Wamp Co-Sponsored Bill Extended
September 25, 2007

Congressmen Zach Wamp and Jim Cooper announced that Monday night the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Drug Endangered Children Act of 2007, which extends the Drug Endangered Children grant program for an additional two years.

Wamp and Cooper first authored this grant program as H.R. 2335, the Meth-Endangered Children's Protection Act, which was included in the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act in 2005.

"Children are the victims, the ones who cannot defend themselves. We must do everything we can to protect them from this horrible scourge and provide them the services needed to allow them to grow and develop in a healthy environment," said Congressman Wamp, who co-sponsored the bill.

"Meth is a deadly drug that damages children and destroys families," said Congressman Cooper. "This grant program gives communities important tools to fight back and, most importantly, it focuses on the well-being of children. The House passed this bill with overwhelming bipartisan support, and I hope the Senate will follow suit."

The provision authored by Congressmen Wamp and Cooper provided a grant program for states to receive aid in dealing with children that are found to be living in methamphetamine (meth) labs or in an environment where meth is used.

The grant program was originally authorized at up to $20 million each year for fiscal years 2006 and 2007, and the bill passed by the House on Monday extends the program until fiscal year 2009.

Meth labs have been linked to significant instances of child abuse-by living in a hazardous environment.

Children face specific dangers from inhalation, absorption or ingestion of toxic chemicals or contaminated food that may result in respiratory difficulties or chemical burns that can remain with them throughout life and can even result in death.

Meth abusing parents frequently abuse and neglect their children emotionally, physically and mentally.

This program requires the removal of children from the hazardous environment into a safe home where they can be properly cared for.

It also requires that all parties, from law enforcement officers and child protective services to health professionals and other mental and emotional professionals, coordinate their efforts on how best to treat and care for these children.