House Intelligence Committee Approves Patriot Act Changes

Associated Press | July 14 2005

CAPITOL HILL -- The House Intelligence Committee has approved renewal of the USA Patriot Act, allowing just one provision to expire five years from now.

The Republican-led panel OK'd a Democratic-supported measure that would drop the FBI's powers to wiretap so-called "lone wolf" terror suspects -- people operating on their own.

The committee also accepted a Democratic proposal to give judges more power over "roving wiretaps" -- those that target specific individuals.

Members of the House Judiciary Committee have voted to make most provisions of the Patriot Act permanent.

The law was passed soon after the Nine-Eleven attacks, expanding the government's intelligence-gathering powers. Parts of it are set to expire at the end of the year.

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