Reauthorization Legislation
House and Senate Bills Extending and Modifying the PATRIOT Act
Congress recently passed reauthorization legislation extending or making permanent major provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act. Below are summaries of the measures approved by the House and Senate. House Legislation H.R. 3199 reauthorizes the USA PATRIOT Act and makes 14 of its 16 expiring provisions permanent. Section 206 dealing with roving wiretaps and section 215 dealing with library records are subject to 10-year sunsets. The bill facilitates information-sharing and cooperation among government agencies. The USA PATRIOT Act broke down "the wall" by removing major legal barriers that prevented the law enforcement, intelligence, and national defense communities from talking and coordinating…
