The recent scandals involving certain Members of Congress were a black cloud over our government, and by passing this legislation, we have sent a message that unethical and illegal behavior in government will not be tolerated. By ensuring that the American taxpayers are not responsible for picking up the tab for pensions of Members convicted of corruption while serving the American people, I hope to restore the public’s trust in Congress.

   This legislation, along with a comprehensive ethics reform package which included increased transparency in the earmark process, will work to ensure we have a government which is truly for the people. The new earmark reform package will aim to stop Congress from authorizing frivolous spending such as multi-billion dollars bridges in Alaska that lead to nowhere. I remain committed to cleaning up the mess in Washington and this is another step towards putting America’s hard working families in the driver’s seat as the top priority in this nation.

   I have made several promises to the people of Arkansas’s Fourth Congressional District and I will continue to honor those promises through my hard work in Washington. I believe these reforms will be a solid foundation in my overall goal to weed out corruption from our nation’s capitol. This is a government of the people, and I am proud to have worked to help pass this important legislation on your behalf.

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. The legislation now moves on to the full House for consideration.

“I am proud that one of our first priorities this year in the Science and Technology Committee was to help our communities combat the growing meth epidemic,” Ross said.  “The effects abandoned meth labs have on public health can be deadly and we must do everything in our power to clean up our streets, our neighborhoods and our state to ensure the safety of all Arkansans.”

Meth labs are often found in residential settings such as 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 anyone who should come in contact with that space.

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 more than 426 meth labs were seized in Arkansas in 2005. 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 communities.

Ross serves on the House Committee on Science and Technology, which has jurisdiction over all civilian research and development programs of the federal government, including those at NIST and EPA.

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The purpose of the grant program is to provide first responders with additional training and equipment which will enhance their abilities to protect the health and safety of the public and protect firefighters from job-related hazards. The DHS’s Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness administers the grant program in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.

"I am proud to announce these funds which will help keep our firefighters safe and provide them with the necessary tools to prevent and fight fires so that they can protect the families and residents of El Dorado." Ross said

"As first responders, our local firefighters play an integral role in keeping our communities safe," Lincoln said. "With these federal dollars, the El Dorado Fire Department will be able to purchase safety equipment to protect those in the line of duty so they can provide the best possible service to the citizens of their communities."

"The brave El Dorado volunteer firefighters deserve the very best in training, equipment and facilities," said Pryor. "This grant will go a long way to improve current operations and ensure they stay safe in the line of duty."

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program has been providing funding to fire departments and other first responders since 2001. To date, a total of $2.4 billion in grants through the AFG program has been awarded to first responder organizations to purchase response equipment, personal protective equipment, and vehicles.

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