Reps. Stahl, Nofs, Ball, Schuitmaker, LaJoy, Gosselin, Farhat, Baxter, Moore, Nitz, David Law, Proos, Vander Veen, Caswell, Mortimer, Newell, Taub, Sheen, Marleau, Casperson, Accavitti, Bieda, Booher, Brandenburg, Brown, Byrum, Caul, Clack, Condino, Cushingberry, Espinoza, Gillard, Gleason, Green, Hansen, Hopgood, Jones, Kathleen Law, Leland, Lemmons, Jr., Mayes, McDowell, Meyer, Miller, Pastor, Rocca, Shaffer, Sheltrown, Stakoe, Stewart, Wojno and Zelenko offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 209.

            A resolution to memorialize the United States Congress to provide flexible funding to help states and local communities clean up and deal with the disastrous effects of clandestine methamphetamine labs.

            Whereas, There is a meth epidemic in the United States, and it is having a devastating effect on our country. Meth abuse is causing social, economic, and environmental problems. Children residing in homes with meth labs live in danger and often suffer from neglect and abuse. Meth production costs citizens and governments millions of dollars for a variety of reasons, including law enforecment costs, drug treatment for offenders, cleanup of production sites, and placement of endangered children; and

            Whereas,  Meth labs leave behind a toxic mess of chemicals and pose a significant danger to communities. The manufacture of one pound of methamphetamine results in six pounds of waste. These wastes include corrosive liquids, acid vapors, heavy metals, solvents, and other harmful materials that can disfigure skin or cause death. Hazardous materials from meth labs are typically disposed of illegally and may cause severe damage to the environment; and

            Whereas, Between 1992 and 2004, the number of clandestine meth lab-related cleanups increased from 394 to over 10,000 nationwide. The cost of cleaning up clandestine labs in FY 2004 was approximately $17.8 million; and

            Whereas, States and local governments are bearing the burden of funding the clean up efforts. Many local communities are finding and seizing meth labs. But the lab sites remain dangerous to the public because neither the state or the local community has adequate funding to clean them up; and

            Whereas, Federal funding that is supposed to help states and local communities bear the burden of cleaning up meth labs is narrowly crafted and many states and local communities are finding it difficult to qualify; and

            Whereas, Federal legislation, such as the Clean, Learn, Educate, Abolish, Neutralize, and Undermine Production (CLEAN-UP) of Methamphetamines Act, introduced in the United States House of Representatives, and the Combat Meth Act of 2005, introduced in the United States Senate, contain funding for meth lab cleanup; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the United States Congress to provide funding for meth lab clean up and ensure that the criteria to qualify for the funds is broad enough that states and local communities in the midst of the meth epidemic can access the funds; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.