Today, Congress passed H.R. 365, The Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act of 2007, which was co-sponsored by Congressman Henry Cuellar. The bill charges the Environmental Protection Agency with the development of health-based guidelines to assist state and local authorities in cleaning up former methamphetamine lab sites.

“Methamphetamine labs are often found in residential areas such as houses or hotel rooms. The chemicals used in making methamphetamines are highly toxic and dangerous, thus, the residue left behind could threaten the health of anybody who uses that space in the future,” said Congressman Cuellar.

Currently, there are no health-based guidelines established to determine whether a former methamphetamine lab can be considered a safe living environment. This bill will help create standards that can be followed in order to deem residential environments livable.

The bill would also:
• Direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology to consult with EPA in developing technologies to detect methamphetamine labs, emphasizing in field test kits for law enforcement.
• Require the National Academy of Sciences to study the long-term health impacts of methamphetamine exposure on first-responders and on children taken from methamphetamine lab sites.

Congressman Cuellar continued, “I am proud to co-sponsor a bill that will help protect our communities. This bill works to ensure our neighborhoods remain safe, clean and free of deadly toxins.”

Congressman Henry Cuellar is a member of the House Homeland Security, Small Business, and Agriculture Committees in the 110th Congress; accessibility to constituents, education, health care, economic development, and national security are his priorities. Congressman Cuellar is also a Majority Senior Whip.