Jim Matheson: “when I am home in Utah, I constantly hear about the prevalence of methamphetamines and the dangers to our community…”

“when I am home in Utah, I constantly hear about the prevalence of methamphetamines and the dangers to our community posed by this highly addictive drug. This legislation has some excellent measures to help the federal government better deal with the problem and I sincerely hope that it will help ONDCP to combat meth abuse. The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) was created in 1988 in order to establish policies, priorities, and objectives for our Nation's drug control program. Its stated goals are to reduce illicit drug use, manufacturing, and trafficking, drug-related crime and violence, and drug-related health consequences. I support this bill and am proud to vote for strengthening the agency in charge of producing the National Drug Control Strategy. But it would be a mistake to look at this bill without also considering the need to fully fund local law enforcement. The drug problem in our nation and in my home State of Utah is so pervasive that it absolutely requires the dedication and the cooperative efforts of local, state, and federal law enforcement. I know that Utah is not alone--I've heard many of my colleagues talk today about the scourge of methamphetamines and other drugs in thousands of communities across the nation. As a result, I am gravely concerned about the President's budget proposal for funding local law enforcement.…”