Frank Lucas: “I rise to offer the following amendment to increase the funding for the methamphetamine enforcement and cleanup under…”

“I rise to offer the following amendment to increase the funding for the methamphetamine enforcement and cleanup under the COPS program by $11.7 million. This increase is equal to the amount requested earlier this year by the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamines, of which I am a member. Mr. Chairman, meth is arguably the fastest growing drug threat in America today, with my home State of Oklahoma ranking number one, unbelievable as it may be, per capita in the Nation in the number of meth lab seizures. Over the past 7 years, the number of Oklahoma meth lab seizures has increased by an unbelievable 8,000 percent. With an average cleanup cost per lab of $3,500, that equals a substantial financial strain on Oklahoma as well as the Nation. Since 1994, DEA seizures of meth labs have increased more than sixfold nationwide. We are halfway through the year, and already there have been more DEA and State and local meth lab cleanups than in the entirety of the last year. Mr. Chairman, an increase in funding is vital for State and local enforcement programs in their struggle to combat meth production and distribution and to remove and dispose of hazardous materials at meth labs. I urge Members' support for our amendment and their help in our fight against this extremely destructive and addictive synthetic drug.”