US House Votes to Extend Anti-Terror Law

US House votes to extend anti-terror law

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) — The US House of Representatives approved a legislation on Wednesday to extend expiring provisions of the USA Patriot Act, and the Senate is expected to vote on the measure on Friday.

The House, by a vote of 251-174, approved a House-Senate compromise that would modify and make permanent most of the anti- terror law’s 16 expiring provisions.

Some Republican and Democratic senators, however, threatened to filibuster the measure, arguing the measure would give the government too much power to pry into people’s private life, including their medical, gun and library records.

President George W. Bush urged the Senate to take prompt action on the legislation.

“The Patriot Act is essential to fighting the war on terror and preventing our enemies from striking America again,” Bush said in a statement.

“In the war on terror, we cannot afford to be without this law for a single moment. I urge the Senate to pass this legislation promptly and reauthorize the Patriot Act,” he said.

The majority of the Patriot Act would remain in force even if the Senate failed to approve the compromise on extending the law’s expiring provisions.

The US Congress passed the Patriot Act shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The law expanded the government’s power against suspected terrorists, their associates and financiers.