House extends key parts of Patriot Act
Temporary extension allows for more study
WASHINGTON – The House on Monday agreed to a 10-month extension of three key law enforcement powers in the fight against terrorism that some privacy advocates from both the right and left regard as infringements on civil liberties.
The House measure, passed 275-144, would extend authority for the USA Patriot Act-related provisions until Dec. 8. Common ground must be found with the Senate before the provisions expire on Feb. 28.
At issue are two provisions of the post-Sept. 11 law that give counterterrorism offices roving wiretap authority to monitor multiple electronic devices and court-approved access to business records relating to a terrorist investigation.
The third “lone wolf” provision of a 2004 law permits secret intelligence surveillance of non-U.S. individuals not known to be linked to a specific terrorist organization.
Last week the House, in an embarrassment for the new GOP leadership, failed to pass the same bill under an expedited procedure requiring a two-thirds majority. Twenty-six Republicans joined 122 Democrats in voting against it. Monday’s vote drew 27 Republican no votes.
The main objections are to what critics see as unconstitutional search and seize authority and big government intrusions into private lives.
“I believe the American people have a legitimate fear of out-of-control government,” said conservative Republican Dana Rohrabacher, one of the GOP no votes.
But House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas, argued that the courts had consistently upheld the constitutionality of the provisions and that if Congress fails to extend them, “we will forfeit our ability to prevent terrorist attacks.”
This time the bill was brought up under a procedure requiring only a simple majority for passage. Democrats got only one chance at changing the bill: an amendment stating that investigations must comply with the Constitution and that courts must give expedited consideration when a U.S. citizen argues that his or her constitutional rights have been violated. It was defeated on a party-line vote.
In the Senate, Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., on Thursday plans to propose a bill that would extend the three provisions through 2013.