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Congress Extends Patriot Act Another Five WeeksShortly before 16 provisions of the USA Patriot Act were set to expire February 3, Congress passed a second short-term extension, continuing the act until March 10. The House approved the five-week extension February 1, and the Senate followed suit the next day, the Associated Press reported February 3.The provisions originally had been set to expire at the end of 2005. However, Congress extended the law for five weeks just before adjourning for its holiday break December 22, after a House-Senate compromise bill that would have made permanent 14 provisions and extended two others—including Section 215, which facilitates FBI access to business and library records—was blocked by a Senate filibuster. Some legislators said agreements had been reached on many issues but that they wanted more time to ensure protection for civil liberties, according to a February 2 Reuters report. “We must give government the tools it needs to fight the terrorists, but the checks we need to stop it from abusing its powers,” said Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), the Senate minority leader. President Bush, who was expected to approve the extension, had urged Congress to reauthorize the Patriot Act during his State of the Union address January 31. “The enemy has not lost the desire or capability to attack us,” he said. Posted February 3, 2006. |
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