Rep. Boozman Urges Senate to Pass USAPatriot Act

Rep. Boozman Urges Senate to Pass USAPATRIOT ACT Reauthorization With Anti-Meth Provisions Intact
Congressman's drug court bill included as part of reauthorization legislation stalled in the Senate

Speaking to the Fort Smith Rotary Club

Washington, Feb 1 -

With the House set to pass another short-term extension of the USAPATRIOT ACT, U.S. Representative John Boozman (R-AR) today called on the Senate to vote on the House-passed compromise bill that reauthorizes the USAPATRIOT ACT. That legislation includes a package of anti-methamphetamine provisions including one that Boozman authored that will strengthen drug courts across the country.

The bill Boozman referred to - H.R. 3199 the "Conference Report for USA PATRIOT and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2005" - passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 251-174 in December. The Senate refused to take it up, forcing Congress to pass short-term extensions to ensure that important anti-terror tools remain available to law enforcement. The House is set to pass another of these short-term extensions today.

"Meth production and abuse in Arkansas is having a devastating effect on our communities. The Senate needs to pass this bill, not only for our national security, but so that Arkansas can get some much-needed assistance in fighting this drug," said Boozman.

Boozman's language in the bill was taken from the "Drug Courts Improvement Act," which he had introduced last year to strengthen and improve the federal government's Drug Courts Grant Program.

Drug courts provide an alternative to incarceration for persons convicted of drug related charges as well as for persons whose substance abuse was a factor in the commission of a crime (e.g. crime was committed while under the influence or to maintain drug use). Drug court participants are required to successfully complete treatment for their addiction and must comply with various requirements or expectations including: passing random drug tests, maintaining gainful employment and participating in 12-Step or other self help groups.

Boozman said his efforts were "inspired by the successes" of Arkansas' drug courts and influenced by the work of Judge Mary Ann Gunn who runs the Washington County Drug Court.

"The drug courts in Arkansas have been extremely successful in reducing recidivism among drug offenders," said Boozman. "They have proven to be an effective alternative to jail for individuals convicted of nonviolent drug charges. The programs are intense, and as a result, set participants on course to being a productive member of the community."

Specifically, the language authorizes the U.S. Attorney General to create specific guidelines for testing; ensure that testing is as accurate as possible; and require immediate and dramatic punitive sanctions and/or therapeutic measures when a participant fails a drug test.

Boozman's language in the bill was included with a number of provisions aimed at addressing the methamphetamine epidemic that is plaguing Arkansas and states across the nation.

Highlights of those other provisions include:

· Requiring precursor drugs to be sold from behind the counter or kept in a locked cabinet;
· Requiring that individuals show ID and sign a log book upon purchase of precursor drugs;
· Authorizing import and domestic manufacturing quotas of precursor drugs to ensure that oversupply does not allow criminals to turn excess drugs into meth;
· Creating grants to help meth-endangered children; and
· Toughening federal penalties for meth traffickers and smugglers as well as for those who "cook" or deal meth in the presence of children.

http://www.boozman.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=39048