Baucus hails Native American Meth Treatment Act

Bill will help tribes get funds to fight and treat meth use

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Montana's senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus is pushing to pass the Native American Methamphetamine Enforcement and Treatment Act of 2007, meant to help tribes fight meth on reservations.

In 2005, Congress passed the Combat Meth Act, which got pseudophedrine off store shelves and behind the counter. The bill also authorizes funding for law enforcement to help fight the spread of meth use through grant funding.

Baucus said that various tribes were concerned that they would not be eligible for these grant programs because of wording in the bill.

The legislation introduced on Jan. 11 clears that up for tribes, according to Baucus.

The Montana Senator teamed up with Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) and others this year to introduce this month's legislation to ensure that Tribes would indeed have access to grant funding.

"Meth is a huge problem on reservations and I'll fight to make sure our Montana tribes will have access to more funding to help fight meth," Baucus said. "Meth is a scourge in our state. It knows no boundaries. It's cheap, highly addictive and easy to make. I'm pleased that I could help our tribes get access to this funding."

Baucus added that it's too early to tell how much Montana will receive as a result of the new legislation. But, he said, the bill will ensure that tribes are eligible to receive funding from three programs authorized by the Combat Meth Act: the COPS Hot Spots program; grants for drug-endangered children; and grants for pregnant and parenting offenders.

"I'll continue to work to stamp out meth until this epidemic is done once and for all," Baucus said.

The bill will now be reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee before being considered by the full Senate.

See also: Rehberg address critical meth-fighting funds