WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Ben Chandler announced his membership on the House Committee on Science and Technology. The House Committee on Science and Technology has jurisdiction over all civilian research and development programs of the federal government, including programs related to energy, the environment, aviation and university research.
Chandler cast his first vote on the committee today in support of the Methamphetamine Remediation Act of 2007, which is aimed, in part, at helping communities across Kentucky by cleaning up methamphetamine labs and the toxic mess they leave behind.
The bill, H.R. 365, charges the Environmental Protection Agency with the development of health-based guidelines to assist state and local authorities in cleaning up former meth lab sites.
Meth labs are often found in residential settings, houses, apartments or hotel rooms. Because the chemicals used in making meth are highly volatile, the toxic residue left behind could threaten the health of whoever should occupy that space next,” said Chandler.
In addition to establishing those guidelines, the bill would also:
- Direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology to consult with EPA in developing technologies to detect meth labs, emphasizing in-field test kits for law
enforcement.
- Require the National Academy of Sciences to study the long-term health impacts of meth exposure on first-responders and on children taken from meth lab sites.
According to a 2006 National Drug Threat Survey of state and local law enforcement agencies across the nation, meth was named most often as the greatest drug threat in our communities. The Drug Enforcement Administration reports more than 573 meth lab incidents in Kentucky in 2005. (See DEA website http://www.dea.gov/statistics.html#seizures)
“I am thrilled this is one of the first bills to pass the Committee in the 110th Congress. I came to Congress to assist our communities and this bill will do just that,” said Chandler.
The Methamphetamine Remediation Act now moves on to the full House for consideration.
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