Parts of Patriot Act extended by Congress

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

Congress on Thursday passed a four-year extension of post-Sept. 11 powers to search records and conduct roving wiretaps in pursuit of terrorists. Votes taken in rapid succession in the Senate and House came after lawmakers rejected attempts to temper the law-enforcement powers to ensure that individual liberties are not abused.

After the 250-153 evening vote in the House, the legislation to renew three terrorism-fighting authorities headed for the president’s signature with only hours to go before the provisions expire at midnight.

With Obama in Europe, the White House said the president would use an autopen machine that holds a pen and signs his actual signature. It is used only with proper authorization of the president. Obama will be awakened by 5:45 a.m. in France so he can review and approve the bill and authorize his signature, the White House said.

Congress bumped up against the deadline mainly because of the resistance from Republican freshman Rand Paul of Kentucky, who saw the terrorist-hunting powers as an abuse of privacy rights. Paul held up the final vote for several days while he demanded a chance to change the bill to diminish the government’s ability to monitor individual actions. The bill passed the Senate 72-23.