Pubdate: Mon, 16 Oct 2000
Source: Fresno Bee, The (CA)
Copyright: 2000 The Fresno Bee
Contact:  http://www.fresnobee.com/man/opinion/letters.html
Website: http://www.fresnobee.com/
Forum: http://www.fresnobee.com/man/projects/webforums/opinion.html
Author: Dianne Feinstein
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n1509/a02.html

FEINSTEIN RESPONDS

I take exception to your editorial, ("A Madness Called Meth," Oct. 8) which 
contended all of California's elected representatives have "failed to grasp 
the scope of the (meth) problem." The fact is, I have been attacking this 
epidemic for many years, and will continue to do so.

In 1996, I co-authored the Comprehensive Methamphetamine Control Act, now 
law, which restricts access to chemicals used to create meth and raised 
penalties for their sale and possession. In 1998, I was the sponsor of the 
Methamphetamine Trafficking Penalty Enhancement Act, also now law.

This session, I joined Judiciary Chairman Orrin Hatch in authoring the 
Methamphetamine Anti-Proliferation Act, which increases penalties for 
dealing amphetamine; requires criminals to pay for lab cleanup; and gives 
law enforcement more tools to fight meth traffickers. That measure awaits 
the president's signature.

As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I have fought to bring added 
federal funding to this battle. I have ensured that the California Bureau 
of Narcotic Enforcement has received the full amount requested for their 
meth strategy over the past three years ($54 million) and that this year's 
request of $18 million also gets funded.

And last year we successfully funded a new "High Intensity Drug Trafficking 
Area" in the Central Valley, which will allow for better coordination 
between authorities and resources in this fight.

Our job is far from done and I remain committed to fight against meth on 
all fronts.

Dianne Feinstein, United States Senator
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D