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Rep. Cole Votes for Patriot Act Reauthorizaton

March 8, 2006
Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C.--Representative Tom Cole voted last night for the USA PATRIOT and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Act, S. 2711, that will help law enforcement personnel keep our country safe from terrorist threats. This legislation passed in the House, 280-138.

“The USA Patriot Act is a vital tool for law enforcement as they work together to track and root out terrorists that are living within our borders," Congressman Tom Cole said. “I was proud to vote for this legislation that provides our law enforcement with the leeway to take necessary and reasonable precautions to safeguard our country."

The USA PATRIOT and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Act makes permanent 14 of the 16 expiring provisions of the PATRIOT Act and placed a four year sunset on the other two provisions. The PATRIOT ACT:

Ø Removed major legal barriers which prevented the law enforcement, intelligence, and national defense communities from coordinating their work;

Ø Allowed law enforcement to conduct surveillance of more terror-related activities and allowed the authorization of nationwide search warrants;

Ø Updated the law to reflect new technologies and new threats; and

Ø Increased penalties for those who commit acts of terrorism and those who harbor terrorists.

The USA PATRIOT Act also included provisions from the Methamphetamine Epidemic Elimination Act to help reduce the supply of meth and punish meth producers, traffickers, and smugglers.

“Oklahoma has already taken considerable measures to help stop the methamphetamine epidemic that is plaguing our country and presenting a clear and present danger to our children,” Congressman Cole said. “The provisions included in this bill will help us, on a national level, make it more difficult to obtain the necessary ingredients to produce meth and strengthen criminal penalties for those who traffic it."

The USA PATRIOT and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Act has already passed in the Senate and will now be sent to the president for his signature.

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