Illinois General Assembly

Rep. Tracy One Step Closer to Securing funds Needed to Prevent Methamphetamine Production

For Immediate Release
Contact Rep. Jil Tracy
(217) 223-0833

April 02, 2008

Springfield, IL…On Wednesday State Representative Jil Tracy (R-Mt. Sterling) stepped up her fight against criminals who seek to steal anhydrous ammonia for the production of methamphetamine by passing House Bill 5942 out of the Illinois House.  The legislation would appropriate an additional $250,000 to the Department of Agriculture for the Anhydrous Ammonia Security Grant Program.

“In the last few years we have seen a significant decline in the number of methamphetamine lab seizures throughout the state.  I think a great deal of this decline can be attributed to stricter laws regulating the access to meth making ingredients, such as pseudoephedrine and anhydrous ammonia,” said Rep. Tracy.

The Anhydrous Ammonia Security Grant Program provides grants to facilities that wish to install security measures such as locks on anhydrous tanks, video surveillance cameras and additives that make the chemical useless for producing methamphetamine.  In 2006, the first year of the program, there were a total of 89 applicants, but last year the program went unfunded leaving some facilities vulnerable.  “The grant program is an effective, cost preventive measure that has been extremely successful in eliminating unlawful access to one of the main ingredients in meth production,” according to Representative Tracy. “In fact, of all the facilities that have taken advantage of the program there have been zero reported anhydrous thefts.”

The upcoming year poses a serious threat regarding the resurgence of methamphetamine.  Many drug-enforcement officers throughout the Midwest have heard plans to eliminate $170 million in federal funding used to finance drug enforcement in individual states.  “If this amount of revenue is not going to be available to law enforcement agencies that fight the production of methamphetamine, the state must step up its efforts with programs such as this,” Rep. Tracy said.

“The Anhydrous Ammonia Security Grant Program will ensure we are taking the necessary preventative measures to stay one step ahead of the criminals that will go to all lengths to produce this devastating drug,” said Tracy.

HB5942 now advances to the Senate for further consideration.