Washington, DC – Rep. Joe Baca (D-Rialto) voted today to help communities in the Inland Empire and across the U.S. clean up methamphetamine labs and the toxic mess they leave behind.

Rep. Baca co-sponsored H.R. 365, a bill that 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.  The House passed this bill overwhelmingly today, with a 426-2 vote.

“Meth labs are often found in residential settings, houses, apartments or hotel rooms.  The toxic residue left behind from the chemicals used in making meth are highly volatile and pose a health threat to people who occupy that space next,” Rep. Baca said.

“While some states have already passed laws that require the clean-up of former meth labs, we need good health-based data to guide that process,” he said. 

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.

The Drug Enforcement Administration reports that almost 500 meth labs were seized in California in 2005.  Although this number has been steadily going down in the state, in large part due to the success of law enforcement efforts, the DEA continues to regard meth as the primary drug threat in California.  

Rep. Baca said, “Meth use has spread to communities throughout the nation, and the Inland Empire has been among the places where this dangerous drug is produced and transported.  Today’s bill is not the complete solution to the meth epidemic – and I will continue to support other steps to stop this drug from harming individuals and ruining families.  However, H.R. 365 will protect innocent people from the dangers associated with meth production.”

Rep. Baca is a member of the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine, commonly known as the Meth Caucus.