Rogers Rallies Support for Anti-Meth Legislation

Rogers Rallies Support for Anti-Meth Legislation

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Representative Harold "Hal" Rogers (KY-05), along with volunteers from the anti-drug organization called Operation UNITE, led a rally today at the Civic Center in Frankfort to build support for anti-methamphetamine legislation being considered by the Kentucky General Assembly. Despite wind, rain, and cool temperatures, nearly 2,000 Kentuckians made the trip to Frankfort to let their voices be heard.

"Methamphetamine is sweeping through Kentucky like wildfire and we must act quickly if we want to extinguish its flame," said Rogers. "This highly addictive drug is destroying the lives of our friends, families, and most tragically, our children."

Today's rally showed support for Senate Bill 63, which was unveiled by Governor Ernie Fletcher and Lt. Governor Steve Pence on February 2, and introduced in the Senate by Senator Robert Stivers and Senator Tom Jensen. The bill requires anyone purchasing an over the counter medicine containing pseudoephedrine -- the precursor to making methamphetamine -- to show identification. The legislation also places limits on the quantity of the drug that can be purchased at one time. Additionally, SB 63 seeks to strengthen a law used to prosecute meth manufacturers, create a law making it illegal to make meth in the presence of children, and hold makers liable for the cost of cleaning up meth labs. Similar legislation drastically reduced the manufacturing of meth in Oklahoma.

Governor Ernie Fletcher, Attorney General Greg Stumbo, and a number of state and local officials also participated in today's rally. Rogers called on State Legislators to support SB 63. "It is our duty as public officials to do everything possible to protect our children and grandchildren from the scourge of drugs. I want to encourage every State Senator and Representative to support Senate Bill 63."

To illustrate the problem with methamphetamine, Rogers pointed to a recent incident in which Operation UNITE detectives received a call from the Jackson County 911 Center reporting that a young child accidentally discovered a meth lab while playing in a field near his home. The child opened a bag containing red devil lye, starting fluid, liquid fire, tubing and lithium batteries. The child also discovered five gallons of anhydrous ammonia that was improperly stored in plastic gas jugs. The child inhaled the fumes and had to be rushed to the hospital.

"All too often we are hearing stories about children being endangered by methamphetamine, either through personal use or by being in close proximity to a lab," Rogers said. "In eastern Kentucky, Operation UNITE detectives have removed a number of children from homes with active meth labs. National statistics show that thirty-five percent of children removed from a home where meth is being made test positive for the drug themselves."

Rogers added, "This epidemic isn't just a problem in Kentucky. Last month a 10-year-old girl from Indiana was abducted and murdered because she witnessed meth activity at an apartment complex near her home. This was a senseless, barbaric death that was fueled by the insanity of meth. It is time for this madness to stop."

Rogers applauded efforts by Governor Ernie Fletcher and his Administration to address the drug abuse epidemic. "Governor Fletcher has worked diligently to address Kentucky's drug abuse problem from day one. His leadership in creating the Office of Drug Control Policy is to be commended. I applaud Governor Fletcher and Lt. Governor Pence for introducing this important legislation and for seeking to make a difference in the war against drugs."

"Congressman Rogers' commitment to fighting drugs is proven through his support of Operation UNITE," said Governor Ernie Fletcher. "He is now taking that fight statewide to help us combat a problem that is sweeping the Commonwealth. I would like to thank him for his support of this important legislation."

At the rally in Frankfort Rogers also took time to thank the concerned citizens who traveled from eastern Kentucky and across the State to show support for stamping out drug abuse. "I want to thank each and every one of you for being here in Frankfort. The only way we can truly be effective in the war against drugs is if we all work together. This effort will not succeed without the support of the people in our home towns. It is going to take all of us pulling on the same rope in the same direction at the same time. It's a new day in Kentucky and we're not going to stand by and allow drug dealers to control our destiny any longer. The communities we live in are ours and we are going to take them back."

In 2003, Rogers obtained federal funding to create Operation UNITE (Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment & Education), which serves 29 counties in southern and eastern Kentucky. The region-wide program has three main tasks: creating regional drug task forces for interdiction, confiscation and undercover operations; organizing local citizens' groups and coordinating drug treatment programs; and working with educators to expand drug awareness and education programs. Rogers has included $24 million in the federal budget over the last three years to create and operate the new counter-drug initiative. For more information on Operation UNITE, visit www.operationunite.org or contact Karen Engle at 866-678-6483.

http://www.house.gov/rogers/February2005/antimethlegislature.html