[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 7, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H1278-H1284]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
METHAMPHETAMINE REMEDIATION RESEARCH ACT OF 2007
Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 365) to provide for a research program for
remediation of closed methamphetamine production laboratories, and for
other purposes.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 365
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 2007''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) Methamphetamine use and production is growing rapidly
throughout the United States.
(2) Materials and 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 closed methamphetamine
laboratory has been successfully remediated.
[[Page H1279]]
(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
after a methamphetamine laboratory has closed, 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 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
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
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (in this
Act referred to as the ``Administrator''), in consultation
with the National Institute of Standards and Technology,
shall establish voluntary guidelines, based on the best
currently 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 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
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 Administrator shall
periodically update the voluntary guidelines as the
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 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, and the research necessary to
better address biological effects and to minimize adverse
human exposures;
(3) evaluate the performance of various methamphetamine
laboratory cleanup and remediation techniques; and
(4) support other research priorities identified by the
Administrator in consultation with States and other
interested parties.
SEC. 5. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CONFERENCE.
(a) Conference.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, and at least every third year
thereafter, the 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 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 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 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 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 Administrator shall transmit to Congress a
report on how the 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 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 affect or limit
the application of, or any obligation to comply with, any
State or Federal environmental law or regulation, including
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.) and the Solid
Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.).
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 $1,750,000 for each of the fiscal years
2007 and 2008.
(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 $750,000
for each of the fiscal years 2007 and 2008.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Tennessee (Mr. Gordon) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mario Diaz-
Balart) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.
General Leave
Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their
remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 365, the bill now
under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Tennessee?
There was no objection.
Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 365, the Methamphetamine
Remediation Research Act. This is the same legislation which passed the
House a year ago, but was not enacted into law. Unfortunately, the need
for this legislation is just as strong today as it was then.
We have a terrible problem with methamphetamine in Tennessee and the
Nation as a whole. One side effect of the methamphetamine epidemic is
the chemical waste dump left behind by meth cooks. H.R. 365 focuses on
cleanup needs for former meth labs, a tremendous problem facing
communities across the country.
The Drug Enforcement Agency reported more than 12,500 domestic meth
lab seizures in 2005 alone. These meth labs, most often found in
residential settings, are contaminated, not only with methamphetamine
but also with other toxic residue associated with the production of
meth. These chemical residues pollute the inside of a residence and
also threaten septic and water systems. The meth epidemic has not only
devastated families, it has also left thousands of potentially toxic
waste dumps spread across the country.
Right now, there are unsuspecting families living in homes that were
once illegal meth labs. Dangerous and hidden toxic substances on these
sites threaten the health of these families, with children being the
most vulnerable to the devastating long-term effects of exposure.
H.R. 365 addresses the specific problem of determining the level of
cleanup required to ensure that a former meth lab is safe for
occupation.
I want to stress that H.R. 365 is not a Federal mandate. Rather, it
requires the EPA to develop model, voluntary, health-based cleanup
guidelines for use by States and localities if they desire.
In addition, H.R. 365 authorizes this 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 the levels of contamination in former meth
labs.
Finally, H.R. 365 requires a study by the National Academy of
Sciences on
[[Page H1280]]
the long-term health impact of exposure to meth labs on children and
first responders. It authorizes a total of $5 million for EPA and NIST
to carry out these activities over 2 years, a bargain by any standard.
The bill is endorsed by the National Association of Counties, the
National Sheriffs' Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, the
National Narcotics Officers' Associations' Coalition, the National
Association of Realtors, the National Multi-Housing Council and the
National Apartment Association.
H.R. 365 is not the complete solution to the methamphetamine
epidemic. Unfortunately, there will always be people who decide to harm
themselves by using methamphetamines, dangerous drugs such as meth or
manufacturing dangerous drugs such as meth.
{time} 1030
H.R. 365 aims to protect innocent people whose lives are endangered
by these illegal activities.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Ranking Member Hall, Representative Wu,
and Representative Calvert for working with me on this legislation in
the past Congress, and for sponsoring this legislation for
reintroduction in the 110th Congress, as well as I want to thank Mike
Quear for the good staff work that has helped bring this bill before
us.
This bill is an important component in helping our local communities
combat the meth problem. I would urge everyone to vote ``yes'' on this
bill.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to place two letters in the Record.
Committee on Science and
Technology,
Washington, DC, February 7, 2007.
Hon. John D. Dingell,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of
Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Dingell: Thank you for your willingness to
allow floor consideration of H.R. 365, the Methamphetamine
Remediation Research Act of 2007, to proceed unimpeded. As
you may know, this bill addresses very important
environmental research issues and is a priority for our
caucus; approximately half of the House Democratic Caucus has
cosponsored the legislation.
I have been cognizant of the jurisdictional limits of the
Committee on Science and Technology since I began writing
this legislation. Therefore, I instructed my staff to work
with the Office of the Parliamentarian to assure a sole
referral to the Committee on Science in the 109th Congress
and to the Committee on Science and Technology in the 110th
Congress. I am pleased that they were successful in both
Congresses in keeping the bill within the Science and
Technology Committee's black letter jurisdiction over
environmental research and development and standardization of
weights and measures.
I acknowledge that your committee, if it had so chosen,
would have had the right to request a sequential referral of
this legislation, both in the 109th Congress and in the 110th
Congress. Since this did not occur, I am unable to predict
whether the Speaker would have given the Committee on Energy
and Commerce a formal referral. I would like to make it clear
that I recognize that sequential referrals sometimes do occur
at this point in the process and I further recognize that our
proceeding to the Floor of the House with this legislation
should not be construed as deciding this issue one way or the
other.
As you requested, I will insert our two letters in the
Congressional Record as part of the consideration of the bill
on the House floor. I value your advice and expertise and
welcome it any time you wish to share it on legislation that
has been referred to the Committee on Science and Technology.
Sincerely,
Bart Gordon,
Chairman.
____
Committee on Energy and Commerce,
Washington, DC, February 6, 2007.
Hon. Bart Gordon,
Chairman, Committee on Science, House of Representatives,
Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I write with regard to H.R. 365, a bill
to provide for a research program for remediation of closed
methamphetamine production laboratories. You introduced it on
January 10, 2007, and it is scheduled for floor consideration
tomorrow under the procedure for suspending the rules.
As you know, I support passage of the bill, and I do not
intend to object to its consideration on the House floor. I
want to make clear, however, that my support is provided with
the understanding that you and I agree that the referral and
consideration of the bill does not in any way serve as a
jurisdictional precedent as to our two committees.
I request that you send to me a letter confirming our
agreement and that, as part of the consideration of the bill
on the House floor, you insert our two letters in the
Congressional Record. If you wish to discuss this matter
further, please contact me or have your staff contact
Jonathan Cordone, Deputy Chief Counsel to the Committee, at
ext. 5-2927.
Sincerely,
John D. Dingell,
Chairman.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such
time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I also rise in support of H.R. 365, the Methamphetamine
Remediation Research Act of 2007, that was introduced by our colleague
Mr. Gordon, who is obviously the chairman of the Science and Technology
Committee, along with ranking member Mr. Hall, Mr. Calvert, and also
Mr. Wu.
I want to especially thank Congressman Calvert for his steadfast
leadership on this issue for such a long time. He has really been the
voice on this issue in Congress for a long time, and has worked with
everybody on both sides of the aisle on this legislation.
As Mr. Gordon said, he stated just a while ago, this legislation is
very similar to the legislation that passed the Science Committee and
the House in the 109th Congress. Mr. Speaker, it passed by a voice vote
then. This one also, though, addressed changes made by the Senate in
that bill that passed the Congress before.
Over the past decade this issue, the spread of methamphetamine, has
been plaguing really everyplace around the country. It has been killing
individuals, destroying families, devastating communities in every
conceivable part of our country in areas that you would not think that
this could happen, in residential areas. It is a huge, huge problem.
We also have to deal with the harmful residue that this horrible
substance leaves behind in homes. Those substances cause harm to human
beings and to their health for years to come. This legislation focuses
on the cleanup of the former meth labs.
H.R. 365 addresses the significant contamination associated with
these labs and would provide voluntary guidelines to clean up the
former labs. And, again, as I said a little while ago, these meth labs
are present all over the United States in residential areas, in places
that one would never think this could happen.
Currently, Mr. Speaker, there are no national guidelines or
regulations on how to clean up and remediate a residential meth lab for
reoccupation of people. States and localities are struggling to protect
the public and also the law enforcement officers and the first
responders, and they are trying to find a solution that is practical
also for the property owners.
Many of the ingredients used in the manufacture of this product are
highly dangerous and toxic, and are believed to damage the skin, the
eyes and the lungs of even people who move into a house where there
used to be a lab. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to hopefully the passage
of this legislation and the Senate sending it to the desk of the
President for his signature.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, let me first compliment Mr.
Diaz-Balart for a good explanation of the bill and the threats that go
with this.
I now would like to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri
(Mr. Carnahan), a member of our Science Committee.
Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 365, the
Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act of 2007. This bill will be an
important tool in the methamphetamine epidemic that is sweeping across
our country.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Gordon for moving these bills
so quickly through the Science Committee so that we may continue the
antimeth initiatives in this new Congress. The bill charges the EPA
with the development of health-based guidelines to assist State and
local authorities in cleaning up former meth lab sites.
According to the 2006 National Drug Threat Survey of State and Local
Law Enforcement, meth was named most often the greatest drug threat.
Well, I am proud to say that my home State of Missouri has been a
leader nationwide on issues such as expansion of stem cell
[[Page H1281]]
research and creation and implementation of the historic preservation
tax credit. My State, unfortunately, has the most prevalent meth
problem.
Based on data from 2005, Missouri had a reported staggering 2,252
meth lab incidents, the highest in the Nation. Jefferson County, in the
heart of my district, has the highest number of meth lab incidents in
Missouri, reporting 259 incidents in 2005 alone.
I have seen firsthand the negative and harmful impact of this in my
district. I have met with law enforcement throughout my district and
compliment them on their aggressive and innovative programs.
But the large amount of meth lab incidents in Missouri means that
police, firefighters and other first-line responders are exposed to
meth labs in the line of duty. While some States have already passed
laws to require cleanup of meth labs, Missouri and many others have
not.
This bill is vital, because we need the EPA to create these voluntary
guidelines for first responders nationwide. This bill would be
beneficial in determining the effects of meth exposure. In addition to
creating guidelines for cleanup, the bill would also require the
National Academy of Sciences to study the long-term impacts on first
responders, children and property owners.
Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to
the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert).
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join Chairman Gordon, Mr.
Hall and Mr. Wu as the lead sponsors of H.R. 365, the Methamphetamine
Remediation Act of 2007.
Mr. Speaker, we were very close to sending this legislation to the
President for signature at the end of the last Congress, so I greatly
appreciate the chairman keeping this issue at the forefront of this
Congress and for steering the bill quickly through the Science and
Technology Committee at the start of the 110.
Mr. Speaker, I also thank the committee's majority and minority
staffs who have diligently worked together and with the Senate over the
last few years to develop and revise this legislation.
As a founder and cochairman of the Congressional Caucus to Fight and
Control Methamphetamine, I know the 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 our Nation.
As mentioned by my colleagues, H.R. 365 focused its efforts on
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, created by the Environmental Protection Agency, will
protect and ensure the health of our citizens and the surrounding
environment.
This is a distressing issue with many, and certainly my area of
Riverside, California, and, quite frankly, most of America has been all
too familiar. Meth poses significant environmental threats as its
production leaves, as mentioned, 5 to 6 pounds of toxic waste per pound
of methamphetamine developed.
The Drug Enforcement Agency estimates that more than 68 percent of
all meth labs are located in ordinary homes in rural and residential
areas. State and local agencies need all of the resources and tools
that we can provide them to remediate the contamination that remains
after meth labs are dismantled so that innocent families are not in
danger.
Although we are all aware that more needs to be done to win the fight
against this devastating drug, I am convinced that H.R. 365 will be an
important step and will be welcomed by our communities.
So I thank Chairman Gordon for his good work, and I encourage all of
my colleagues to pass this commonsense legislation.
Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Calvert for
cosponsoring this legislation last session as well as this session, and
for his work as cochair of the important Methamphetamine Caucus.
I now yield 2 minutes to my friend from Texas (Mr. Al Green), an
alumnus of the Science Committee.
Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it was a preeminent privilege to
serve with the gentleman on the Science Committee when he was a
chairperson in waiting, and I am honored to call you Mr. Chairman
today.
Mr. Speaker, this is a serious problem. I beseech, I urge, I implore,
I beg that my colleagues would support this legislation, H.R. 365.
365 is an appropriate number for this legislation, because this is a
365/24/7 problem. And this problem must be dealt with. This is a
dangerous drug to produce. It is toxic. It is poisonous. It is deadly.
It can explode. Twenty percent of all labs are discovered because of
fire or explosion.
And as bad as this is, there is a sinister side to this drug.
Innocent people are being harmed by virtue of this drug being in
residential property that landlords are not aware of. And when these
innocent persons move in with their children, the residue from this
product is causing damage to the liver, damage to the lungs, may cause
cancer, and it creates problems in the neurological system.
Mr. Speaker, we must act now. These labs are in all 50 States. No
State is beyond the scope of this problem. Two-thirds of the
residential settings are victimized with these labs. Between 2003 and
2005, the DEA pointed out that 47,000 lab incidents occurred. We must
act now if the innocent are to be protected from this deadly assassin.
I beg that we all support this important piece of legislation.
Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance
of my time.
Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Boswell).
(Mr. BOSWELL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. BOSWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 365,
and I associate myself with the remarks just made. Well said. It is a
scourge to our country.
I want to thank Chairman Gordon and Ranking Member Hall of the
Science and Technology Committee for their hard work on this important
piece of legislation. I also want to thank the Meth Caucus leadership,
Messrs. Cannon, Calvert and Larsen, who I have worked with.
Meth has wreaked havoc on our communities. Every district in our
Nation has in some way felt the impact of what methamphetamine can do
to families, the burden it places on local law enforcement and public
health, and the toxic effect it has on the environment. In my State of
Iowa alone, we had roughly 350 meth lab busts last year. Although this
number is significantly down from 1,500 busts in 2004, it still
presents a tremendous problem for my State.
I personally thank Marvin Van Haaften of Marion County, our recent
drug czar, for his great work and leadership in this cause. In order to
effectively continue our efforts to eradicate meth from our
communities, we need every piece of information available. This
legislation will increase the pool of information that local law
enforcement and others rely upon.
Mr. Speaker, I am particularly pleased that this legislation takes
the necessary steps to coordinate the development of meth detection
equipment with emphasis on field detection equipment. I believe having
reliable equipment in the field will not only strengthen meth-related
cases, it will increase the safety of our law enforcement officers,
enabling them to take necessary steps to protect themselves from the
toxic environment caused by the production of methamphetamine.
Furthermore, the study commissioned by the legislation exposes the
long-term effects of exposure of meth labs on children and first
responders. This help is long overdue. I am proud this legislation
addresses the issue.
Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor of H.R. 365, I strongly urge my
colleagues to support and pass this measure.
Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance
of my time.
Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the former
youngest attorney general in the Nation, who saw firsthand the problem
with methamphetamine in Kentucky (Mr. Chandler).
Mr. CHANDLER. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today in support of my
[[Page H1282]]
good friend and chairman, the fine gentleman from Tennessee, who is on
a mission of mercy.
Mr. Speaker, this issue is extremely important to all people in this
country, and truly it represents an epidemic. It is a problem that does
affect every single State in our country, and unfortunately it has had
a disproportionate effect on my home State of Kentucky, as I know it
has also in Tennessee.
Law enforcement officials, in my view, have done an incredible job in
fighting the meth epidemic. According to the Office of Drug Control
Policy, in June of last year, there were almost 57 percent fewer
methamphetamine lab seizures in Kentucky than in the previous years;
however, our State still ended the year with well over 500 meth lab
incidents.
Our law enforcement officials cannot do it alone. Fighting production
of meth is not the last battle we face when dealing with this terrible
drug. We have to take it a step further.
{time} 1045
Meth is highly volatile, and because it is often produced in homes,
apartments or hotel rooms, this drug can threaten the health of
whomever may occupy that space later. We must ensure that the
environments of our families are free of the remnants of meth
production. We must take the necessary steps so that the authorities
know how to best clean former sites and develop new technologies for
detecting this harmful drug. And, Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what
this bill does.
I encourage my colleagues to support this fine piece of legislation
and help our communities in their fight against this truly difficult
epidemic.
Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance
of my time.
Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to a former DA
from New York State who, once again, has seen this epidemic firsthand
and has dealt with it there, and now, as a new Member of Congress, he
is dealing with it on a national basis, Mr. Arcuri.
Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, as a former DA from upstate New York, I know
firsthand the scourge that methamphetamine has laid upon our rural
areas. And I represented a district that was both urban and rural, and
I saw that methamphetamines did to the rural areas what crack cocaine
did to the urban areas. And I think that it is imperative that we take
these steps that we are taking to fight methamphetamines.
The difference, however, between methamphetamines and crack is that
there is a derivative effect that methamphetamine has, and that is that
it affects the people who live in the households of people who produce
methamphetamines and law enforcement officers when they go into those
areas. So it is very important that this bill is passed because it does
exactly what local law enforcement needs, and that is for the Federal
Government to act in a way that develops strategies for fighting
methamphetamines, strategies for protecting our law enforcement
officials.
So I strongly support this bill, and urge my colleagues to support
it.
Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance
of my time.
Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, Oregon has long had a terrible
problem with methamphetamines, and a real fighter there has been Ms.
Hooley, and I yield 2 minutes to her.
Ms. HOOLEY. Mr. Speaker, and Mr. Chairman, thank you so much for all
of your leadership on this issue. I applaud you.
In my three decades of public service, I don't think I have ever seen
a problem as pervasive or as damaging as the methamphetamine epidemic
that is sweeping our country. Meth is a serious threat to public health
and safety, not only because of the highly addictive nature of the drug
and what it does to the user, but also the ease of production and the
danger of toxic chemicals used to manufacture it.
These toxic chemicals cause significant property damage from residue
contamination in the floors and the walls of the house, to fires, even
deadly explosions. Chemicals used to make meth are highly flammable and
toxic. It is estimated, for every pound of meth produced, we have 6 to
7 pounds of toxic waste.
And meth addicts don't care where the toxic chemicals end up, often
dumping the waste down the drain or onto the ground, leaving it to
contaminate the community's water supply and their soil.
In conversations with local health officials in my district, they
have stressed to me the harmful health effects that living not only in
the former meth houses but even next door to one can have on people,
particularly children and the elderly.
Because the meth epidemic began in the west coast before moving east,
Oregon has long been a leader in the fight against meth and the
destruction it brings to our communities. We have been a leader in
developing standards for the cleanup of meth labs, setting standards
for decontamination and certifying that a property has been cleaned by
a State-licensed contractor before it is sold or rented. Oregon's
standards have been seen as the highest in the Nation. I would
encourage the EPA to look at Oregon as they develop national standards.
But we need a consistent Federal standard that is based on research and
best practices.
When the cost to clean up a small, single family home can easily
reach $15,000, we need to make sure that we are spending our money
wisely by using the best possible remediation methods. This bill will
help us do this.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 365.
Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance
of my time.
Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hill).
Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Gordon for
introducing this important piece of legislation, the Methamphetamine
Remediation Research Act.
In my home State of Indiana and throughout our country, meth labs are
a growing problem, and we all know this. In Jackson County, Indiana,
where I grew up and raised my family, 64 meth labs were found there in
2003. That was the fourth highest total in the State.
These meth labs pose a serious threat to the safety and physical
well-being of communities and particularly our Nation's children. This
bill will provide States with specific guidelines and advice on the
most effective way to decontaminate a meth lab. In addition, this bill
will also help keep our local law enforcement safe during a meth lab
cleanup.
I would like to thank our law enforcement agents who I have had many,
many conversations with about this growing problem in America and
Indiana. I want to thank them for working to dramatically lower the
number of meth labs in Indiana to fewer than 1,000 for the first time
since 2002. We need to continue to support our local law enforcement
and give them the knowledge and tools they need to make sure our
communities stay safe.
Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I reserve my time.
Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, no Member of this Congress has
done more to fight this epidemic of methamphetamine than the cochairman
of the Methamphetamine Caucus, Mr. Larsen. I thank him for his good
work and yield him 1 minute.
Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise in full support of H.R.
365, and I want to thank Chairman Gordon, Mr. Hall and my fellow
cochairs of the Meth Caucus, Mr. Calvert, Mr. Boswell and Mr. Cannon
for their work in drafting this bill, getting it to the floor here
today.
Meth is literally a chemical cocktail. It is made from hazardous
caustic substances. In the process of cooking a batch of meth, those
chemicals seep into the interior of a home, and often innocent families
move into these houses and apartments completely unaware that their new
home was once used to cook meth. It isn't until they become ill that
they know something is terribly wrong.
The DEA reported over 12,000 meth lab busts in 2005 in 49 States.
There are currently no Federal standards or health-based guidelines to
determine when a former lab is safe to inhabit.
This bill will create the research both to know when a home is safe
to reinhabit and the health impacts of exposure to a lab. We owe it the
children
[[Page H1283]]
found in meth labs each year to know how their health has been affected
and how best to treat them. This bill does that.
As a cochair of the Meth Caucus, I am very pleased to see an
important meth bill like this one brought to the floor, and I urge all
of my colleagues to vote ``yes.''
Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance
of my time.
Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, our final speaker is the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett) and I yield him 1\1/2\ minutes.
Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, as an active member of the Congressional
Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamines, and a sponsor of this
bill, I am pleased that early in this Congress we are addressing a
killer that strikes fear in the hearts of parents and exacts great cost
from our communities.
Over 10 million Americans age 12 and older are reported to have tried
methamphetamine. In 2005, in Texas alone, some 250-plus meth labs were
seized. Their dangers are not limited to the criminal manufacturers of
this wretched drug or the consumers of this poison. Rather, these
highly toxic labs represent a much wider threat. Even the remains of
the illicit production of a meth lab can, by themselves, produce life-
threatening injuries, death, and destruction of property.
Our votes today supporting the Methamphetamine Remediation Research
Act are votes to protect our families, our neighborhoods, and support
our law enforcement organizations as they attack the destructive impact
of meth labs. We must continue to work with local, State and Federal
law enforcement to ensure that we are combating this scourge at every
level--that our local officials have the technology, the funding, and
the support they need to detect these labs, close them down and clean
them up.
I applaud the leadership of Chairman Gordon and all those who have
worked on this piece of legislation. We took some action last year and
there is much more action which is necessary, but this is a very
important next step in our efforts against meth.
Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 30
seconds.
I just want to also thank the chairman of the Science and Technology
Committee, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Gordon), for putting this
on the top of his agenda, at the top of his priorities. It is an
important issue, and I want to thank him for doing that.
Mr. Speaker, we have no further requests for time, and so I would
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, it certainly is nice to see a
good bipartisan piece of legislation pass through this House. It is a
good way to start. I appreciate the cooperation of everybody involved.
In closing, I want to say that this targeted bill can help every
community where a meth lab has been discovered. I would urge a ``yes''
vote on H.R. 365.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 365, the
Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act of 2007. This critically
important piece of legislation helps detect and safely dispose of
Methamphetamine production sites across this nation.
The issue of illegal methamphetamines is a top health concern for me
and my constituents in the 12th district of California. According to
the National Drug Intelligence Center's February 2005 National Drug
Threats Assessment Report, the level of methamphetamine consumption in
San Francisco is critically high compared with that of most other
cities in the United States.
Mr. Speaker, let me start by emphasizing the extreme danger that
methamphetamines pose on today's youth. Methamphetamine is a drug
concocted from a variety of household items including gasoline, paint
thinner, battery acid, propane, and lighter fluid among other things,
cooked together to form a powder or crystal like substance that is
either smoked, ingested or injected.
According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy
methamphetamines are a highly addictive drug that can cause progressive
social and occupational deterioration and lead to episodes of violent
behavior, paranoia, anxiety, confusion, and insomnia. Habitual usage
can lead to physical complications such as inflammation of the heart
lining, damaged blood vessels, skin abscesses, as well as variety of
cardiovascular problems that ultimately can lead to death. Doctors have
equated damage to the brain caused by methamphetamine use with brain
damage caused by Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and epilepsy. Psychotic
symptoms can sometimes persist for months or years after drug use has
ceased.
According to the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health an
estimated 10.4 million Americans aged 12 or older used methamphetamine
at least once in their lifetimes. The Drug Abuse Warning Network
estimates that in 2004 methamphetamine was involved in 73,400 emergency
room visits.
Mr. Speaker, in addition to the horrific effects that methamphetamine
has on the human body the caustic nature of the production of the drug
has enormously detrimental effects on the environment. This horrendous
drug is produced in what is often referred to as ``Meth Labs.'' These
laboratories can exist virtually anywhere, in fact methamphetamine
laboratories have been found in all 50 states. They are overwhelmingly
hidden amongst residential communities and pose a detrimental risk to
millions of Americans. It is estimated that methamphetamine production
creates approximately six pounds of waste for every one pound of
product. If not properly cleaned, this highly volatile waste product
leaves a toxic residue that can threaten the health of whoever may come
in contact with it.
According to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) there were more then
47,000 reported Meth Lab incidents between the years 2003 and 2005.
Nearly one in five of those were fires or explosions caused by the
highly toxic and potentially flammable ingredients used to create the
drug.
Even after these Meth Labs are discovered by authorities and shut
down, and the criminals operating the labs are long incarcerated, the
effects of their morally reprehensible action can continue to adversely
affect the health and well-being of the innocent citizens living and
working nearby.
While some states including my home State of California have taken
the initiative to pass laws that outline methamphetamine laboratory
cleanup procedures, there are currently no federal standards for
cleaning up these potentially toxic sites. Mr. Speaker, the time is
long overdue for us to take action to seek out and shut down these labs
in a safe and healthy way. H.R. 365, The Methamphetamine Remediation
Research Act of 2007 will do just that by creating a road map to assure
the safety of our children and first responders.
The bill authorizes $1.75 million in funding for the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) to research best practices programs for
detection and proper sanitation of methamphetamine labs. It will also
specifically authorize $750,000 for the National Institute of Standards
and Technology in collaboration with the EPA to research and develop
methamphetamine detection equipment. Thirdly, the bill will direct the
EPA to work with the National Academy of Sciences to study the long
term health effects of methamphetamine laboratory exposure to children
and first responders.
Mr. Speaker, the war against meth is being waged on many fronts. This
bill is a critical step to ensuring that law enforcement agencies and
first responders are provided with the best information and ability to
mitigate the numerous detrimental effects caused by methamphetamine
production. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this
legislation in an effort to rid our communities of this epidemic.
Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 365, the
Methamphetamine Research Remediation Act. Methamphetamines represent a
tremendous growing threat to the fabric of our society. Last year, I
held more than 40 town hall meetings across Southern New Mexico,
listening to law enforcement, health officials, recovering addicts, and
other experts. Time and time again I heard horror stories about whole
families in my district destroyed by methamphetamines. It is our duty
as members of the United States Congress to protect America from all
enemies foreign and domestic. Mr. Speaker, methamphetamines are one the
greatest domestic threats that our nation faces. We must confront its
production, its trafficking, its abuse, and its effect on the land
itself.
Meth is a problem concentrated in the West and Southwest, but be
aware that this great evil is moving across America, and soon no one
will be able to say it is not their problem. As meth spreads across our
nation it leaves a trail of destroyed lives, families, homes,
communities, property and public lands in its wake. H.R. 365 the
Methamphetamine Research Remediation Act of 2007 will set needed
standards for the clean-up of property and public lands destroyed by
methamphetamines. Unlike other drugs, the cooking of methamphetamines
is hazardous to everything that it touches and can render houses and
property uninhabitable. H.R. 365 will address the environmental impact
of methamphetamines, and how to recover our properties and lands.
[[Page H1284]]
In the Second District of New Mexico half-million dollar homes have
been left uninhabitable, and state parks have become unusable. This
destruction occurs because of methamphetamine cooking and the dumping
of meth related chemicals. I fear that unsuspecting New Mexicans will
encounter these environmental hazards and endanger their lives. H.R.
365 The Methamphetamines Research Remediation Act of 2007, will provide
communities across America with the proper information and procedures
on how to clean up meth labs and reclaim the land they have poisoned.
This bill is the first in many steps we should take to track and
fight Meth in our communities. I have introduced H.R. 304, the CLEAN
TOWN Act to help in our battle against meth. As we talk about this
bill, I hope my colleagues will examine my legislation that has
tremendous promise to help change the way we fight drugs and drug
dealers. I urge all my colleagues to join me in fighting Meth and help
us save America's families.
Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, as Congress debates measures to clean up
meth labs, I believe it is important to offer a physician's perspective
to help some people understand why this drug is so dangerous. Also
called crank, blue acid, speed, and ice, meth is a popular drug because
it is cheap, easy to manufacture, and acts as a powerful stimulant. An
investment of just a few hundred dollars in over-the-counter
medications and chemicals can produce thousands of dollars worth of
methamphetamine, which can be cooked in something as small as a
suitcase.
The average meth ``cook'' annually teaches an average of ten people
how to make the drug. Typical ingredients include over-the-counter cold
and asthma medications containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, in
addition to red phosphorous, hydrochloric acid, drain cleaner, battery
acid, lye, lantern fuel, and antifreeze.
In fact, users of this drug are often not aware that they are
potentially ingesting toxic chemicals. The toxic fumes emitted during
manufacturing are highly flammable, even explosive, and can suffocate
plants, animals, and even people. For my colleagues concerned about the
environment, each pound of meth produced leaves behind five or six
pounds of toxic waste. Meth ``cooks'' often pour leftover chemicals and
byproduct sludge down drains in nearby plumbing, storm drains, or
directly onto the ground, creating long-term hazards: the chemical
waste can remain in our soil and groundwater for years. The average
cost to clean up a methamphetamine laboratory ranges between $2,000 and
$3,000. However, this does not include the ancillary costs of cleaning
up a former laboratory.
In February 2005, the Atlanta Police, U.S. Drug Enforcement, the MCS
drug taskforce, and other law enforcement agencies discovered Georgia's
first ``super lab'' at a house in Smyrna, Georgia, which is in the
Congressional District I represent. With 39 pounds of meth-crystal and
250 gallons of the drug in liquid form, one mistake could have
destroyed an entire neighborhood due to the explosive volatility of the
materials.
No longer just the addictive scourge of 1970's biker gangs, meth is a
very real problem that affects our children and neighbors in very real
ways. The drug works directly on the brain and spinal cord by
interacting with neurotransmitters--chemical substances produced in
nerve cells--which communicate throughout the body. The foremost
neurotransmitter affected by methamphetamine is dopamine, which is
involved with our natural reward system. This is known as the automatic
nervous system. For example, a pat on the back for a job well done,
getting enjoyment from family and social interactions, and the feeling
that our lives are meaningful, all rely on dopamine transmission.
With properties that target the nervous system, it should be no
surprise that side affects of meth include extreme paranoia, violent
behavior, rapid weight loss, tooth loss, hallucinations, unexplained
voices, pale complexion, speech impediments, Parkinson's disease-like
symptoms, depression, insomnia, suicide contemplation, and
schizophrenia. It is important to mention these various symptoms and
health problems because without proper clean-up unseen chemicals can
spread from one home through entire neighborhoods, creating an unknown
danger to current and future owners.
Considering the numerous dangers caused by methamphetamines, I
believe it is more important than ever to make sure our law enforcement
community has the laws, equipment, and training necessary to protect
our communities from this drug. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the
House of Representatives for the passage of today's Methamphetamine
Remediation Research Act of 2007, which includes substantive
legislation that will establish voluntary guidelines to assist state
and local governments in the development and implementation of policies
for the clean-up of former methamphetamine laboratories.
Mr. Costello. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 365, the
Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act to initiate standards for
methamphetamine (meth) cleanup in our neighborhoods. As a cosponsor of
H.R. 365, I believe this legislation is necessary in order to protect
unsuspecting families from the dangers of illegal meth labs and provide
the necessary tools for law enforcement to detect labs throughout our
communities.
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 1,189 methamphetamine laboratory seizures
reported in 2005, many in my district in Southern Illinois. In order to
combat meth, 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.
Mr. Speaker, the national guidelines this bill creates will help
protect our communities by ensuring that dangerous meth labs are
cleaned properly and efficiently. It is my continued hope that by
raising national awareness about meth and providing increased federal
resources to combat the drug problem, we can make significant progress
to overcome methamphetamine use. This legislation is a critical step we
can take toward this goal and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 365.
Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Gordon) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 365.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will
be postponed.
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