Cramer Votes for Legislation to Aid Methamphetamine Clean-Ups
The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation cosponsored by Representative Bud Cramer (Ala.-05) today that would provide funding to help local communities clean up former methamphetamine lab sites. According to statistics from the Drug Enforcement Agency, Methamphetamines are the biggest drug threat in the State of Alabama.
The Methamphetamine Remediation Act of 2007 directs the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Institute of Standards and Technology to establish research programs to identify the harmful chemicals associated with meth labs, to discover the impact of exposure to those chemicals, and to identify any residual health effects from meth labs. The legislation also creates guidelines for the clean up and decontamination of contained meth lab sites. Additionally, it requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop and standardize meth detection methods.
"The North Alabama law enforcement community is committed to eradicating meth from our communities," said Cramer. "Although our state has experienced a decline in meth lab incidents, this highly-addictive drug can unfortunately be found in all areas across North Alabama. This legislation addresses the challenges that follow a meth lab bust. This bill will help us better understand the residual effects from the manufacture of meth, and ensure we are doing everything possible to clean these former lab sites to make them safe for families."
Representative Cramer has been on the forefront in the fight against meth abuse since arriving in Congress in 1991. He is a member of the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine, a bipartisan group with over 100 members who work together to raise national awareness of the problems and dangers associated with the abuse and production of meth. Cramer has cosponsored numerous pieces of legislation that would provide additional resources and support to enforcement officials across the country.
As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Cramer continues to lead congressional efforts to fund programs, such as the COPS Program and the Byrne Grant Program, that provide assistance to law enforcement to combat meth. He has also secured millions of dollars in funding to help Alabama law enforcement agencies curb meth usage.
Representative Cramer has hosted a number of meth forums across North Alabama with local law enforcement officers, district attorneys, Alabama Department of Human Resources officials, and other community leaders to learn more about the federal resources and grant opportunities available to them to fight meth. Cramer also hosted a forum to help raise awareness about the meth problem with hotel and motel industry professionals.
http://cramer.house.gov/HoR/AL05/News/Press+Releases/2007/2-7-07+Cramer+Votes+for+Legislation+to+Aid+Methamphetamine+Clean-Ups.htm