Washington, D.C. - Today Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) secured $5 million in federal funds for a program to benefit drug endangered children through the passage of an amendment to the Science, State, Justice, Commerce spending bill (H.R. 5672).  The amendment, offered by Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), Rep. Larsen (D-WA) and Rep. Darlene Hooley (D-OR), allocates funding for the Drug Endangered Children Grant program that would improve coordination between state and local agencies that provide assistance to children found in drug infested homes.  The amendment passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a voice vote. 

“Children are often the silent victims of drug abuse,” said Larsen.  “As a co-chair of the House Meth Caucus, I’ve talked to many social service workers and treatment providers about the impact that meth use has on the children of users.”

He continued, “I have heard repeated stories of meth users leaving their children unattended for days as they cook, use and then sleep off the intense effects of methamphetamine. This important legislation will help children transition from toxic or drug infested households to safe and secure residential environments,” he concluded.

The Drug Endangered Children Grant program was created in the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act, which was authorized under the PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-177).  The grant program, as authorized, directs the Department of Justice to make grants to states for programs that provide comprehensive services to aid children who are living in a home in which meth or other illegal drugs are manufactured, sold or used.

“We often talk about the need for increased funds to help local law enforcement fight the war on drugs, but we rarely talk about the need for dollars to help kids who live in drug infested homes,” said Larsen.

Larsen is co-chair of the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine.

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