Tom Harkin: “I wanted to thank the managers of the FY 2001 Agriculture Appropriations bill for their cooperation in including the…”

“I wanted to thank the managers of the FY 2001 Agriculture Appropriations bill for their cooperation in including the amendment for emergency methamphetamine lab cleanup funds that Senator Hutchinson and I had offered as part of the bill's FY 2000 supplemental package. This amendment, also cosponsored by Senator Bingaman, Senator Brownback, Senator Nickles and Senator Thomas--provides $5 million in emergency lab cleanup funds for state and local law enforcement. A similar provision I had offered was included in the emergency package from June but it was dropped before it was attached to the Military Construction Appropriations conference, which gained final passage with a voice vote. There was strong support for this provision from both Democrats and Republicans. And it was included in both the House and Senate supplemental packages. So, it didn't make sense why it was suddenly dropped--especially when we're talking about dangerous chemical sites that are left exposed in our local communities. Senator Hutchinson from Arkansas and I last week sent a letter to the Appropriations leadership that was signed by 30 Senators, calling for this emergency funding. Our states desperately need this money or they will be forced to take money out of their own tight law enforcement budgets to cover the high cost of meth lab cleanup.”