[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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