[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 177 (Thursday, November 15, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2425]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMENDING THE SUSSEX COUNTY METH TASK FORCE FOR ITS SERVICE TO THE 
                               COMMUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT GARRETT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 15, 2007

  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend the 
citizens who have spent the last 2\1/2\ years working to keep the 
people of Sussex County safe from methamphetamines as part of the 
Sussex County Meth Task Force. My staff and I have had the honor of 
working with these committed individuals over the years and have borne 
witness to the gusto with which they have performed their work.
  Only a few years ago, as local meth labs were busted and drug use 
seemed to be on the rise, the people of Sussex County did not stand 
idly by. Instead, they formed this task force and set to training local 
law enforcement, informing citizens, and quite literally taking back 
their streets. They have trained more than 700 volunteer firefighters 
and others. They have distributed informative ``meth packets'' to over 
165 local retailers. They have worked with local educators and 
organizations to raise public awareness of the scourge of meth.
  The results have been impressive and local law enforcement now feel 
confident that methamphetamines have not been able to establish a 
foothold in Sussex County, New Jersey. And so they are disbanding their 
formal group and spreading the word to show others how they've been so 
successful, including in a presentation at the statewide League of 
Municipalities conference earlier this week.
  Many, many individuals deserve credit for the good work of the Task 
Force. Tom Davis, the Sussex County Fire Marshal, has served as Task 
Force Chairperson, shepherding the group through its several goals. Tom 
Cooney, of the Sussex County Narcotics Task Force, has helped to train 
hundreds of first responders and others. Dan Coronato has helped to put 
the Sussex County Task Force in touch with others who can benefit from 
their model. And Becky Carlson, Barbara Adolphe, Meg Samuel-Siegel, and 
Jane Butz have been the glue holding them all together, serving as a 
constant source of information and direction.
  I commend the members of the Sussex County Meth Task Force for their 
extraordinary service to their community and I look forward to 
continuing to work with them all to keep our streets safe and our 
schools and neighborhoods drug-free.

                          ____________________