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“RESOLUTION ON METHAMPHETAMINE CLEAN UP FUNDS” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Senate section on pages S2713 on April 13, 2000.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
RESOLUTION ON METHAMPHETAMINE CLEAN UP FUNDS
Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, today I rise in support of Senator Grassley's Sense of the Senate Resolution urging President Clinton to see to it that the Department of Justice reprogramms $10,000,000 in recovery funds within the Community Oriented Policing Service (COPS) so the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) can continue to reimburse state and local law enforcement officials in the proper removal and disposal of hazardous materials recovered from clandestine methamphetamine laboratories.
Mr. President, Wyoming is one of a number of states that has experienced an astronomic increase in methamphetamine production, trafficking and use. In fact, during fiscal year 1998, of all cases prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's office in Wyoming, 45% were drug cases and of that nearly 75% were methamphetamine related.
When law enforcement officials bust a methamphetamine laboratory not only do they have to prosecute the individuals involved but they must also dispose of the highly toxic chemicals that were used to produce this illegal drug. It is estimated that it costs between $3,000 and
$100,000 for the safe clean up of methamphetamine labs. It is very important to see to it that methamphetamine labs are properly handled because six pounds of toxic waste are produced for every pound of methamphetamine manufactured.
Wyoming's law enforcement officials rely exclusively on the funds that the DEA provides to state and local law enforcement officials for the clean up of methamphetamine labs. Because of this growing problem, the allocated funds the DEA uses to reimburse state and local law enforcement officials ran out last month. As a result, numerous towns and communities across the country are no longer able to rely on the DEA for much needed funding.
Mr. President, it is my hope that President Clinton will see to it that the Justice Department approves this reprogramming of funds so law enforcement officials across the country can continue to fight the growing problem of methamphetamine production.
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