6) Many States are struggling with establishing assessment
and remediation guidelines and programs to address the
rapidly expanding number of methamphetamine laboratories
being closed each year.
SEC. 3. VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES.
(a) Establishment of Voluntary Guidelines.--Not later than
one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Assistant Administrator for Research and Development of the
Environmental Protection Agency (in this Act referred to as
the ``Assistant Administrator''), in consultation with the
National Institute of Standards and Technology, shall
establish voluntary guidelines, based on the best currently
[[Page H11463]]
available scientific knowledge, for the remediation of former
methamphetamine laboratories, including guidelines regarding
preliminary site assessment and the remediation of residual
contaminants.
(b) Considerations.--In developing the voluntary guidelines
under subsection (a), the Assistant Administrator shall
consider, at a minimum--
(1) relevant standards, guidelines, and requirements found
in Federal, State, and local laws and regulations;
(2) the varying types and locations of former
methamphetamine laboratories; and
(3) the expected cost of carrying out any proposed
guidelines.
(c) States.--The voluntary guidelines should be designed to
assist State and local governments in the development and the
implementation of legislation and other policies to apply
state-of-the-art knowledge and research results to the
remediation of former methamphetamine laboratories. The
Assistant Administrator shall work with State and local
governments and other relevant non-Federal agencies and
organizations, including through the conference described in
section 5, to promote and encourage the appropriate adoption
of the voluntary guidelines.
(d) Updating the Guidelines.--The Assistant Administrator
shall periodically update the voluntary guidelines as the
Assistant Administrator, in consultation with States and
other interested parties, determines to be necessary and
appropriate to incorporate research findings and other new
knowledge.
SEC. 4. RESEARCH PROGRAM.
The Assistant Administrator shall establish a program of
research to support the development and revision of the
voluntary guidelines described in section 3. Such research
shall--
(1) identify methamphetamine laboratory-related chemicals
of concern;
(2) assess the types and levels of exposure to chemicals of
concern identified under paragraph (1), including routine and
accidental exposures, that may present a significant risk of
adverse biological effects;
(3) identify the research efforts necessary to better
address biological effects and to minimize adverse human
exposures;
(4) evaluate the performance of various methamphetamine
laboratory cleanup and remediation techniques; and
(5) support other research priorities identified by the
Assistant Administrator in consultation with States and other
interested parties.
SEC. 5. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CONFERENCE.
(a) Conference.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, and at least every third year
thereafter, the Assistant Administrator shall convene a
conference of appropriate State agencies, as well as
individuals or organizations involved in research and other
activities directly related to the environmental, or
biological impacts of former methamphetamine laboratories.
The conference should be a forum for the Assistant
Administrator to provide information on the guidelines
developed under section 3 and on the latest findings from the
research program described in section 4, and for the non-
Federal participants to provide information on the problems
and needs of States and localities and their experience with
guidelines developed under section 3.
(b) Report.--Not later than 3 months after each conference,
the Assistant Administrator shall submit a report to the
Congress that summarizes the proceedings of the conference,
including a summary of any recommendations or concerns raised
by the non-Federal participants and how the Assistant
Administrator intends to respond to them. The report shall
also be made widely available to the general public.
SEC. 6. RESIDUAL EFFECTS STUDY.
(a) Study.--Not later than 6 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Assistant Administrator shall
enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of
Sciences for a study of the status and quality of research on
the residual effects of methamphetamine laboratories. The
study shall identify research gaps and recommend an agenda
for the research program described in section 4. The study
shall pay particular attention to the need for research on
the impacts of methamphetamine laboratories on--
(1) the residents of buildings where such laboratories are,
or were, located, with particular emphasis given to
biological impacts on children; and
(2) first responders.
(b) Report.--Not later than 3 months after the completion
of the study, the Assistant Administrator shall transmit to
Congress a report on how the Assistant Administrator will use
the results of the study to carry out the activities
described in sections 3 and 4.
SEC. 7. METHAMPHETAMINE DETECTION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM.
The Director of National Institute of Standards and
Technology, in consultation with the Assistant Administrator,
shall support a research program to develop--
(1) new methamphetamine detection technologies, with
emphasis on field test kits and site detection; and
(2) appropriate standard reference materials and validation
procedures for methamphetamine detection testing.
SEC. 8. SAVINGS CLAUSE.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to add to or limit
the regulatory authority of the Environmental Protection
Agency.
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Environmental Protection Agency.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to the Environmental Protection Agency to
carry out this Act $3,000,000 for each of the fiscal years
2006 through 2009.
(b) National Institute of Standards and Technology.--There
are authorized to be appropriated to the National Institute
of Standards and Technology to carry out this Act $1,500,000
for each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2009.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Boehlert) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Gordon) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
General Leave
Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 798, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 798, legislation to
combat an insidious aspect of the methamphetamine crisis, the
environmental consequences and the potential harm to those with no
connection to the drugs manufacture or use. I want to thank the
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Gordon) and the gentleman from California
(Mr. Calvert) for their active pursuit and leadership on this issue,
which is of great concern to States and localities that have to deal
with the aftermath of busting meth labs.
Over the past decade, methamphetamine, or meth, as it is properly
called, has spread across the country, killing individuals, destroying
families, and devastating communities. We are all too familiar with the
facts of the case. The meth epidemic needs to be attacked on many
levels. But we also have to deal with the harmful residue that meth
leaves behind in homes and in the soil.
Earlier this year, I visited with Sheriff Gary Howard of Tioga
County. I was so impressed with what he told me that we invited him to
testify before our committee. Tioga County is located in the southern
tier of New York within my congressional district.
Between 1989 and 1999, a decade, he indicated that there were only
four meth lab incidents reported for the entire State of New York.
Since then, the number of seized meth labs has risen quickly and
steadily, from eight in the year 2000, this is the whole State, to 73
in 2003. Of that number, most were found in Tioga County.
Sheriff Howard described the terrible human tragedies associated with
meth use. He had our panel in the palm of his hands, including the
inherent danger to law enforcement from paranoid and agitated addicts.
But he also told me, and us, that anyone who lived near or had reason
to visit these active and former meth labs was at risk from unseen
hazardous chemicals and dangerous byproducts of meth production. During
the manufacture of meth, harmful chemicals are released into the air
and distributed throughout the surrounding area. In residential
settings, these chemicals penetrate and adhere to countertops and
floors. They are absorbed into furnishings and carpets and walls, and
their toxic byproducts are frequently poured down the drains or spilled
onto the ground, potentially contaminating the soil and drinking wells.
While few studies have been conducted on the long-term consequences
of exposure to these chemicals, many of the ingredients used in the
manufacture of meth are highly caustic and upon exposure are believed
to damage the skin, the eyes, the lungs. They do serious damage to the
body.
{time} 1700
Yet, as witnesses testified before our Science Committee, we do not
have the scientific knowledge to deal responsibly with former meth
labs. Little is known about the risk of moving into a house that has
been used as a meth lab; the best way to remediate a former lab so the
building can be safely occupied; or the long-term effects on those
living in the former labs, including but most specifically the children
and the elderly. They are the most vulnerable.
States and localities are struggling to protect the public from the
adverse effects of meth; yet there are no national guidelines on how to
remediate a
[[Page H11464]]
residential lab for reoccupation or what levels of residues are safe.
States have become increasingly concerned about the cleanup and
remediation issues related to meth labs, and State officials and law
enforcement officials have requested assistance in dealing with the
growing number of small labs in their States, particularly those
located in residential settings.
H.R. 798 should go a long way toward getting States the assistance
they need to protect the wider population from meth residues. The bill
requires the Environmental Protection Agency to establish voluntary
guidelines for the remediation of former meth labs. These guidelines
will combine the best of all existing and new information to help
States and local governments respond effectively to this growing
problem. The bill also requires the EPA to support research to identify
persistent chemicals of concern in the use and manufacture of meth, to
determine the most effective cleanup and remediation techniques, and to
develop assessment and remediation guidance for States and localities
based on the short- and long-term consequences of these former
residential labs.
Finally, the bill enlists the National Institute of Standards and
Technology to support the development of new testing methods to help
law enforcement identify and quantify the risks of meth lab sites in
the field.
This is a sensible, targeted, bipartisan bill, which, for a modest
investment, will help our State and local governments safeguard our
communities from the consequences of these toxic neighborhood labs. For
this reason, H.R. 798 has been endorsed by the National Association of
Counties, the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of
Realtors, the National Multi Housing Council and the National Apartment
Association, the National Sheriffs' Association, and the National
Narcotics Officers' Associations' Coalition.
In conclusion, I want to thank the leadership, particularly Mr.
Blunt, for enabling this bill to come to the floor, and I want to thank
the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder) for his help in this matter. He
heads the Speaker's task force dealing with the very sensitive subject
of drug abuse prevention.
This bill will make a real difference in our communities, and I urge
its passage.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 798, the Methamphetamine
Research Remediation Act.
Chairman Boehlert has already outlined the provisions of H.R. 798.
And I want to reiterate that this is a narrow bill designed to address
the health and environmental problems caused by former meth labs. H.R.
798 focuses on the cleanup requirement of former meth labs, a
tremendous problem facing communities across the country.
The Drug Enforcement Agency reported more than 17,000 domestic meth
lab seizures last year alone. Often in residential settings, these
former meth labs are contaminated not only with methamphetamine but
also with other toxic residues associated with the production of meth.
These chemical residues pollute the inside of a residence as well as
septic and water systems. People move into these former meth labs in
good faith, expecting a safe environment, but instead find a chemical
waste site.
Right now there are thousands of unsuspecting families living in
homes that were once illegal meth labs. Dangerous and hidden toxic
substances exist in these sites, and children are the most vulnerable
to the devastating long-term effects of exposure.
H.R. 798 addresses the specific problems of what type of cleanup is
required to ensure that a former meth lab is safe to occupy. I want to
stress that H.R. 798 is not a Federal mandate. Rather, it requires the
Environmental Protection Agency to develop model, voluntary, health-
based cleanup guidelines for use by States and localities.
In addition, H.R. 798 authorizes the National Institute of Standards
and Technology to initiate a research program to develop meth detection
equipment for field use. This will help law enforcement agents detect
active meth labs faster and assist in measuring levels of contamination
in former meth labs.
Finally, H.R. 798 requires a study by the National Academy of
Sciences on the long-term health impacts of children taken from meth
labs and on first responders. And I also remind the Speaker that this
bill passed unanimously out of the Science Committee with a number of
bipartisan sponsors.
Before closing, I want to thank Mr. Calvert and Chairman Boehlert for
their support and assistance in bringing this bill to the floor. I also
want to thank the Meth Caucus and its co-chairs, Representatives
Cannon, Calvert, Larsen and Boswell, for their strong support, as well
as Congressman Souder for his help in bringing this to the floor. In
addition, the National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws has been an
invaluable resource in developing this legislation. And, finally, Mike
Quear of the Science Committee staff has done a tremendous amount of
work in bringing this legislation to this point.
H.R. 798 is not a total solution to the methamphetamine epidemic.
Unfortunately, there will always be people who decide to harm
themselves by using and manufacturing dangerous drugs such as meth.
H.R. 798 is aimed at protecting innocent people whose lives are
endangered by these illegal activities.
I would urge every Member to vote ``yes'' on this bipartisan
legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Indiana (Mr. Sodrel), a very valuable member of the Science Committee.
Mr. SODREL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank all of those who
worked hard to bring this bill to the floor.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 798, the
Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act of 2005. I am a cosponsor of
this bill, and like many of my colleagues, this bill addresses a
growing concern back home in our districts needing immediate attention.
Across the country, almost every community has been touched by the
meth crisis. Meth is a toxic mixture of chemicals that gives its users
an incredible euphoria, followed by dramatic crashes, paranoia and
often violence.
My home State of Indiana has the unenviable distinction as one of the
leaders in the number of methamphetamine labs. Everyone in Southern
Indiana is painfully aware of the tragic toll meth has taken on our
communities. The danger from the meth crisis is great, not only because
of the lives destroyed by intentional use and production, but also from
unintentional contact with the drug by first responders, unwary home
buyers and renters, and innocent children.
The law enforcement officials I have met with on the topic tell me
meth can be absorbed through inhalation during the manufacturing
process and through the skin from contaminated soil, carpeting, drywall
and other housing materials. Groundwater can be contaminated with
effects that last long after the meth cooks have left the area.
Few know about the long-lasting problems left by the producers of
methamphetamine. These makeshift labs are leaving toxic sites around
our communities, our highways and our farmland. We must act and do more
to clean up this invisible time bomb.
This bill is a good first step in the process. We must know more
about how to treat a meth lab when the first responders arrive on the
scene, particularly after a fire explosion. We must know more about the
long-term effects of meth on those who occupy these lab sites after the
meth cooks are gone. We must know more about how to protect children
who happen upon these toxic sites.
Mr. Speaker, I thank our leadership for bringing this bill to the
House floor. I urge my colleagues to support passage of this bill to
protect our police, our first responders, our loved ones from the
after-effects of meth production. This assistance is especially
important to our rural counties. I urge its adoption.
Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from California (Mr. Costa), who was a leader in the
California State Senate in fighting this meth epidemic.
(Mr. COSTA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Science Committee, I would
[[Page H11465]]
like to thank Chairman Boehlert and Ranking Member Gordon for
introducing this legislation. I believe it is very important throughout
the country.
I rise in strong support of the methamphetamine Remediation Act
before us today.
While meth abuse is currently sweeping the country, causing great
alarm for law enforcement and health officials, we in California's San
Joaquin Valley have been fighting rampant meth abuse, production and
clean up for over 20 years.
Meth is California's largest drug threat, and the Valley suffers one
of the highest rates of abuse, both in production and use.
According to local law enforcement officials, over 13,500 pounds of
meth have been seized over the last 3 years. In 2004, Fresno made 180
meth related felony arrests. These are significant achievements, but
there is more to be done.
The San Joaquin Valley law enforcement successfully reduced the
number of Superlabs seizures from 27 in 2003 to 9 in 2004. However, the
need to ensure the former labs are cleaned to a safe level is key to
protecting our communities.
Meth abusers are not the only victims of this destructive drug. The
production of meth in meth labs and ``super labs'' leave dangerous bi-
products, putting innocent children and law enforcement into harms way.
I am a co-sponsor of this legislation because it provides communities
with the guidelines to properly clean up hazardous contaminants from
former meth labs and improves meth lab detection tools.
As a Member of the California State legislature, I authored a law
raising penalties for trafficking, manufacturing, and sale of meth to
the same level as heroin and cocaine.
I also authored legislation authorizing the forfeiture of any boat,
airplane or vehicle used to facilitate the manufacture of meth.
My co-sponsorship of H.R. 798 represents my continued commitment to
rid our great Valley of this devastating drug.
Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Schwarz), a very valued member of the Science Committee
but also one who is particularly knowledgeable about this subject
matter and has made significant contributions to the development of
this package.
(Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan asked and was given permission to revise and
extend his remarks.)
Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman
Boehlert and Ranking Member Gordon from Tennessee for pushing the
committee to get this important legislation out.
I have been a physician for 41 years, starting out with problems when
people would come into an emergency room high on marijuana, and then we
moved to opiates like heroin coming from across the sea, coming from
the Asian Continent for the most part, and then cocaine coming up from
South and Central America.
But now methamphetamine is made in our own backyards and particularly
in areas in this country that are similar to those areas around my home
in Michigan. They do not need much. They need chemicals that they can
buy in a convenience store or anhydrous ammonia that people can steal
from an agricultural operation someplace. It is very, very easy to
make. It is very, very addictive, and it is very dangerous, both for
those who use it and for those who make it.
This bill deals with the residual things that happen when
methamphetamine is made in a lab out someplace usually in the country.
What they are left with is a chemical soup.
For every pound of methamphetamine manufactured, 5 pounds of
hazardous waste is created. For every lab that has to be cleaned up,
somewhere between $8,000 and $15,000 worth of public money is expended.
Children are put into foster care because their parents can no longer
care for them. It is a huge public health and social problem.
And it is so easy to make. One oxygen molecule from pseudoephedrine,
which one can buy over the counter in almost any store, one oxygen
molecule taken away and we have methamphetamine. Numbers of arrests
coming up almost exponentially in the past 5 years, and the residual in
the labs is a terrible thing. It is a horrible thing, and we have to
have some systematic way to deal with that residual as we are working
on ways to deal with the drug itself.
This bill is a tremendously good start in that direction. And, again,
I compliment the chairman, the ranking member, and members of the
Science Committee on moving the ball forward, moving it down the field,
to help clean up methamphetamine labs.
Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
In conclusion, let me just say that Senators Smith and Baucus have
taken this exact legislation and introduced it in the other body. So,
hopefully, after we pass this today, there will be time this week for
the other body to also pass this legislation, get it directly to the
President and get some action right away.
So, again, my thanks to Chairman Boehlert and his staff and all the
Members for bringing this bill up today.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 1715
Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate some of the comments of my colleagues, and
as chairman I have had the privilege to sort of move the ball forward.
But I think it is right that we acknowledge that the ball was put in
motion by Mr. Gordon of Tennessee and Mr. Calvert of California. They
have worked in tandem and partnership, and we have produced a good bill
worthy of this House and our mission. I am hopeful that not only will
we pass on a strong bipartisan vote the measure today but that the
Senate will follow through with this. Senator Gordon and Senator Baucus
on a bipartisan basis are working on it and with good reason.
The problem is meth is a national crisis. It started out small on the
west coast; it now affects all 50 States. The producers, as Dr. Schwarz
has indicated, can buy the product over the counter, all the
ingredients to this; and then they rent an apartment or rent a motel
room and quickly cook the stuff to make the final product. That is what
we are concerned about. What about the atmosphere that is created?
They tend to go in the more rural areas of America, bypassing the big
cities, because they figure there is an undue concentration of law
enforcement officials there, and maybe they can get away with it in the
more rural settings. They did not reckon on guys like Sheriff Gary
Howard, who has got an outstanding record of busting these guys and
carting them off to where they belong, to jail.
But then what? What happens to the property? The owner of the
property, totally unaware of what was taking place on their property, I
understand it, we can all understand that, and then the owner probably
says, well, we will clean it up, we will vacuum the floor and paint the
walls and it will be okay. Wrong. Not okay. We have got to do more
studies, because the residue is there, and we have got to be concerned
about that. That is what this is all about, a modest amount of Federal
dollars to deal with a very real and meaningful problem.
Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support
of H.R. 798, the Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act. I commend
Mr. Gordon, Mr. Calvert, and Mr. Boehlert for their work introducing
this important legislation; and bringing it to the floor.
Meth is a scourge on our communities. It is literally a chemical
cocktail, made from hazardous, caustic substances. In the process of
cooking a batch of meth, those chemicals seep into the interior of a
home. Often, unsuspecting, innocent families move into these houses and
apartments, completely unaware that the new home was once used to cook
meth. It isn't until they become ill that they learn something is
wrong, terribly wrong.
DEA reported over 17,000 meth lab busts last year in 47 states. There
is currently no federal standard to determine when a former lab is safe
to inhabit. This bill will do that.
H.R. 798 will establish a research program to develop voluntary,
health-based, model guidelines for the clean-up of former meth labs. It
will establish a research program to develop meth detection equipment
for use by first responders, and will require a study on the long-term
health impacts on first responders and children taken from meth labs.
It is important for us to know when a house used as a meth lab is
safe to inhabit again. It is important that we know the health impacts
of exposure to a meth lab. This bill will do both of these things. As a
Co-Chair of the Meth Caucus, I am proud to see an important meth bill
like this one finally see its day on the floor. I urge my colleagues to
vote ``yes''.
[[Page H11466]]
Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 798,
the Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act.
I am a member of the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control
Methamphetamines and an original cosponsor of this legislation.
Before coming to Congress, I was the District Attorney of Madison
County, Alabama.
It was in that capacity that I learned that meth is not only a danger
to adults who use the drug, but also a great danger to people who live
in the homes where meth is used or manufactured, especially children.
Unfortunately, the effects the exposure to meth is something that we
are still learning more about.
I support today's legislation because I believe it is important for
our communities to understand these residual effects.
H.R. 798 addresses the environmental and second-hand impacts of
methamphetamine abuse.
It specifically establishes research programs through the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST) to: identify the harmful chemicals
associated with meth labs; discover the impact exposure to these
chemicals have; and identify any residual effects of methamphetamine
labs.
Additionally, this legislation creates guidelines for the clean up
and decontamination of contained meth lab sites.
It also requires NIST to develop and standardize methamphetamine
detection methods.
I would like to thank Congressman Gordon for his leadership in
addressing this often-overlooked battle in the fight against
methamphetamines.
I encourage my colleagues to approve this bill.
Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, the rapid growth in the production and use of
methamphetamine is very serious problem that requires the full
attention of Congress. In the State of Washington and in my
Congressional district in particular, meth has rapidly become the drug
of choice. The police chiefs and sheriffs in my district tell me that
the percentage of criminals that are also meth users has grown
astronomically over that last ten years, and now it is the most
frequently used drug by both violent and non-violent offenders.
This drug is highly addictive and easy to make. As most of my
colleagues are aware, meth can be made with instructions that can be
found on the internet and using ingredients and equipment that can be
purchased over-the-counter in virtually any community. Congress must do
more, in my opinion, to fight this growing menace.
The by-products of methamphetamine production are highly toxic and
can linger at the point of production long after the equipment and
drugs have been taken away. These by-products, even in small amounts,
can irritate, burn or even kill individuals coming across a lab site
well after the drug producers have gone. As a result, state and local
agencies often must take extreme measures to remove all traces of
toxicity from a lab site. In my own district, state environmental
clean-up engineers have had to remove entire hotel rooms--including the
furniture, appliances, dry wall and studs--because contamination from
routine production of meth has been so extensive.
Cleaning up these toxic messes is the issue addressed by the
legislation proposed by my good friend from the state of Tennessee.
This bill calls upon the Environmental Protection Agency, together with
the National Institute for Standards and Technology to help provide
some expertise and guidance to state and local agencies on guidelines
for to follow to safely and effectively clean up meth labs. I commend
my friend for offering this sensible and needed proposal, and I
encourage my colleagues in the House to support it.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Members to support H.R. 798, and I urge
my colleagues to continue to work together to eradicate this extremely
dangerous and locally produce drug.
Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 798, the
Methamphetamine Remediation Act before us today.
While methamphetamine abuse is currently sweeping the country,
causing great alarm for law enforcement and health officials, we in
California's San Joaquin Valley have been fighting rampant
methamphetamine abuse, production and clean up for over 20 years.
Methamphetamine is California's largest drug threat, and the Valley
suffers one of the highest rates of abuse, both in production and use.
According to local law enforcement officials, over 13,500 pounds of
methamphetamine have been seized over the last three years. In 2004,
Fresno made 180 methamphetamine related felony arrests. These are
significant achievements, but there is more to be done. The San Joaquin
Valley law enforcement successfully reduced the number of Superlabs
seizures from 27 in 2003 to 9 in 2004. However, the need to ensure the
former labs are cleaned to a safe level is key to protecting our
communities.
Unfortunately, methamphetamine abusers are not the only victims of
this destructive drug. The production of methamphetamine in labs and
``super labs'' leave dangerous bi-products, putting innocent children
and law enforcement into harms way. I am a co-sponsor of this
legislation because it provides communities with the guidelines to
properly clean up hazardous contaminants from former methamphetamine
labs and improves methamphetamine lab detection tools.
As a Member of the California State Legislature, I authored a law
raising penalties for trafficking, manufacturing, and sale of
methamphetamine to the same level as heroin and cocaine. In addition, I
authored legislation authorizing the forfeiture of any boat, airplane
or vehicle used to facilitate the manufacture of methamphetamine.
My co-sponsorship of H.R. 798 represents my continued commitment to
rid our great Valley of this devastating drug. I urge the adoption of
this critical measure.
Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 798, the
Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act, a bill to address the
methamphetamine abuse problem and provide support to states and local
communities to fight and clean-up methamphetamine (meth) and
methamphetamine labs. As a cosponsor of H.R. 798, I believe this
legislation takes a crucial first step towards achieving this goal and
I applaud Ranking Member Gordon for his leadership on this issue.
As a member of the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control
Methamphetamine and a former law enforcement official, I am actively
working with my colleagues to decrease methamphetamine use. In my home
state of Illinois, there were 926 methamphetamine seizures reported and
813 methamphetamine arrests in 2004, many in my district in Southern
Illinois. In order to combat meth in our communities, I believe we need
a comprehensive plan to deal with the environmental, health, and law
enforcement challenges facing our communities because of the growing
use of this dangerous drug.
Reports show that methamphetamine use in the United States has
increased rapidly in recent years. In order to assist local governments
prevent and control the spread of methamphetamine, I am pleased grants,
such as the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, are
available for cities and counties to apply for through the Department
of Justice. I will continue to assist the local law enforcement
agencies throughout my congressional district to ensure they receive
funding based on local needs and conditions.
Mr. Speaker, meth labs not only cost communities, they also can
create a serious public health threat. It is my continued hope that by
raising national awareness about methamphetamine use and providing
increased federal resources to combat the methamphetamine problem, we
can diminish methamphetamine use. This legislation is a first step
toward that goal and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 798.
Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be an original cosponsor of
the ``Meth'' Remediation and Research Act as it will aid our local law
enforcement, environmental regulatory, and health care officials in
coping with ``meth'' abuse by providing voluntary guidelines to clean
up and remediate the highly toxic chemicals that are used to make the
drug.
The harmful effects of contamination are not fully recognized and
first responders, future inhabitants, and sadly, children are at risk
of developing health problems--this legislation seeks to remedy this
problem.
I am tremendously sensitive to the problem of ``meth'' abuse due to
it's widespread emergence in my district. Last year my home state of
Missouri had the unfortunate distinction of being the number one state
in the country, by more than double, for methamphetamine laboratory
seizures. Furthermore, Jefferson County, which resides in my
congressional district, has the most seizures and arrests related to
``meth'' in the state of Missouri.
I applaud the Science Committee's bipartisan leadership for
addressing this growing problem and doing their utmost to move this
legislation.
Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 798,
the Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act of 2005, which I was
pleased to cosponsor originally.
I commend the dedicated work of the Science Committee in bringing
this bipartisan bill to the floor today. I would also like to thank
Congressmen Bart Gordon, Ben Calvert, and Committee Chairman Sherwood
Boehlert, the bill's chief sponsors, for their leadership on this
issue.
Last year, 30 methamphetamine labs--including sites where only the
chemical were found--were seized in Hawaii. While I fully understand
that this number is small in comparison to other states in our country,
the number of methamphetamine laboratories is unfortunately growing in
our more isolated rural communities like those in Hawaii's Second
Congressional District.
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H.R. 798 would provide federal support and guidance to our states
with rapidly expanding number of closed methamphetamine laboratory
sites. The bill would require the Environmental Protection Agency to
develop the voluntary guidelines for use by state and local officials
and would establish a research program to address the environmental
effects from contamination caused by methamphetamine labs and examine
ways to clean up such labs and minimize adverse health effects. H.R.
798 would also direct the National Institute of Standards and
Technology to conduct research into methamphetamine detection
technologies and calls for a separate study by the National Academy of
Sciences to examine research on the effects that methamphetamine labs
have on the residents of the buildings in which the laboratories were
located.
I look forward to continuing to work with any likeminded colleagues
on our Congressional Methamphetamine Caucus and otherwise to provide
the federal support we need in our collective fight against the
national crisis of crystal methamphetamine.
Mahalo (thank you) for this opportunity to express support for H.R.
798.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have joined Mr. Gordon and
Mr. Boehlert as a lead sponsor of this legislation--H.R. 798, the
Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act of 2005. I thank Mr. Gordon
for bringing this very important issue to the Congress' attention and
Mr. Boehlert for steering the bill quickly through the Science
Committee. I also thank the Science Committee's Majority and Minority
staffs who have diligently worked together for the last two years to
develop and revise this legislation.
As a Co-Chairman of the 135-member Congressional Caucus to Fight and
Control Methamphetamine, I know the growing meth epidemic in our
country shows no deference to district or party line. This is an issue
everyone can agree is wreaking havoc on communities across the Nation.
As mentioned by my colleagues, H.R. 798 focuses its efforts on the
procedures and standards needed to decontaminate a site where a
methamphetamine lab is found so our communities can more thoroughly
remediate these sites. The creation of voluntary, health-based
remediation guidelines for former meth labs, crafted by the
Environmental Protection Agency, will protect and ensure the health of
our citizens and the surrounding environment.
In my area of Riverside, California, methamphetamine production has
reached epidemic proportions with many of these labs having the
distinction of being labeled superlabs--these are labs that are capable
of producing over ten pounds of finished methamphetamine per batch. One
such lab which was seized in 2003 operated out of a barn in a rural
area of Riverside County and produced over 6,000 pounds of finished
product with a street resale value of over $33 million dollars. Over 4
million pounds of contaminated toxic soil had to be removed with heavy
equipment, costing in excess of $226,000. Officials from the California
Department of Toxic Substance Control have called this the most
difficult and costly methamphetamine lab clean up in California's
history.
This is a distressing issue with which my region, and quite frankly,
most of America is becoming all too familiar. Our State and local
agencies need all the resources and tools that we can provide them
within their efforts to address this epidemic. Although we are all
aware that much more needs to be done to win the fight against this
devastating drug, I am convinced H.R. 789 will be a good start in that
fight and will be welcomed by our communities.
I strongly encourage my colleagues to vote yes in favor of H.R. 798
today.
Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Aderholt). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 798, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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