(Washington, D.C.)  Congresswoman Cathy McMorris (WA-05) today supported the passage of the USA Patriot Act and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2005 Conference Report (H.R. 3199). The legislation will help protect our country against the war on terror and the war on drugs.

“One of my top priorities is to keep our communities and nation safe,” said McMorris. “In order to ensure our security we must give law enforcement the necessary tools to prevent terrorism and combat meth in our neighborhoods.”

The Conference Report includes comprehensive measures to address the methamphetamine abuse crisis by increasing enforcement, regulating the every-day substances used in the manufacturing of meth, and increasing education and prevention. As a member of the Meth Caucus, McMorris has helped communities throughout Eastern Washington address the growing struggle against meth. In August McMorris held a crime town hall in Spokane with several local, state and federal law enforcement members and discussed the impact that meth is having in Eastern Washington.

“The use of methamphetamines is a growing epidemic in the country, especially in Eastern Washington. It causes severe health problems for its users and leads to numerous social costs and increased crime. This drug has seeped into every corner of our country and into the fabric of our communities. This bill will reduce the supply of this drug by making it more difficult to obtain the ingredients necessary for production and will stiffen penalties for anyone caught producing meth.”

Highlights of the Patriot Act Conference Report include:

• Removing legal barriers which prevented the law enforcement, intelligence, and national defense communities from coordinating their work
• Allowing law enforcement to conduct surveillance of more terror-related activities and authorizing nationwide search warrants
• Combating terrorism financing
• Fighting crime and terrorism at America’s seaports
• Enhancing penalties for attacks against railroad and mass transit
• Narrowing the definition of terrorism
• Creating a National Security Division within the Department of Justice as requested by the Commission on Weapons of Mass Destruction