Moran Urges Additional Efforts To Combat Meth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 14, 2005
MORAN URGES ADDITIONAL EFFORTS TO COMBAT METH
Encourages Passage of Additional Funding for Kansas
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Jerry Moran today announced his continued support of congressional efforts to combat methamphetamine production and use, primarily in rural areas. Moran recently joined other members of Congress in urging House and Senate Appropriation leaders to support increased funding for Byrne-JAG programs. These programs provide Kansas drug and law enforcement officers with additional resources to combat meth production, trafficking and use.
"The explosion of meth production and usage is plaguing rural America," Moran said. "The financial burden of cleaning up meth labs is merely one aspect that falls into the hands of local law enforcement agencies. Increased funding to combat meth will arm local officials with the tools they need to overcome this problem."
In 2005, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation reported Kansas law enforcement officials seized 282 meth labs, ranking Kansas ninth in the nation for total meth lab seizures. Kansas has historically been among the top states in the nation in number of meth lab seizures.
"Through the hard work of local officials, coupled with state and federal support, we are making progress in decreasing the number of meth labs in our state," Moran said. "Kansas has made significant strides in combating this drug, but still more work needs to be done."
A recent survey from the National Association of Counties identified meth as the leading drug-related law enforcement problem in the country. To highlight this national meth epidemic, Moran sent two separate letters to President Bush in July encouraging the Administration to take national action to address meth.
Moran has also sponsored legislation such as the Combat Methamphetamine Act, which provides funding for law enforcement and makes ingredients used in the production of meth harder to obtain, as well as the CLEAN-UP Act, which is designed to aid local officials in the clean up of meth labs.
Moran is a member of the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine, which is comprised of lawmakers dedicated to combating the spread of meth in the United States.
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ks01_moran/pr091405MethEfforts.html