WASHINGTON, July 23: Helped by the sense of insecurity caused by the recent London bombings, the Bush administration has succeeded in convincing the US House of Representatives to extend a law that gives sweeping powers to law enforcement agencies investigating suspected terrorists.
The House vote on the retention of the Patriot Act was 257 for and 171 against. Most of the disapproving lawmakers were Democrats, but some Republicans also opposed the act.
Ten-year extensions were also approved for two other provisions set to expire on Dec 31, one allowing roving wiretaps and another allowing searches of library and medical records.
Supporters of the law used London bombings to argue that the US needed a stronger law to prevent future terrorist attacks.
Critics, however, argued that Congress should more thoroughly review and amend a law that they contended was passed in haste and could allow government abuses of privacy and civil liberties.
Lisa Graves, senior counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union, advised lawmakers to amend the Act in a way “that would protect our civil liberties and restore appropriate checks and balances.”
US law enforcement officials have described the Patriot Act as their most effective tool to prevent new terrorist attacks since the Sept 11 Al Qaeda attacks that killed 3,000 people. Civil libertarians disagree, arguing that the law would infringe upon citizens’ basic rights without making America any more secure than it already is.
On Thursday, President Bush urged both houses of Congress to adopt the Patriot Act without any change and “without weakening our ability to fight terror.”
Mr Bush had urged Congress to make permanent all 16 provisions of the Patriot Act that are due to expire at the end of this year. The House measure comes close, making 14 of the provisions permanent.
Legislation reauthorizing the Patriot Act is also moving toward consideration in the Senate.
Republican Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, recalled the law was approved by wide bipartisan majorities after the Sept 11 attacks, and rejected Democrat assertions it leaves too much room for violations of civil liberties. “Notwithstanding the vague and general suspicion expressed by some of its detractors, the record shows that there is no evidence whatsoever that the Patriot Act has been abused to violate American civil liberties. None whatsoever,” he said.