Bloomberg
December 22, 2005

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a one-month extension of the anti-terror USA Patriot Act, rejecting a six-month measure agreed to last night by the U.S. Senate. The full Senate will meet later today to consider the House legislation.

Democrats succeeded in blocking a full renewal of the legislation, which was supported by President George W. Bush. Wisconsin Republican James Sensenbrenner, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, shortened the Senate's six-month extension to just one month today.

If the Senate agrees to the change, both Houses of Congress will have to resume negotiations on the measure when they return to work next month.

Democrats and some Republicans banded together to prevent passage of a renewed Patriot Act that would give the Federal Bureau of Investigation authority to wiretap and compel businesses and organizations to provide information on suspected terrorists. Bush said the U.S. is ``still under threat'' from terrorists and that the act should be reauthorized in full next year.