The U.S. Senate overwhelming approved an extension of the so-called Patriot Act that was passed in the weeks following the 9/11 attacks to ease the government’s search for terrorists. But another piece of Iowa-related legislation was tacked onto the bill as it cleared the Senate Thursday. The Combat Meth Act was attached to the Patriot Act, and the combined bills were endorsed by the United States Senate on an 89-to-10 vote.
The Combat Meth Act is loosely fashioned after Iowa’s successful law which has dramatically reduced the number of illegal meth-making labs found in the state. The law has made it more difficult to get the raw ingredients for meth. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley successfully ensured the new federal law wouldn’t override Iowa’s tougher law.
The law forced stores to put medications that contain pseudoephedrine behind the counter and forces people to show an I-D and sign a log book when they buy Sudafed, Nyquil or any other product that contains pseudoephedrine. The Patriot Act, which includes the meth-fighting proposals, next goes before the U.S. House, then on to the President who has said he’ll sign it into law.