[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 194 (Monday, November 16, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6716-S6717]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  METHAMPHETAMINE RESPONSE ACT OF 2020

  Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of 
S. 4612 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 4612) to designate methamphetamine as an 
     emerging threat, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the committee was discharged, and the 
Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. CORNYN. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read 
a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered 
made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 4612) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, 
was read the third time, and passed, as follows

                                S. 4612

       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 Response Act 
     of 2020''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) Methamphetamine poses a significant public health and 
     safety threat and qualifies as an emerging drug threat, as 
     defined in section 702 of the Office of National Drug Control 
     Policy Reauthorization Act of 1998 (21 U.S.C. 1701).
       (2) Methamphetamine treatment admissions increased from 
     15.1 percent of all admissions in 2008 to 23.6 percent in 
     2017, the latest year for which data is available.
       (3) During the timeframe described in paragraph (2)--
       (A) methamphetamine-related treatment admissions among 
     women increased from 19.2 percent of all drug-related 
     treatment admissions to 28.3 percent; and
       (B) heroin use among those admitted for methamphetamine-
     related treatment increased from 5.3 percent to 23.6 percent.
       (4) By the end of 2019, methamphetamine availability, use, 
     purity, and potency had increased nationally, as street-level 
     prices declined.
       (5) Methamphetamine use is a nationwide issue. Its use 
     remains widespread in Midwest and Western States and is 
     becoming increasingly prevalent in Northeastern States.
       (6) Methamphetamine is the drug most often associated with 
     violent crime.
       (7) According to the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention--
       (A) between 2018 and 2019, drug overdose deaths involving 
     methamphetamine and

[[Page S6717]]

     other stimulants increased by 27 percent nationally;
       (B) the number of deaths described in subparagraph (A) 
     increased in 27 of the 38 States that provide drug-specific 
     overdose data to the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention; and
       (C) between January 2019 and January 2020, among 36 States 
     and the District of Columbia, suspected stimulant overdoses, 
     including methamphetamine, treated in emergency departments 
     increased by 23 percent.
       (8) Methamphetamine-related overdose deaths will likely 
     continue to increase in 2020, due in part to the ongoing 
     COVID-19 pandemic, which makes obtaining treatment for 
     substance use disorders, including methamphetamine use, more 
     difficult.
       (9) The increase in methamphetamine use and the negative 
     respiratory and pulmonary health effects associated with its 
     use has caused the National Institute on Drug Abuse to warn 
     clinicians to be prepared to monitor adverse effects when 
     treating individuals using methamphetamine who also have 
     COVID-19.
       (10) Since the onset of COVID-19 in the United States, the 
     number of law enforcement and first responder agencies 
     entering data into nationwide overdose mapping applications 
     to track real-time suspected overdoses, including 
     methamphetamine overdoses, has increased.
       (11) In the first 9 months of fiscal year 2020, there was a 
     52 percent increase in the amount of methamphetamine seized 
     by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
       (12) Public reports indicate that Mexican cartels may be 
     stockpiling money and illicit drugs, including 
     methamphetamine, on both sides of the Southwest Border and 
     that the Drug Enforcement Administration is preparing to 
     respond to any potential surge in supply.
       (13) Intentional preparation to counter any surges in 
     production, distribution, and use are essential in lowering 
     methamphetamine-related overdose deaths and substance use 
     disorders.

     SEC. 3. DECLARATION OF EMERGING THREAT.

       (a) In General.--Congress declares methamphetamine an 
     emerging drug threat, as defined in section 702 of the Office 
     of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 1998 
     (21 U.S.C. 1701), in the United States.
       (b) Required Emerging Threat Response Plan.--Not later than 
     90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director 
     of the Office of National Drug Control Policy shall establish 
     and implement an Emerging Threat Response Plan that is 
     specific to methamphetamine in accordance with section 709(d) 
     of the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization 
     Act of 1998 (21 U.S.C. 1708(d)).

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