Congress to Give Patriot Act 
Another Month
 
By LAURIE KELLMAN
The Associated Press
Wednesday, February 1, 2006; 11:11 AM
 
WASHINGTON -- The Patriot Act is set to be extended for another month
while conservative Republicans and the White House work out changes they
say would protect people from government intrusion without weakening the
war on terror.
 
A day after President Bush insisted that Congress renew 16 provisions set
to expire Friday, the House was set to extend the act until March 10 to
give negotiators more time to come up with a deal. The Senate was expected
to follow before the deadline.
 
"The enemy has not lost the desire or capability to attack us.
Fortunately, this nation has superb professionals in law enforcement,
intelligence, the military and homeland security," Bush said Tuesday in
his State of the Union speech to Congress. "I ask you to reauthorize the
Patriot Act."
 
It would be the second time Congress has extended the law. Originally
passed five weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Patriot
Act was due to expire Dec. 31.
 
Just before leaving for Christmas, Congress extended the law until Feb. 3
because Senate Democrats and four libertarian-leaning Republicans blocked
a final vote on a measure negotiated by the White House that would have
made most expiring provisions permanent. The Republicans were concerned
about excessive police powers.
 
The 2001 law makes it easier for federal agents to gather and share
information in terrorism investigations, install wiretaps and conduct
secret searches of households and businesses. At issue are 16 provisions
that Congress wanted reviewed and renewed by the end of last year.
 
Objections to the compromise last fall centered on the degree to which
people and institutions that receive National Security Letters _ secret
requests for phone, business and Internet records _ can appeal them in
court.
 
Sens. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, and John Sununu, R-N.H., say the law makes it
nearly impossible to challenge NSLs and their secretive demands for
information. Craig told reporters this week that the White House had
agreed to some changes that would address his concerns, but declined to
describe the talks further.
 
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