Prepared Statement by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee

Field Hearing on "A New Era in the Fight Against Methamphetamine in Iowa"

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Welcome to everyone here this morning.  Today's Senate Judiciary Committee field hearing is focused on the evolving methamphetamine problem in Iowa.  Some may think meth is yesterday's problem, and indeed it seems like other illegal drugs often make the headlines.  But during my annual 99-county meetings, I've heard a lot recently about the persistence and changing nature of the meth problem in Iowa.

I'm told that meth-related treatment admissions are at an all-time high here.  And last year, nearly half of all drug-related prison admissions in our state resulted from the trafficking or abuse of meth, also an all-time high.  So meth is obviously continuing to impact Iowa in terrible ways.

Today I'd like to learn more about the current trends relating to meth here, promote awareness of the problem, and see if there are any new ways the federal government can help.

Meth is sometimes referred to as "the world's most dangerous drug."  It's highly addictive, and can methodically destroy lives, families, and communities.  The children of meth users can face neglect, or health risks from exposure to the hazardous chemicals that are used to create the drug.  Indeed, one of the unique aspects of meth is that it can be made at home by those addicted, by using common ingredients found in hardware stores and pharmacies.  When combined, these ingredients are highly toxic and combustible, posing a threat to an entire household.

The risk that meth poses to families and children has been a concern of mine for many years.  In 2006, I authored legislation that created a program to help support regional partnerships here in Iowa that provide treatment services, counseling, and skills training for families impacted by meth.  The goal was to break the cycle of addiction, and to help keep families together.

In addition, Congress began erecting barriers to meth production in 2005, when it passed the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act, which I was proud to co-sponsor.  The law placed limits on the amount of medicine containing common meth ingredients, or precursor chemicals - like pseudoephedrine - that a customer can purchase at a time.  It required pharmacies to sell these medicines from behind the counter.  And it instituted a system to track sales of these substances to prevent bulk purchases.  Iowa also passed a similar state law.

A few years later, I was one of the authors of the Methamphetamine Production Prevention Act, which became law in 2008.  That legislation made it easier for pharmacies to use electronic logbooks to monitor sales of meth ingredients and for law enforcement to identify bulk purchasers.  And a few years later, the Combat Methamphetamine Enhancement Act of 2010, which I also co-sponsored, strengthened this regime even further.

These laws have proven highly effective in drastically reducing the presence of meth labs in our communities.  Today, law enforcement's seizure of meth labs is at almost a 20-year low in Iowa.

That success is a tribute to the hard work of so many here, including Governor Branstad and Director Lukan.

So then, how is meth still such a problem?  Where is the drug product on our streets coming from?

Some have resorted to using what's known as "shake-and-bake" or "one-pot" labs to cook meth.  This is essentially using single plastic bottles to mix the ingredients together.  This method remains highly dangerous, but can only produce small amounts of the drug.  So this doesn't account for what's happening.

No, most of the meth in our state now appears to be coming from Mexican drug trafficking organizations.  These organizations have entered the marketplace in response to the increasing difficulty of producing meth domestically.   And they have virtually flooded the market with their product.  Between 2009 and 2014, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported a 300% increase in meth seizures on the southwest border.

The meth these Mexican organizations are trafficking into our communities, often referred to as "ice," is created on an industrial scale, through a process that leads to a much higher purity than meth produced in labs here.  And it is far cheaper as well.  It's no wonder the problem hasn't gone away.

So we need to keep looking for solutions at the local, state and federal levels.  In the Senate, I lead an annual effort to maintain crucial financial support for state and local law enforcement.  And earlier this year, Senator Feinstein and I introduced the Transnational Drug Trafficking Act of 2015.  If enacted, the bill would make it easier for the Department of Justice to prosecute Mexican cartels who harm our communities by trafficking in either meth or its precursor chemicals.

I'm pleased to say that after my Committee passed the bill, it passed the full Senate last week.  We're going to do everything we can to persuade the House of Representatives to act and send it to the President's desk for his signature soon.

All of our witnesses today have valuable experience and knowledge about the meth problem in Iowa.  In particular, I'd like to point out the great work that our first witness is doing to support families in crisis due to substance abuse here in Iowa.  Denise Moore is a former meth addict herself.  Her story should give hope to anyone struggling with this awful disease.

I thank all of the witnesses for being here, and look forward to hearing their testimony.  I now recognize Congressman Young for his opening remarks.

Animal health company Vets Plus to manufacture and sell FLEX Rx at the beginning of October

MENOMONIE, Wis. (October 12, 2015) - Vets Plus, Inc., the manufacturer of FLEX Rx, will now also be the distributer of the product in OTC channels. The company has expanded its licensing agreement with ProLabs to incorporate the manufacturing and selling of its FLEX Rx joint products.

FLEX Rx chewable tablets offer a specific formulation to support joint health. 46 million households own dogs, and 9.6 million dog owners routinely purchase joint products for their pets. The need for joint supplements is an effect of an aging dog population with obesity, poor diet, or stress to the joints. FLEX Rx is a product intended as a substitute for glucosamine and chondroitin, two common supplements suggested by veterinarians when joint issues arise. In a multi-clinical study, FLEX Rx proved to be more effective than glucosamine and chondroitin for supporting joint function and mobility.

Vets Plus has been currently manufacturing FLEX Rx; with this agreement, Vets Plus will become the exclusive manufacturer and OTC distributor for the product as well. Rick Haxton, National Manager - Companion Animal Business, is leading the partnership on the Vets Plus side.  Haxton said, "The addition of FLEX Rx to the Vets Plus product line is an exciting development. Our goal is to improve the overall health of pets by providing them nutritional support. FLEX Rx certainly fulfills this goal, allowing consumers a high-quality product for their pets' joint health."

In an effort to reduce hunger by diverting food waste from the landfills a local group is hosting a free Food Rescue Workshop on October 20 at the Quad Cities Food Hub.

"One in 8 people in our community do not have enough food to eat. We can feed them all by committing to never throwing away food that could still be eaten by someone in need. We are bringing local food providers together to showcase how they can donate easily, help people, help the environment, and actually improve the bottom line for their business" said Mike Miller, Executive Director of the River Bend Foodbank. Local businesses such as Ross' Restaurant and Outback Steakhouse will be discussing their collaborations with local meal sites such as King's Harvest, Café on Vine, and Sacred Heart.

The panel discussions will teach food establishments how to get started, explain how to develop policies and procedures, share ideas to motivate staff, help inform leaders where to donate, and provide a food donation starter kit. Lindsey Adams, Owner of Outback Steakhouse said that, "There is a common misconception when it comes to donating food and liability. The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act encourages food donation and protects donors."

Other initiatives throughout Iowa are already tackling this issue such as Eat Greater Des Moines and Table to Table in Iowa City, who will be joining panelists from the River Bend Foodbank and the Scott County Health Department to explore how they are rescuing food in their community and how similar practices can be implemented in the Quad Cities.

The workshop is hosted by the Food Rescue Partnership, a community-focused coalition committed to rescuing food throughout the Quad Cities. Register and find additional information on the Food Rescue Workshop at www.foodrescueqc.org and www.facebook.com/foodrescueqc.

·         New hit television series episodes available

·         Halloween Favorites Returning

DES MOINES, IA - October 12, 2015 - Mediacom Communications announced that six new blockbuster hit movies of the year will be available through Mediacom On Demand. In addition, Mediacom On Demand will be continuously adding new movies and television series episodes throughout the month -- making it Mediacom On Demand's largest selection of entertainment of the year.

Appearing this month on Mediacom On Demand:

Blockbuster Movies:

Oct. 2 - "Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron"

Oct. 6 - "Magic Mike XXL"

Oct. 13 - "Tomorrowland"

Oct. 13 - "San Andreas"

Oct. 20 - "Jurassic World"

Oct. 27 - "Pixels"

Halloween Movies

"Monster High":

Boo York, Boo York (Monster High - New Release)

Haunted

Freaky Fusion

Frights, Camera, Action!

13 Wishes

Escape from Skull Shores

Friday Night Frights

Ghouls Rule

Why do Ghouls Fall in Love

Fright On!

Kids Halloween:

Caroline and the Magic Potion

R.L. Stine's Most Ghostly: Have you met my Ghoulfriend?

Thomas & Friends: Tale of the Brave - The Movie

Coraline

ParaNorman

Thomas & Friends - Halloween Adventures

The Dog Who Saved Halloween

Dreamworks Spooky Stories

Fun Size

Hotel Transylvania

Scooby-Doo! Frankencreepy

Scooby-Doo! Stage Fright

Tim Burton's "Corpse Bride"

Alpha and Omega: The Legend of the Saw Toothed Cave

Tim Burton's "Nightmare Before Christmas"

Frankenweenie (2012)

The Haunted Mansion

FrightFest Movies - NEW & CLASSIC:

The Gift (2015)

Visions (2015)

Hidden (2015)

The Gallows (2015)

The Final Girls (2015)

Insidious Chapter 3 (2015)

Sharknado 3 (2015)

Evil Dead

Dark Skies

Paranormal Activity 1- 4

Friday the 13th

The Purge

Mama

Halloween III: Season of the Witch

Halloween II

Halloween H2O: 20 Years Later

Insidious Chapter 1 & 2

Christine

The Conjuring

The Exorcist

The Shining

Final Destination

A Nightmare on Elm Street

Saw 1-6 & Saw 3D: The Final Chapter

Cabin in the Woods

Hostel

Scream

28 Weeks Later

The Hills Have Eyes

The Omen

Carrie (1976)

The Amityville Horror (2005)

The Amityville Horror (1979)

The Silence of the Lambs

Free Halloween Entertainment:

Free Halloween shows, kids shows, Halloween specials, music, screensavers and more!

New Shows - Free On Demand:

"Muppets" (ABC)

"Blood & Oil" (ABC)

"Code Black" (CBS)

"Scream Queens" (Fox)

"Bastard Executioner" (FX)

"Best Time Ever" (NBC)

"Life in Pieces" (CBS)

"Minority Report" (Fox)

"Blindspot" (NBC)

"Limitless" (CBS)

"Rosewood" (Fox)

"Heroes Reborn" (NBC)

"The Player" (NBC)

"Quantico" (ABC)

"Grandfathered" (Fox)

"The Grinder" (Fox)

"Dr. Ken" (ABC)

"American Horror Story: Hotel" (FX)

"Fargo" (FX)

"Truth Be Told" (NBC)

"Supergirl" (CBS)

"Wicked City" (ABC)

"Fear the Walking Dead" (AMC)

HBO and Cinemax Free Movie Preview Friday, Oct. 16 - Monday, Oct. 19:

"American Sniper"

"Unbroken"

"Jupiter Ascending"

HBO and Cinemax Free Original Series Preview Friday, Oct. 16 - Monday, Oct. 19:

"The Leftovers"

"The Knick"

Returning Series Favorites Free On Demand:

"Scorpion" (CBS)

"Empire" (Fox)

"Chicago Fire" (NBC)

"The Walking Dead" (AMC)

"Big Bang Theory" (Fox)

To access the upcoming movies On Demand, viewers can use the On Demand button on their remote, or go to channel 1.

With Mediacom On Demand, consumers can pick and choose from over 20,000 titles of movies, sporting events, broadcast and cable shows. Free programming features recently-aired episodes from cable and broadcast channels, as well as sports highlights. On Demand is included in Mediacom digital video service and requires a digital converter.

About Mediacom Communications

Mediacom Communications Corporation is the eighth largest cable operator in the U.S. serving about 1.3 million customers in smaller markets primarily in the Midwest and Southeast. Mediacom offers a wide array of information, communications and entertainment services to households and businesses, including video, high-speed data, phone, and home security and automation. Through Mediacom Business, the company provides innovative broadband solutions to commercial and public sector customers of all sizes, and sells advertising and production services under the OnMedia brand. More information about Mediacom is available at www.mediacomcc.com.