Senate Passes Six-Month Patriot Act Extension

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he Senate late Wednesday approved a six-month extension of the USA Patriot Act to keep the anti-terrorism law from expiring on Dec. 31, the Associated Press reported.

he Republican-controlled House is now expected to come back and consider the legislation, keeping the 16 provisions of the law passed in the wake of 9/11 from expiring, AP said.

GOP leaders and President Bush wanted to make most of the law permanent but, thwarted by a filibuster in the Senate over civil liberties concerns, had to resort to a six-month extension, AP reported.

The Patriot Act contains many provisions related to transportation security, including funding for the Transportation Security Administration, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) said he had no choice but to accept a six-month extension in the face of the filibuster and the law’s impending Dec. 31 expiration date.