House, Senate Agree to Extend Patriot Act
Key Republicans from the House and Senate reached a White House-backed compromise Thursday to renew the broad powers granted to law enforcement agencies, the Patriot Act, in the days after the 2001 terrorist attacks on American soil.
GOP leaders pledged to pass the Patriot Act extension for President Bush’s signature by the holidays, although bipartisan criticism flared. Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., threatened to filibuster a bill he said lacked adequate safeguards to protect constitutional freedoms.
Important parts involve the ability of law enforcement officials to gain access to a wealth of personal data, including library records, as part of investigations into suspected terrorist activity.
The measure provides a four-year extension of the government’s ability to conduct roving wiretaps which may involve multiple phones and to seek access to many of the personal records covered by the bill.
Source: ABC
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