[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 51 (Friday, March 23, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E624]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 NATIVE AMERICAN METHAMPHETAMINE ENFORCEMENT AND TREATMENT ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 21, 2007



 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  March 23, 2007--On Page E624 the following appeared: HON. SHEILA 
JACKSON-LEE OF TEXAS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Thursday, 
March 22, 2007
  
  The online version should be corrected to read: SPEECH OF HON. 
SHEILA JACKSON-LEE OF TEXAS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Wednesday, March 21, 2007


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 545 
because it corrects an inadvertent oversight in the Combat 
Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 and strengthens the arsenal 
available to Native American tribes as they combat the scourge of 
methamphetamine. I thank the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee for 
his work in expediting this legislation, the ``Native American 
Methamphetamine Enforcement Act of 2007.''
  Mr. Speaker, last year Congress enacted the Combat Methamphetamine 
Epidemic Act of 2005 as Title VII of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and 
Reauthorization Act of 2005. Included in the Combat Methamphetamine 
Epidemic Act were provisions that authorized funding for three 
important grant programs within the Department of Justice: (1) The COPS 
Hot Spots Program; (2) the Drug-
Endangered Children program; and (3) the Pregnant and Parenting Women 
Offenders program. Although Indian 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. H.R. 545 allows Indian tribes and territories to 
combat the methamphetamine epidemic by applying for and receiving 
funding under all three of these grant programs.
  Mr. Speaker, as great a threat as it is to the Nation at large, the 
methamphetamine threat is even greater in Native American communities. 
Studies of past year methamphetamine use have shown that Native 
American communities have more than double the methamphetamine use rate 
of other ethnicities. According to surveys performed by the Bureau of 
Indian Affairs (BIA), Office of Law Enforcement Services, over 70 
percent of Indian tribes identified methamphetamine as the drug that 
posed the greatest threat to their reservation and also estimated that 
at least 40 percent of violent crime cases investigated in Indian 
Country involve methamphetamine in some capacity. That is why we must 
act to ensure that Native American tribes are eligible to apply for and 
receive funding to protect their communities from methamphetamines.
  The COPS Hot Spots Program authorized $99 million in funding to the 
Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) to assist State 
and local law enforcement agencies in combating methamphetamine 
production, distribution, and use, and to reimburse the Drug 
Enforcement Agency (DEA) for properly removing and disposing of 
hazardous materials from clandestine methamphetamine laboratories. This 
funding may also be used to clean up methamphetamine laboratories, 
support health and environmental agencies, and to purchase equipment 
and support systems.
  The Drug-Endangered Children Program authorized $20 million in 
funding to provide comprehensive services and training to law 
enforcement agencies, prosecutors, child protective services, and 
health care services to assist children who live in a home in which 
methamphetamine has been used, manufactured, or sold. The specific 
dangers faced by children who live at or visit drug-production sites or 
are present during drug production include:
  Inhalation, absorption or ingestion of toxic chemicals, drugs or 
contaminated foods or drink that may result in respiratory 
difficulties, nausea, chest pain, eye and tissue irritation, chemical 
burns and death;
  Fires and explosions resulting from dangerous methamphetamine 
production processes;
  Abuse and neglect by parents who often binge on methamphetamine and 
traumatic consequences that result; and
  Hazardous living conditions (firearms, code violations, poor 
ventilation and sanitation).
  The Pregnant and Parenting Women Offenders Program authorized as much 
funding as may be allocated to facilitate collaboration between the 
criminal justice, child welfare, and substance abuse systems in order 
to reduce the use of drugs by pregnant women and those with dependent 
children. While Indian tribes and territories were included as eligible 
applicants, clarifying language is needed to ensure that there is 
adequate coordination with Tribal service providers.
  Mr. Speaker, surveys conducted by the BIA also revealed that too 
often Tribal police forces that are underfunded and understaffed. 
According to the same survey, 90 percent of Tribal police forces 
indicated that they needed additional drug investigation training, 
while 69 percent of Tribal respondents indicated that they had no 
access to, or funding for, methamphetamine treatment resources or 
facilities.
  The Native American Methamphetamine Enforcement and Treatment Act of 
2007 seeks to ensure that, consistent with tribal sovereignty, Indian 
tribes and territories can apply for the COPS Hot Spots and Drug-
Endangered Children grant programs, just as states can, and also 
ensures adequate coordination with tribal service providers for tribes 
receiving funds under the Pregnant and Parenting Women Offenders 
Program.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 545 corrects an inadvertent oversight in the Combat 
Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 and strengthens the arsenal 
available to Native American tribes as they combat the scourge of 
methamphetamine. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

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