WASHINGTON, DC – Thursday, the Senate passed U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell’s legislation to ban meth precursor drugs and give local communities a substantial boost in anti-meth funding. “The Combat Meth Act,” along with other anti-meth measures included in legislation to re-authorize the Patriot Act, would restrict the sale of products used to produce meth, provide funds to help those affected by meth use, and give new tools to states, law enforcement, and prosecutors working to combat meth. The legislation also authorizes a total of $509 million in grants to states and local communities.

“Local law enforcement officers across Washington are drowning in red ink from fighting meth crimes,” said Cantwell, co-chair of Senate Anti-Meth Caucus. “This Senate action is a big step in the fight against the meth epidemic, and will help get much-needed resources to those working to keep our nation’s families and communities safe.

“Meth is not an isolated problem and it will not disappear on its own. Washington is sixth in the country in meth production and first in the number of children found on raided sites. In 2004, authorities discovered more than 1,300 Washington state meth sites, and linked 220 Washington fatalities to the drug. These aren’t just numbers. They’re parents, children, and families.”

Cantwell joined Senators James Talent (R-MO) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) to support the bipartisan Combat Meth Act, and has fought continuously for increased meth funding and to move precursor drugs used in meth production behind drug store counters. Cantwell is also the sponsor of “The Arrest Methamphetamine Act” to curb meth trafficking across the U.S.-Canadian border into Washington, and legislation to investigate the link between meth crimes and other criminal activity such as identity theft. The growing connection between identity theft, the nation’s fastest-growing crime, and the use and production of methamphetamines, is an issue raised often during Cantwell’s meetings with law enforcement officials from across Washington state.

Last week, Cantwell met with law enforcement and local officials in Vancouver and Bremerton to advocate additional anti-meth funding, and to fight proposed cuts in federal anti-meth funding included in the president’s Fiscal Year 2007 budget.

“When 80 percent of daily contacts the Vancouver Police Department makes are meth-related, and 80 percent of the children taken into foster care in Clark County come from meth-affected sites, we have a serious problem,” said Cantwell. “Washington’s first responders see the impact of meth on families and children everyday in hospitals, homes, and raided labs. I’ve met with law enforcement officials from across our state, and they tell me they need all the help they can get to combat the recent rise in meth-related crimes. They’re doing a great job, and today’s Senate action will help them access vital anti-meth funds and keep meth ingredients out of the hands of criminals.”

The anti-meth provisions included in the final Conference Report for the Patriot Act must still be signed into law by the President before they take effect.

The anti-meth provisions included in the Patriot Act Conference Report would:

• Move ingredients used to produce meth—including pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine—behind drug store counters, requiring purchasers to show identification and sign a logbook
• Limit to 9 grams per month, and 3.6 grams per day, the amount of these medicines one person can buy
• Authorize $99 million per year for the Meth Hot Spots program to train state and local law enforcement to investigate and convict meth offenders
• Require the largest exporting and importing countries of meth precursors to adhere to tougher reporting and certification procedures
• Authorize $20 million in grant funding during 2006 and 2007 to help children affected by meth production
• Enhance environmental regulation of meth lab byproducts, hazardous materials, and waste
• Enhance criminal penalties for the production and trafficking of meth