Hal Rogers: “Mr. Chairman, let me say I appreciate the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hutchinson) and his concerns regarding this…”

“Mr. Chairman, let me say I appreciate the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hutchinson) and his concerns regarding this problem. And it is a problem. I do not oppose the amendment. As I understand it, his amendment would provide funding to help State and local law enforcement agencies pay the cleanup costs associated with methamphetamine labs that they have seized. In the subcommittee on which I am chairman, we have heard testimony about the proliferation of this problem throughout the country. The gentleman is right on target. Due to increased seizures of these labs the funding for this program has been depleted. They have to be dealt with in a certain way because of the hazardous wastes involved. I do not oppose this amendment. But let me point out one thing to the gentleman. The Department of Justice, today, could reprogram or seek to reprogram funds from the COPS program to address this problem. If they will send a letter here saying, we wish to take X dollars from the COPS program and apply it to the meth lab program, I will sign it and the money will be provided out of this year's bill. So I would hope they will do that. We can get the moneys flowing immediately to our State and local agencies. This amendment would no longer be required.”