madam speaker , the patriot act has been an important law enforcement tool in the years following the dastardly terrorist attacks on our country , and taken as a whole , the bill has enhanced our national security .  the united states and our allies are fighting a war like no other .  it is an unconventional war that must be met with unconventional tools used by law enforcement professionals to protect the american people from those who would do us harm .  the patriot act provides federal officers greater powers to trace and intercept terrorists ' communications for law enforcement and foreign intelligence purposes .  it reinforces federal anti-money laundering laws and regulations in an effort to deny terrorists the resources necessary for future attacks .  it tightens laws pertaining to seaport security .  and , it creates several new federal crimes , such as laws outlawing terrorists ' attacks on mass transit and increases penalties for many other violations of the law .  as is true of any law that empowers the government to collect security-related information domestically , evaluating the patriot act requires us to weigh a wide range of competing interests , like the ability of our government to detect and thwart terrorist attacks and the constitutional rights of the american people .  of course , proper oversight of the patriot act by congress is essential to guaranteeing our constitutional rights are not trampled .  important for missouri , the patriot act conference report also includes bipartisan language that helps fight the scourge of methamphetamine abuse in america .  this drug epidemic has been especially hard on rural areas .  the bill bans over-the-counter sales of cold medicines that contain ingredients commonly used to make methamphetamine , allowing the sale only from locked cabinets or behind the counter .  it limits the monthly amount any individual could purchase , requires individuals to present photo identification in order to purchase such medicines , and requires stores to keep personal information about these customers for at least 2 years after the purchase of these medicines .  the bill also allows judges to impose strict sentences for those who possess pseudoephedrine with the intent to distribute it for methamphetamine creation .  i urge my colleagues to support reauthorization of the patriot act .  