Congress Agrees in Principle to Renew Patriot Act

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ouse and Senate negotiators reached an agreement Thursday to extend the USA Patriot Act, the government's premier anti-terrorism law, before it expires at the end of the year, but one Democratic senator threatened a filibuster to block the compromise, the Associated Press reported.

The White House applauded the agreement and most of the Patriot Act would become permanent under the reauthorization, AP said.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) said that the joint negotiating committee had reached an agreement that would extend for four years two of the Patriot Act's most controversial provisions — authorizing roving wiretaps and permitting secret warrants for books, records and other items from businesses, hospitals and organizations, AP reported.

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), who was the only senator to vote against the original version of the Patriot Act, said he was considering filibustering the renewal to prevent any constitutional freedoms from being jeopardized, AP reported.

Feingold and five other senators from both parties issued a statement that said they believe the conference report would not get through the Senate. They said they would not support it in any form, AP said.

Also to be extended for four years are standards for monitoring "lone wolf" terrorists who may be operating independent of a foreign agent or power. While not part of the Patriot Act, officials considered that along with the Patriot Act provisions, AP reported.