Obama and his Administration supports extending Patriot Act provisions

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.

 Bill Summary & Status 112th Congress (2011 - 2012) H.RES.79 
All Information SUMMARY AS OF: 2/9/2011--Introduced. Sets forth the rule for consideration of the bill (H.R. 514) to extend expiring provisions of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 and Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 relating to access to business records, individual terrorists as agents of foreign powers, and roving wiretaps until December 8, 2011

Bill Text
112th Congress (2011-2012)
H.R.67.IH

January 5, 2011

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Select Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

---

A BILL

To extend expiring provisions of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 and Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 until February 29, 2012.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

Bill Summary & Status
112th Congress (2011 - 2012)
H.R.514
All Information

Amends the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 to extend through December 8, 2011, a provision granting roving electronic surveillance authority.

Amends the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 to extend until December 8, 2011, a provision revising the definition of an "agent of a foreign power" to include any non-U.S. person who engages in international terrorism or preparatory activities ("lone wolf" provision).

---

MAJOR ACTIONS:

1/26/2011	Introduced in House
2/8/2011	Failed of passage/not agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 277 - 148 (Roll no. 26).

---

ALL ACTIONS:

1/26/2011:

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

 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

.

 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. "And yes, they have a legitimate fear of out-of-control prosecutors and out-of-control spy networks." 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."