[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 21, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H2788-H2790]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIVE AMERICAN METHAMPHETAMINE ENFORCEMENT AND TREATMENT ACT OF 2007
Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend
the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 545) to amend the Omnibus Crime
Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to clarify that territories and
Indian Tribes are eligible to receive grants for confronting the use of
methamphetamine, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 545
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 ``Native American
Methamphetamine Enforcement and Treatment Act of 2007''.
SEC. 2. NATIVE AMERICAN PARTICIPATION IN METHAMPHETAMINE
GRANTS.
(a) In General.--Section 2996(a) of the Omnibus Crime
Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797cc(a)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting
``, territories, and Indian tribes (as defined in section
2704)'' after ``to assist States''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and local'' and
inserting ``, territorial, Tribal, and local'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, territories, and
Indian tribes'' after ``make grants to States''; and
(3) in paragraph (3)(C), by inserting ``, Tribal,'' after
``support State''.
(b) Grant Programs for Drug Endangered Children.--Section
755(a) of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act
of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 3797cc-2(a)) is amended by inserting ``,
territories, and Indian tribes (as defined in section 2704 of
the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42
U.S.C. 3797d))'' after ``make grants to States''.
(c) Grant Programs To Address Methamphetamine Use by
Pregnant and Parenting Women Offenders.--Section 756 of the
USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 (42
U.S.C. 3797cc-3) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(2), by inserting ``, territorial, or
Tribal'' after ``State'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by inserting ``, territorial, or Tribal'' after
``State''; and
[[Page H2789]]
(ii) by striking ``and/or'' and inserting ``or'';
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by inserting ``, territory, Indian tribe,'' after
``agency of the State''; and
(ii) by inserting ``, territory, Indian tribe,'' after
``criminal laws of that State''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian tribe' has the
meaning given the term in section 2704 of the Omnibus Crime
Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797d).'';
and
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking ``Indian Tribes'' and
inserting ``Indian tribes''; and
(B) in paragraph (4)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)--
(I) by striking ``State's''; and
(II) by striking ``and/or'' and inserting ``or'';
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``State'';
(iii) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ``, Indian
tribes,'' after ``involved counties''; and
(iv) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ``, Tribal'' after
``Federal, State''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Linda T. Sanchez) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr.
Smith) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.
General Leave
Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous
consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend
their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from California?
There was no objection.
Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such
time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of H.R. 545, the Native
American Methamphetamine Enforcement and Treatment Act of 2007. This
legislation establishes the clear intent of Members of Congress to
assist Native Americans in combating the threat of methamphetamine.
This threat looms great in our country, and nowhere greater than in
Native American communities. Studies have shown that Native American
communities have more than double the methamphetamine use rates of
other communities. According to surveys performed by the Bureau of
Indian Affairs, over 70 percent of Indian tribes identified
methamphetamine as the drug that poses the greatest threat to their
reservation, and also estimated that at least 40 percent of violent
crime cases investigated in Indian country involved methamphetamine in
some capacity.
From hearings in the House and from other reports, we learn that
current Federal laws and programs designed to prevent the spread of
methamphetamine use have proven to be reasonably effective, but we
identified serious gaps with respect to protecting our Native American
communities from this dangerous drug. Unfortunately, the attempt to fix
these gaps in the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005, passed
in the last Congress as part of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and
Reauthorization Act of 2005, inadvertently left out tribal
organizations, as well as territories, as eligible applicants for
certain grants.
{time} 1745
H.R. 545, the Native American Methamphetamine Enforcement and
Treatment Act of 2007, corrects that oversight.
Included in the Combat Meth Act were provisions that authorized
funding for three important grant programs within the Department of
Justice: first, the COPS Hot Spots program; second, the Drug-Endangered
Children program; and third, the Pregnant and Parenting Women Offenders
program.
Although Native American tribes and territories were included as
eligible grant recipients under the Pregnant and Parenting Women
Offenders program, they were unintentionally left out as possible grant
recipients under the COPS Hot Spots program and the Drug-Endangered
Children program.
To correct this oversight, H.R. 545 ensures that territories and
Indian tribes are included as eligible grant recipients under programs
to, one, address the manufacture, sale and use of methamphetamine; two,
aid children in homes in which methamphetamine or other drugs are
unlawfully manufactured, distributed, dispensed or used; and three,
address methamphetamine use by pregnant and parenting women offenders.
I strongly support this important legislation and urge its adoption
by the House.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 545, the Native American
Methamphetamine Enforcement and Treatment Act of 2007, which provides
urgently needed funds to Native American communities for the
enforcement and treatment of methamphetamine addiction.
The Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 was enacted last year
as part of the U.S. PATRIOT Act Improvement and Reauthorization Act. It
included three critical grant programs to assist States with America's
escalating methamphetamine problem: the COPS Meth Hot Spots program,
the Drug-Endangered Children program and the Pregnant and Parenting
Women Offenders program. However, the act inadvertently omitted Native
American communities from participation in two of these grant programs.
At a hearing before the Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security
Subcommittee in February, Mr. Ben Shelly, vice president of the Navajo
Nation, stated that methamphetamine is the drug of choice in Indian
country.
In 2005, 40 percent of all calls seeking police assistance on the
Navajo Nation were meth-related. Even more troubling is that 40 percent
of all violent crimes committed on the Navajo Nation are directly
related to methamphetamine use trafficking.
Mr. Udall of New Mexico, the sponsor of H.R. 545, testified at the
hearing that 74 percent of Native Americans surveyed in a recent study
say that meth is the single biggest threat to Native American
communities today. The Native American Meth Enforcement and Treatment
Act corrects this oversight and gives Native Americans full access to
all three meth grants. This legislation is critical to our continuing
fight to eliminate the meth epidemic in America.
Mr. Speaker, I support this bipartisan legislation and urge my
colleagues to do so as well.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to
the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall).
Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. I thank the gentlelady from California for
her leadership and hard work on this important issue, and also the
ranking member.
Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to take a minute to thank the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) who is the lead cosponsor of this
legislation, not only for his support, but for his work on this issue
during the last Congress. This is only one of many critically important
issues he has championed as cochair of the Congressional Native
American Caucus. I am also honored to be a co-vice chair on the caucus,
and I am honored to work with him on this legislation.
I would also like to thank my colleagues who supported this bill by
joining me as cosponsors.
The important legislation before us today, H.R. 545, allows tribal
governments to apply for three programs vital to the fight against
methamphetamine: the COPS Meth Hot Spots program, the Drug-Endangered
Children program, and the Pregnant and Parenting Women Offenders
program. These programs were authorized last year as part of the Combat
Methamphetamine Epidemic Act, which was included in the U.S. PATRIOT
Act reauthorization. Unfortunately, tribal governments were
unintentionally left out as possible applicants for the Hot Spots and
Drug-Endangered Children programs. And while tribes are included as
eligible applicants for the Pregnant and Parenting Women Offenders
grant program, clarifying language was needed to ensure there is ample
coordination with tribal service providers.
This legislation simply insures that consistent with tribal
sovereignty, tribes can apply for the Hot Spots and Drug-Endangered
Children grant programs. It also ensures greater coordination with
tribal service providers in the Pregnant and Parenting Women Offenders
grant program.
The manufacture and use of methamphetamine is one of the fastest
[[Page H2790]]
growing drug problems in the Nation. Thousands of labs continue to be
found across the country. And while the number is slowing and slowly
decreasing, drug traffickers have supplanted this decline with meth
produced in other countries.
Unfortunately, the meth situation has been disproportionately much
worse in Native American communities. The 2005 National Drug Survey on
Drug Use and Health reported a past-year methamphetamine use rate of
1.7 percent for American Indians, and 2.2 percent for Native Hawaiians.
These rates are dramatically higher than Anglos and other ethnic
groups.
Mr. Speaker, this situation is absolutely unacceptable. The
persistent use of methamphetamine on tribal lands and across America
may come to an end. And I believe that passing H.R. 545 is an important
step towards achieving this goal.
I urge my colleagues to support passage of this legislation.
Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I want to just thank
Mr. Udall on his excellent work in helping to correct this oversight. I
urge this bill's adoption.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a cosponsor and strong
supporter of H.R. 545--the Native American Methamphetamine Enforcement
and Treatment Act of 2007.
As a cofounder and co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus to
Fight and Control Methamphetamine, I am keenly aware of the threat that
is our Nation's meth epidemic.
Methamphetamine has devastating societal costs. It is the source of
violent crimes against people and property; increased suicide rates;
heightened risks of hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS; increased need for more
foster care placements for children of users; and environmental impacts
from manufacturing facilities.
This highly addictive drug is a killer that shows no deference to
region, race or ethnicity--it preys on all mankind.
Unfortunately, meth use thrives in some communities more than others.
Native Americans suffer from higher than average rates of drug use as
found in a recent NIH study. The Department of Health and Human
Services estimates that 1.7 percent of Native Americans used meth in
2004--a per capita rate more than double that of Whites--the largest
user population.
It is imperative that we assist our Native American communities and
that is exactly what this bill does.
A year ago the President signed into law the Combat Methamphetamine
Epidemic Act of 2005 as part of the PATRIOT Act Reauthorization bill.
The bill was a true bipartisan, bicameral effort that has provided
comprehensive measures to address our Nation's methamphetamine problem.
However, the bill did not specify that Native Americans would be
eligible for funding within the three grant programs authorized and
mentioned by my colleagues. H.R. 545 ensures that Native Americans will
have access to the grant funds.
I urge unanimous support for this commonsense legislation.
Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 545, the
Native American Methamphetamine Enforcement Treatment Act of 2007. I am
pleased to join my colleague, Congressman Tom Udall, in championing
this bill through the House. This bill allows Indian tribes to apply
for three new grant programs--the cops hot spots program, the drug
endangered children program, and the pregnant and parenting women
offenders program.
Methamphetamine use in Indian country has reached epidemic
proportions, which has led to an increase in crime in Indian
communities. This bill will give Indian tribes the opportunity to apply
for Federal funds to assist them in the fight against meth use.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Linda T. Sanchez) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 545, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. 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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