Norman D. Dicks: “Mr. Chairman, we had a very lively debate in the committee on this subject on HIDTA, and I want to commend the gentleman…”

“Mr. Chairman, we had a very lively debate in the committee on this subject on HIDTA, and I want to commend the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Vitter) for his amendment. I think there is a problem here. I think we have the same problem out in the State of Washington. We have a crisis in my district with these meth labs, and this is a phenomena that I know that the chairman is well aware of in California where there is the same problem. It is a phenomena that is moving kind of from the West Coast to the East Coast. I am deeply concerned about it. In fact, the governor of the State of Washington, myself, and the prosecuting attorney of Pierce County, Washington, held a conference in our State and brought together all the law enforcement people, including the HIDTA people, and I personally talked to General McCaffrey about this because I am deeply concerned. These meth labs are a tremendous problem. Not only is this a devastating drug that has a terrible impact on the individuals but it also creates tremendous environmental problems, and the cleanup of these meth labs is a tremendous problem for the local communities. I believe that the budget this year for HIDTA at $192 million or thereabouts is inadequate.”