[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 142 (Monday, September 24, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H10727-H10729]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  DRUG ENDANGERED CHILDREN ACT OF 2007

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 1199) to extend the grant program for drug-
endangered children.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1199

       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 ``Drug Endangered Children Act 
     of 2007''.

     SEC. 2. DRUG-ENDANGERED CHILDREN GRANT PROGRAM EXTENDED.

       Section 755(c) of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and 
     Reauthorization Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 3797cc-2(c)) is 
     amended by striking ``fiscal years 2006 and 2007'' and 
     inserting ``fiscal years 2008 and 2009''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Scott) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott).


                             General Leave

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. 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 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  H.R. 1199 was introduced on February 27 of this year by the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Cardoza). Currently, the legislation enjoys the 
support of 15 additional bipartisan cosponsors.
  The measure, on its face, is quite simple and straightforward. It 
simply extends funding for the Drug Endangered Children Grant Program 
through fiscal year 2009. The current authorization for the program is 
set to expire this year.
  The Drug Endangered program was first authorized as title VII of the 
USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005, which 
authorizes up to $20 million a year for grants to address this problem.
  One of the most troubling aspects of drug use is its impact on 
children. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, over 15,000 
children were found at methamphetamine labs from 2000 to 2004. The 
problem, however, is not limited to meth abuse. A Health and Human 
Services study found that over 1.6 million children live in homes where 
a variety of illicit drugs are used. These drug-infested conditions 
stretch child welfare agencies beyond their capacities because of the 
increased violence and neglect.
  On February 6, the Crime Subcommittee held a hearing on H.R. 545, the 
Native American Methamphetamine Enforcement and Treatment Act of 2007, 
which has been reported by both the Crime Subcommittee and the full 
Judiciary Committee. A central provision of that bill extends 
eligibility for drug-endangered children grants to Native American 
tribes. However, unless the Congress passes H.R. 1199, the 
authorization for the drug-endangered children grants will expire this 
year, negating our recent efforts to help Native American children.
  With this said, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this 
much-needed legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1199, the Drug 
Endangered Children Act of 2007, and commend my colleague from Virginia 
(Mr. Scott) for his leadership on this issue.
  This legislation extends the existing authorization for grants to 
State and local governments and Indian tribes to protect and help drug-
endangered children. It is a sad consequence of our Nation's drug 
problem that drug traffickers have such a devastating impact on 
innocent children who live and play

[[Page H10728]]

in areas used to facilitate the production and distribution of illegal 
drugs.
  We owe it to our Nation's children to do all that we can to protect 
them and provide them the services needed to allow them to grow and 
develop in a healthy and loving home.
  It is often said that you can judge the health of a society by the 
way in which it treats the innocent and vulnerable, our children. Too 
often we hear from law enforcement about children being used or abused 
by drug traffickers. The consequences to our children are devastating. 
We must do whatever we can to protect our children from the evils of 
drug dealing and provide them with a safe environment in which to live.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the sponsor of this bill, the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Cardoza).
  Mr. CARDOZA. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank my colleague from 
Virginia who's been a tremendous supporter and assistance on this piece 
of legislation.
  I rise in strong support of H.R. 1199, the Drug Endangered Children's 
Act. And let me also thank, as well as my colleague from Virginia, my 
colleague, Mr. Conyers, who's the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, 
who also assisted us in bringing this legislation to the floor. I 
appreciate both their efforts on behalf of our Nation's children.
  Drug trafficking and abuse have a devastating impact on the children 
of this country and contribute to domestic violence, abuse and neglect. 
According to a recent study, Health and Human Services has said that 
over 1.6 million children live in a home where at least one parent 
abuses illicit drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin or 
prescription drugs.
  In my district in the central valley of California, I have seen the 
harmful effects of methamphetamine on children's lives. While visiting 
schools in my area, I've been told by teachers and administrators and, 
frankly, by the students themselves, that a significant portion of the 
students have a parent or relative who abuses methamphetamine. Sadly, I 
know that I'm not alone, as similar stories could be told in other 
parts the country where illicit drugs are prevalent.
  I'm particularly concerned about the impact of this drug epidemic and 
what it's having on our foster care system. According to the National 
Association of Counties, 40 percent of child welfare officials 
nationwide report an increase in child welfare cases caused by 
methamphetamine.
  This issue strikes close to home for me. In my home county of Merced, 
California, between 67 and 75 percent of foster care cases are 
methamphetamine-related.

                              {time}  1630

  As a father of two adopted children, I have seen firsthand the 
damaging impact of drug abuse on the foster care system.
  Ladies and gentlemen, we must do more to help these children in need. 
Methamphetamine is an extremely dangerous drug for children not only 
because meth addicts are more likely to abuse and abandon their 
children but also because meth-addicted parents often set up meth labs 
in their homes. These labs are highly toxic and susceptible to fire and 
explosions and therefore place innocent children in physical danger. In 
my district, children have been found at labs with burns from spilled 
ingredients from the methamphetamine production process. In addition, 
there is a high risk of lasting health damage from toxic fume 
inhalation. Tragically, according to the Drug Enforcement 
Administration, DEA, children are found present at 20 percent of all 
meth labs that are seized.
  H.R. 1199, the Drug Endangered Children Act, will address the 
challenges facing children abandoned, neglected, or abused by parents 
addicted to illicit drugs. The legislation would authorize the 
Department of Justice to make $20 million in grants available for drug-
endangered children for fiscal years 2008 and 2009. The grants are 
designed to improve coordination among law enforcement, prosecutors, 
children protection services, social service agencies, and health care 
providers to help transition drug-endangered children into safe 
residential environments.
  The Drug Endangered Children program would build on the successful 
Federal, State, and local partnerships of the COPS program and the 
Edward Byrne Memorial Grant program. By funding coordination across 
jurisdictions and among several different types of government agencies, 
the Drug Endangered Children program would foster cooperative efforts 
to address the needs of children affected by drug abuse. These grants 
would leverage the Federal Government's investment by offering an 
incentive for local government to invest their own money in confronting 
this important problem.
  It's time to pass this vital piece of legislation. The 1.6 million 
children across this country impacted by parental drug abuse need our 
help. Let us help these children by passing the Drug Endangered 
Children Act and rid ourselves of the scourge of drug abuse.
  I urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 1199.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House to pass this 
important piece of legislation, and I thank the gentleman from 
California for his leadership in introducing the bill.
  Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Drug 
Endangered Children Act.
  Over the last 6 years, 7,500 drug-related child abuse cases were 
reported in Iowa. In 2004, over 1,700 of Iowa's children tested 
positive for illegal drugs. Two-thirds of them were under the age of 6. 
Nearly one-quarter were less than a year old.
  These statistics are staggering but they have a very real face. They 
represent Iowa's most vulnerable population--a population that demands 
not only our attention but our action.
  The Iowa Drug Endangered Children Program was established in 2004 to 
assist local communities in their efforts to protect the health and 
safety of children exposed to illegal, toxic drugs in their homes. In 
my district, Linn and Wapello counties have created community-based 
Drug Endangered Children programs in order to coordinate services and 
provide immediate intervention, long-term assistance, and follow-up 
care for children found in homes where illegal drugs are used, 
manufactured, or trafficked.
  Since 2001, 4,000 methamphetamine labs have been dismantled in Iowa. 
Roughly 30 percent of these labs were based in homes with children. 
State and local law enforcement, prosecutors, and child welfare 
organizations are dedicated to the protection of children found to be 
living in homes where dangerous and illicit drugs are present, but they 
cannot carry out this enormous and vitally urgent task on their own.
  This bill authorizes $20 million annually for the Drug Endangered 
Children grant program for Fiscal Years 2008 and 2009. These grants 
will assist in the coordination of State and local agencies and will 
help to assure the swift and safe transition of children from dangerous 
homes to safe residences.
  We cannot sit by while almost 2 million children nationwide continue 
to live in homes where illegal drugs are present. This bill is an 
essential step toward assuring the health and safety of our Nation's 
children, and I strongly urge its passage.
  Mr. HERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1199, the 
Drug Endangered Children Act. The Drug Endangered Children program is 
critically important to my congressional district and others that have 
been plagued by the meth scourge. Thanks to the outstanding leadership 
of Susan Webber-Brown, Butte County, California, was one of the first 
jurisdictions in the country to create a Drug Endangered Children team 
to focus on the safety and protection of children during law 
enforcement operations. However, due in part to a lack of federal 
support, the state of California terminated DEC grant funding in 2003. 
Since then, Butte and other counties have struggled to keep their 
programs up and running.
  As a former chairman of the House subcommittee dealing with child 
welfare and foster care issues, I have heard countless heartbreaking 
stories of children trapped in some of the most awful living conditions 
imaginable as a result of their parents' or guardians' involvement with 
illegal drugs. The Drug Endangered Children program helps rescue 
children from these dangerous environments, provide for their immediate 
physical and psychological needs, and give them hope for a better life. 
I hope my colleagues will join me in voting to reauthorize this vitally 
needed program.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1199.

[[Page H10729]]

  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. SCOTT of Virginia. 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 motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________