Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC-10) has taken the latest step in his fight to stop the meth epidemic plaguing western North Carolina by co-sponsoring the Methamphetamine Epidemic Elimination Act of 2005 (HR 3889). The bill, which was introduced on the House floor last week, would restrict access to the chemicals used to make meth, strengthen the penalties for meth production, distribution and trafficking, and improve environmental regulation of toxic byproducts created during meth manufacturing.

Congressman McHenry has been a leader in the fight against meth. As Vice Chairman of the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Justice and Drug Policy, the Congressman has taken a lead role in crafting legislation to deal with this growing problem, including his earlier sponsorship of a bill to increase jail time for those using or producing meth in the presence of children.

HR 3889 would limit the amount of pseudoephedrine or ephedrine a person could buy at one time to 3.6 grams. Congressman McHenry explained the need for this bill, “Without pseudoephedrine, a person cannot make meth, it’s that simple. By making it harder for these drug peddlers to get the key ingredient for their poison, we can kill their ability to produce it.”

The bill also places restrictions on the importation of other chemicals used to make meth, increases federal penalties for large-scale meth dealers by imposing life sentences on traffickers and allows the United States to withhold foreign aid from countries that refuse to fully comply with international drug control treaties. HR 3889 increases the enforcement of environmental laws against people operating meth labs that pollute the surrounding environment and requires the polluter to pay restitution for cleanup costs. Currently, local law enforcement agencies bear most of the burden for cost of cleanup.

Law enforcement in western North Carolina has been on the front lines of the war against meth for the last few years. Shortly after being sworn-in, Congressman McHenry organized a district-wide meth conference in Lenoir, with Sheriffs from throughout the Tenth District attending. In July, the Congressman invited Rutherford County’s Chief Deputy Sheriff, Philip Byers, to testify on the meth problem before the Government Reform Subcommittee.

Upon learning of Congressman McHenry’s latest offensive in the war on meth, Chief Deputy Byers commented, “I see the effects this deadly drug has on a daily basis, and we in law enforcement are so thankful to have Congressman McHenry leading the fight in Washington to give us the tools we need to win this war.”