Combat Methamphetamine Enhancement Act Of 2010

Floor Speech

Combat Methamphetamine Enhancement Act

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT

* Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise in full support of H.R. 2923, the Combat Methamphetamine Enhancement Act.

* I'd like to thank Chairman Pallone, Ranking Member Shimkus, Chairman Waxman, Ranking Member Barton, and the staff of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee for their hard work on this bill. I'd also like to thank Senator Feinstein for her determination and diligence in the effort to combat the spread of meth.

* While visiting a Middle Tennessee high school a number of years ago, I asked a group of students to tell me about the most troubling issue facing them. Their top concern shocked me: they were worried about friends who were trying meth.

* Four years ago, Congress began to tackle this issue head on. In 2006, Congress approved the most comprehensive bill to date targeting the spread of meth by bringing all pseudoephedrine products behind the counter.

* For a time, this approach worked, and meth abuse rates went down.

* But the criminals who cook and distribute this dangerous drug have exploited loopholes in the laws that regulate the sale of precursor materials. As a result, we have once again seen an increase in the distribution, use, and manufacturing of meth across the country.

* In Tennessee, meth seizures have increased 50 percent in the past year.

* Too many retailers and distributors of pseudoephedrine and ephedrine products are not in compliance with the 2006 law. Even more alarming, recent trends are showing that more and more of those arrested are young people, who are first brought into the business as runners sent to purchase these products from retailers.

* Building on the 2006 law, H.R. 2923 would: require all retailers of pseudoephedrine and ephedrine products to register with the U.S. Attorney General; require distributors of these products to sell only to retailers who are registered to sell controlled substances; require the Attorney General to provide a downloadable database on its website to all retailers who have filed self-certification; and, clarify that a retailer who neglects to file required self-certifications can face civil fines.

* This bill has been endorsed by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the Health Care Distribution Management Association, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, the National Narcotics Officers' Association and the Fraternal Order of Police.

* Meth is a highly addictive and dangerous drug, with widespread consequences for users, their families, and their communities. With this legislation, we move one step closer to securing the safety of our communities across the nation by ensuring these products are used for their intended purpose, and not for illegal drugs.

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