Volume 153, No. 25 covering the 1st Session of the 110th Congress (2007 - 2008) was published by the Congressional Record.
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“SUPPORT OF H.R. 365, METHAMPHETAMINE REMEDIATION RESEARCH ACT OF 2007” mentioning the Environmental Protection Agency was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E310-E311 on Feb. 9, 2007.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
SUPPORT OF H.R. 365, METHAMPHETAMINE REMEDIATION RESEARCH ACT OF 2007
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speech of
HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE
of texas
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 365, the Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act of 2007. As a member of the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine, I am proud to be a sponsor of H.R. 365, which will help combat the scourge of methamphetamines and ameliorate the serious problems it is causing our Nation.
First and foremost, H.R. 365 will require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop health-related guidelines for the cleanup of methamphetamines. It will also call for the National Academy of Science to perform a study on the long-term health effects on children rescued from living in methamphetamine lab homes. In addition, NIST, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, will establish a research program to develop field kits that will test for and detect methamphetamine.
Despite improvements in state and local efforts to reduce its prevalence, the problems produced by methamphetamines and incidents related to methamphetamines continue. In 2005, 5,846 methamphetamine labs were seized, and in 2003, 7.6 percent of high school students reported having used methamphetamines. Self-reported use of methamphetamines by adults and adolescents continues to rise. As methamphetamine usage increases, the demand for the drug rises. Nowhere is it a bigger problem that in the Midwest, where methamphetamines account for nearly 90 percent of all drug cases. In states such as Oklahoma, methamphetamines are surpassing cocaine as the drug of choice. The state medical examiner's office reports the number of death cases testing positive for methamphetamines has been higher than cocaine. The office also reports methamphetamine is found in more cases of homicides, and motor vehicle accidents.
Methamphetamine labs not only damage individuals, they affect our children and our environment. As the founder and co-chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus, I am horrified by the effects methamphetamine labs have on children. Children living at methamphetamine labs are at increased risk for severe neglect and abuse, both physical and sexual abuse. A child raised in or near a methamphetamine lab environment experiences stress and trauma that significantly affect his or her overall safety and health, including behavioral, emotional, and cognitive functioning.
Hazardous living conditions and filth are common in methamphetamine lab homes where explosives and loaded guns are often present and in many instances, within easy reach. The safety and development of our children are negatively influenced by living in methamphetamine lab homes.
Our environment suffers from methamphetamine labs as well. In general, there are 5-7 pounds of toxic waste produced for every pound of methamphetamine manufactured. There are more than 30 chemicals used to produce methamphetamines, and most are explosive, caustic, and carcinogenic. The chemicals are often poured into streams, down drains or disposed of in fields, yards or gutters. Many highway cleanup crews have reported finding toxic garbage from methamphetamines in ditches. All of this illicit toxic waste eventually winds up in waterways via rainwater runoff.
Mr. Speaker, these dire problems require immediate action and H.R. 365 does this appropriately. I urge my colleagues to join me in the fight against the methamphetamine epidemic by supporting H.R. 365, the Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act of 2007.
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