Bloomberg
December 14, 2005

The U.S. House approved a renewal of the USA Patriot Act, including a provision that compels businesses to hand over information on customers and suppliers for terrorism investigations.

The legislation, passed by a vote of 251-174, will help the FBI identify and build cases against terrorists plotting against the U.S., said Tennessee Republican Zach Wamp.

``Law-enforcement officials need to have tools to protect our country,'' Wamp said.

The measure still must pass the Senate, where it is encountering resistance from Democrats and some Republicans, such as New Hampshire's John Sununu, who said there aren't enough safeguards for civil liberties.

The Patriot Act was approved in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks to make it easier for law-enforcement authorities and intelligence agencies to share information. Without congressional action several provisions will expire Dec. 31. Congress is trying to wrap up its business this week and recess for the year. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is seeking a Senate vote on the measure by Dec. 17.

Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Democrat, said the Republican leadership will have difficulty finding the 60 votes necessary to end debate and force a Senate vote on the measure. Republicans have 55 of the 100 Senate votes.

``There may be an attempt to shut off debate on the Patriot Act,'' Durbin said on the Senate floor. ``That would be a mistake.''

At least five Senate Republicans oppose ending debate and forcing a vote on the measure.

Compromise

Senate Democrats and their Republican allies are supporting a three-month extension of the current Patriot Act so that negotiators will have more time to develop a more favorable compromise.

Republican Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions said today that opponents of the measure were displaying ``paranoia'' by casting the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Central Intelligence Agency as ``threats to us.''

The legislation was a compromise crafted by House Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner, a Wisconsin Republican, and his Senate counterpart, Pennsylvania Republican Arlen Specter.

The legislation would make permanent 14 provisions of the Patriot Act, including authority for U.S. intelligence agencies to share information obtained overseas.

The measure extends for four years a section that allows the Federal Bureau of Investigation to request records from businesses or organizations such as libraries as part of a probe.

The requests would need to be approved by a special court that meets in secret.

`Fishing Expeditions'

Durbin said the provision gives the FBI the right to conduct ``a fishing expedition'' because ``the government can look at thousands of individual records by companies or libraries or hospitals and look to see if there is anything suspicious they can glean from looking at those records.''

Also extended for four years would be law enforcement's power to place wiretaps on whatever phone a suspect is using, rather than applying for court permission each time a phone or location changes.

FBI authority to track ``lone wolf'' terrorist suspects without any known ties to a specific group would continue for four additional years.

The measure would explicitly allow businesses and groups to challenge in court a National Security Letter, which the FBI issues to demand information for terrorist investigations.

Sales of over-the-counter cold medications that include ingredients used to make methamphetamine would be restricted by the measure.