WHAT YOU NEED NOW - CONTENT UPDATED THROUGH THE DAY

May 9, 2005
 
THE MANCHIN REPORT: Two Pieces of Legislation Will Ensure Healthy, Safe West Virginia

[Image: gov-joe-manchin.jpg (5256 bytes)] The Hon. Joe Manchin, Gov.

by Joe Manchin
Governor of West Virginia
 
Charleston (HNN) – During the past week, I signed two important pieces of legislation that will have a significant impact on the health and safety of West Virginia's children and families –the Healthy Lifestyles Act and the Methamphetamine Bill.
 
Throughout the course of my campaign for Governor and during the first months of this administration, I have spoken often of the Five Promises that we should make to every child if we want them to grow into competent, caring adults. At the very core of those Five Promises is the commitment that we must ensure that every child in West Virginia has a healthy start.
 
House Bill 2816, the Healthy Lifestyles Act, gives West Virginia's children the skills they need to fight the growing epidemics of childhood obesity, TypeII diabetes and heart disease.
 
Through the Healthy Start Initiative, we will put physical education and exercise back into the required curriculum for every West Virginia student in grades K through 12; require school districts across our state that enter into contracts to sell soft drinks in vending machines to make an equal amount of healthy items available to students; and, establish a Governor's recognition program to recognize restaurants that voluntary label menus so children and adults may identify healthier choices when dining out.
 
The best health is preventive health, and working together we can make an important difference now in the lives of a future generation of West Virginians.
 
Senate Bill 147, the Methamphetamine Bill, is legislation that will deal a serious blow to the illegal drug activity that is sweeping our state by limiting access to key ingredients -- "ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine" --used in the production of methamphetamines.
 
This new law establishes criminal penalties for obtaining these drugs in excess of the limitations; requires health professionals and related professions to report any injuries they suspect are related to meth production to law enforcement officers; and, provides for specific penalties for having a meth lab where children are present or when first responders are injured as a result of a meth lab.
 
Similar legislation in Oklahoma reduced the number of meth labs in that state by more than 60 percent. I am confident that we will have similar results in West Virginia when this new legislation takes effect in mid-July. The meth problem in our state has reached epidemic proportions, and enough is enough!
 
I commend the members of the legislature for their support of these measures. With these two pieces of legislation, we're taking a giant step towards ensuring a safe and healthy environment for our children and families.