House approves renewal of Patriot Act

Library provision still intact, but FBI director now needs to approve any attempt by FBI to obtain records. Does that really even make a difference? The justification is that there is no reason to make these “sunset” provisions that restrict the government’s power because no abuses have been recorded. More like, no abuses have been found.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — The House voted by a wide margin Thursday night to renew expiring provisions of the USA Patriot Act, the collection of antiterrorism measures passed after the September 11, 2001, attacks.

The final vote was 257-171. The bill makes permanent 14 of 16 provisions in the act set to expire next year and extends two others for another 10 years.

Passage came with the specter of terrorism fresh in lawmakers’ minds after another round of bombing incidents in London earlier in the day. (Full story)

The Senate is considering its own reauthorization of the Patriot Act, and the differences between the two versions will have to be hashed out in a conference committee in the coming months.

President Bush issued a statement commending the House on the vote, calling the Patriot Act “a key part of our efforts to combat terrorism and protect the American people.”

“The Congress needs to send me a bill soon that renews the act without weakening our ability to fight terror,” Bush said.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales — whose Justice Department gained significant investigative and surveillance powers under the act — said in a statement that “the House has again provided the brave men and women of law enforcement…

Posted by bennettsmith
I am here to help. I am here to destroy.