Washington, D.C. - Congressman Brian Baird today continued his fight against methamphetamine by working together with Oregon Congresswoman Darlene Hooley to pass legislation aimed at securing the U.S.-Mexican border against the influx of meth.  The legislation, which amended the State Department reauthorization bill (HR 2601), will make international meth trafficking a top priority for U.S. border officials and narcotics agents.  

“Over half of the meth consumed in the U.S. is made in Mexico and smuggled into the U.S. by Mexican drug cartels,” said Congressman Baird.  “It is absolutely imperative we secure our borders against meth trafficking.” 

The amendment authorizes the State Department's International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Bureau (INL) to work to reduce the production and trafficking of meth from Mexico and authorizes no less than $4 million to assist with this effort.  More specifically, the INL is directed to:

• Improve border efforts aimed at combating meth trafficking
• Work with Mexican law enforcement to fight meth production and trafficking
• Assist the Mexican government in cracking down on meth traffickers
• Report annually to Congress on their efforts and progress.

“Meth is a scourge on communities throughout Southwest Washington and across the country,” Congressman Baird said.  “Our neighborhoods will be safer places to live and raise a family if we remain diligent in fighting the devastating spread of this drug.” 

The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) informed Congress in March that labs in Mexico comprise about 53 percent of the U.S. meth supply.  A recent study by the National Association of Counties (NACo) reports meth is now the leading drug-related local law enforcement problem in the country, with 87 percent of law enforcement agencies reporting increases in meth-related arrests in recent years.

Congressman Baird co-founded the bipartisan Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine in 2000.  The Meth Caucus’ mission is to educate other Members of Congress about the dangers of meth addiction and work together on legislative approaches to solving the problem.  Prior to coming to Congress, Congressman Baird was a clinical psychologist who worked with meth addicts, learning firsthand the destructive potential of the drug.  In June, Congressman Baird was instrumental in securing $20 million to fight international meth trafficking and improve investigation and prosecution of domestic meth offenses.     

Congressman Baird and Congresswoman Hooley’s legislation was also sponsored by Congressmen Mark Kennedy (R-MN) and Mark Souder (R-IN).  Legislation to include a special section on meth precursor chemicals in the current drug certification statute also passed the House today.

###