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05/26/2004: Fraud & Conspiracy Fraud & Conspiracy

Senators Seek Repeal of Patriot Act Sunsets
from FAS Project on Govt Secrecy

The simmering debate about whether or not to renew several provisions of the USA Patriot Act that are set to expire next year would be foreclosed by a new bill to repeal the sunset clauses of the Act, in effect making all of the Act's provisions permanent.

Ten influential Republican Senators, led by Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ), quietly introduced the bill on May 21.

"The Patriot Act has played a major role in what U.S. antiterror investigations have accomplished so far," said Sen. Kyl. "And it is clear that we will continue to need the authorities created by the Patriot Act into the foreseeable future."

See his May 21 statement on S. 2476, a bill to amend the USA PATRIOT Act to repeal the sunsets, here:

In testimony before the House Judiciary Committee last week, former Rep. Bob Barr (R-GA) recalled that his support for the USA Patriot Act was predicated on the "sunset" of several of its provisions so as to allow Congress to review how the Act's new powers were used.

"Making those powers permanent now would take away any leverage Congress now has to secure cooperation from the Justice Department in its oversight efforts," Mr. Barr said May 18.

Congress can ill afford to surrender any such leverage.

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) recently noted that over a year had passed since Attorney General Ashcroft had agreed to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"March 4, 2004 was the 1-year anniversary of the last, brief appearance by Attorney General Ashcroft before the Senate Judiciary Committee," Sen. Leahy noted on April 8.

"It was not an anniversary that we marked for celebration. Instead, we marked the day as a low point, and symbolic of the disdain shown by the administration for oversight by the people's representatives in Congress." See [FAS's archive of the Congressional Record]


Wednesday the 26th of May, awiggins noted:


"The Patriot Act has played a major role in what U.S. antiterror investigations have accomplished so far," said Sen. Kyl. "And it is clear that we will continue to need the authorities created by the Patriot Act into the foreseeable future."

Foreseeable future does not mean it needs to be made permanent.