Legislative Background
Recent Action on the USA PATRIOT Act
Eight days after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the Bush Administration proposed legislation increasing the surveillance and investigative powers of law enforcement agencies in the United States. A few weeks later, Congress approved, without amendments, the USA PATRIOT Act. The bill passed the House by a vote of 357 to 66 on October 24 and the Senate, 98 to 1, on October 25. The President signed the bill into law on October 26, as P.L. 107-56. Sunset Provisions of the PATRIOT Act. Because the Act granted significant new powers to Federal authorities,…
