Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to address the House for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks…

Thank you. Mr. Speaker,

There is a growing drug problem in my home state of North Carolina and across America, and it’s one that we as a Congress must face this year.

The White House’s Office of national Drug control Policy has called Methamphetamines one of the fastest-growing drug threats in America.

Worst of all, those producing and trafficking meth often do so in the presence of children.

In 2004 alone, 2,754 children were found in 34% of total methamphetamines busts.

Along with 14 other members of Congress, I have introduced H.R 1616, which would double the maximum jail time in federal sentences for those involved in the production or transportation of illicit drugs in the presence of children.

Almost as much as abusing meth, being exposed to the chemicals involved in its production is extremely dangerous.
And children found at meth labs have often been physically abused or neglected.

Please join me in supporting H.R. 1616, to protect kids from illicit drug production and trafficking.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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