Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act of 2005
METHAMPHETAMINE REMEDIATION RESEARCH ACT OF 2005 -- (House of Representatives - December 13, 2005)
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Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Science Committee, I would like to thank Chairman Boehlert and Ranking Member Gordon for introducing this legislation. I believe it is very important throughout the country.
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I rise in strong support of the methamphetamine Remediation Act before us today.
While meth abuse is currently sweeping the country, causing great alarm for law enforcement and health officials, we in California's San Joaquin Valley have been fighting rampant meth abuse, production and clean up for over 20 years.
Meth is California's largest drug threat, and the Valley suffers one of the highest rates of abuse, both in production and use.
According to local law enforcement officials, over 13,500 pounds of meth have been seized over the last 3 years. In 2004, Fresno made 180 meth related felony arrests. These are significant achievements, but there is more to be done.
The San Joaquin Valley law enforcement successfully reduced the number of Superlabs seizures from 27 in 2003 to 9 in 2004. However, the need to ensure the former labs are cleaned to a safe level is key to protecting our communities.
Meth abusers are not the only victims of this destructive drug. The production of meth in meth labs and ``super labs'' leave dangerous bi-products, putting innocent children and law enforcement into harms way.
I am a co-sponsor of this legislation because it provides communities with the guidelines to properly clean up hazardous contaminants from former meth labs and improves meth lab detection tools.
As a Member of the California State legislature, I authored a law raising penalties for trafficking, manufacturing, and sale of meth to the same level as heroin and cocaine.
I also authored legislation authorizing the forfeiture of any boat, airplane or vehicle used to facilitate the manufacture of meth.
My co-sponsorship of H.R. 798 represents my continued commitment to rid our great Valley of this devastating drug.
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Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 798, the Methamphetamine Remediation Act before us today.
While methamphetamine abuse is currently sweeping the country, causing great alarm for law enforcement and health officials, we in California's San Joaquin Valley have been fighting rampant methamphetamine abuse, production and clean up for over 20 years. Methamphetamine is California's largest drug threat, and the Valley suffers one of the highest rates of abuse, both in production and use.
According to local law enforcement officials, over 13,500 pounds of methamphetamine have been seized over the last three years. In 2004, Fresno made 180 methamphetamine related felony arrests. These are significant achievements, but there is more to be done. The San Joaquin Valley law enforcement successfully reduced the number of Superlabs seizures from 27 in 2003 to 9 in 2004. However, the need to ensure the former labs are cleaned to a safe level is key to protecting our communities.
Unfortunately, methamphetamine abusers are not the only victims of this destructive drug. The production of methamphetamine in labs and ``super labs'' leave dangerous bi-products, putting innocent children and law enforcement into harms way. I am a co-sponsor of this legislation because it provides communities with the guidelines to properly clean up hazardous contaminants from former methamphetamine labs and improves methamphetamine lab detection tools.
As a Member of the California State Legislature, I authored a law raising penalties for trafficking, manufacturing, and sale of methamphetamine to the same level as heroin and cocaine. In addition, I authored legislation authorizing the forfeiture of any boat, airplane or vehicle used to facilitate the manufacture of methamphetamine.
My co-sponsorship of H.R. 798 represents my continued commitment to rid our great Valley of this devastating drug. I urge the adoption of this critical measure.
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