On March 21, the House approved, 423-0, the Native American Methamphetamine Enforcement and Treatment Act of 2007 (H.R. 545). The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved the bill on March 15 (see The Source, 3/16/07).
“This threat looms great in our country, and nowhere greater than in Native American communities. Studies have shown that Native American communities have more than double the methamphetamine use rates of other communities,” said Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-CA). She continued, “From hearings in the House and from other reports…we identified serious gaps with respect to protecting our Native American communities from this dangerous drug…[This bill] corrects that oversight…Although Native American tribes and territories were included as eligible grant recipients under the Pregnant and Parenting Women Offenders program, they were unintentionally left out as possible grant recipients under the COPS [Community Oriented Policing] Hot Spots program and the Drug-Endangered Children program. To correct this oversight, H.R. 545 ensures that territories and Indian tribes are included as eligible grant recipients under programs to: one, address the manufacture, sale and use of methamphetamine; two, aid children in homes in which methamphetamine or other drugs are unlawfully manufactured, distributed, dispensed or used; and three, address methamphetamine use by pregnant and parenting women offenders. I strongly support this important legislation and urge its adoption by the House.”
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) said, “As a cofounder and co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine, I am keenly aware of the threat that is our nation’s meth epidemic. Methamphetamine has devastating societal costs. It is the source of violent crimes against people and property; increased suicide rates; heightened risks of hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS; increased need for more foster care placements for children of users; and environmental impacts from manufacturing facilities…Unfortunately, meth use thrives in some communities more than others. Native Americans suffer from higher than average rates of drug use as found in a recent NIH study. The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 1.7 percent of Native Americans used meth in 2004 a per capita rate more than double that of whites — the largest user population. It is imperative that we assist our Native American communities and that is exactly what this bill does…H.R. 545 ensures that Native Americans will have access to the grant funds.”
