Rep. Dennis Rehberg, R-Mont. (at large), issued the following news release:

Montana's Rep. Denny Rehberg praised the efforts of the Montana Meth Project during a speech yesterday evening on the floor of the House of Representatives. The speech was given during consideration of the FY 2008 Financial Services Appropriations Bill, which includes millions of dollars for youth anti-drug media activities.

"Results from the Montana Meth Use & Attitudes Survey conducted earlier this year show the dramatic and successful impact that the Montana Meth Project's public education campaign has had on its intended audience," said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee and the Congressional Meth Caucus. "Clearly, the efforts of the Montana Meth Project are working."

"We are making incredible strides in preventing first-time Methamphetamine use in Montana," said Mike Gulledge, chairmen of the Montana Meth Project. "We truly appreciate the strong support of Congressman Rehberg. His efforts go a long way towards helping us continue the fight against Methamphetamine in Montana."

The Montana Attorney General's Office issued a report in January of this year titled "Methamphetamine in Montana: A Preliminary Report on Trends and Impact." The report found that Meth use among teens had dropped 38%, while workplace testing saw a 70% decrease in use of the drug - a greater decline than in any other state. Additionally, meth-related crime dropped a dramatic 53% between 2005 and 2006.

Congressman Rehberg also sits on the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).

FULL TRANSCRIPT OF REP. DENNY REHBERG'S COMMENTS BELOW:

Mr. Chairman, in light of the distressing statistics regarding the Office of National Drug Control Policy's National Youth Media Campaign, and its subsequent reduction within our committee, I rise today to let my colleagues know that it is possible to design, implement and evaluate youth anti-drug marketing.

Methamphetamine is a real problem across this great Nation, and no State is immune to its horrible effects. Montana ranks among the top 10 States nationally in per capita treatment admissions for Methamphetamine use.

The statistics in Montana are truly staggering.

* Fifty-two percent of the children who are placed in out-of-home care are there because of meth.

* Fifty percent of adults incarcerated at State prisons are there due to meth.

* Twenty percent of Montanans in addiction treatment are there because of meth.

While many people would simply nod their heads and agree this is a terrible problem, some good people in Montana have taken it upon themselves to do something about it.

Tom Siebel, who lives in Wolf Creek, is an outstanding Montanan who did something that many of us could not do. He decided to use his own money to fund a prevention campaign to help raise awareness about the dangers of first time Methamphetamine use. Tom Siebel founded the Montana Meth Project in 2005, which has been conducting research and running a statewide multi-media public awareness campaign aimed at significantly reducing first-time Methamphetamine use through public service messaging, public policy, and community outreach.

Results from the Montana Meth Use & Attitudes Survey conducted earlier this year show the dramatic and successful impact that the Montana Meth Project's public education campaign has had on its intended audience.

Over the past 2 years, there has also been a dramatic shift in the perception of Methamphetamine use, more frequent parent-child communications about the dangers of Methamphetamine, and greater societal disapproval. For the first time, Meth use and associated crime in Montana has declined.

The States of Arizona and Idaho are using Montana's hard-hitting ads and successful approach, launching similar youth media campaigns. Clearly, the efforts of the Montana Meth Project are working.