Senate Judiciary OKs Bill To Reauthorize Patriot Act

摘要

The Senate Judiciary Committee has given its approval to legislation that would reform and reauthorize three surveillance-related provisions of the Patriot Act, including one dealing with roving wiretaps that was amended by the panel to require some description of suspects under surveillance. By a 10-7 vote, the panel on March 10 backed the USA Patriot Act Sunset Extension Act sponsored by Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D., Vt.). The legislation would extend until 2013 provisions dealing not only with roving wiretaps, but surveillance of terrorist suspects not connected to a known terrorist group (known as the "lone wolf provision) as well as section 215 business records. Those measure are currently set to expire May 27.