Senate committee approves Patriot Act changes

A divided Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday approved a revised version of the nation's major counterterrorism law, after intelligence and law enforcement officials assured lawmakers that counterterrorism operations would not be harmed. The 11-8 vote sent the bill to the full Senate, where several senators who voted "yes" said they had enough concerns to oppose the legislation unless more changes are made. The expiring sections allow roving wiretaps on multiple phones, access to business records and a never-used provision to conduct surveillance of a non-U.S. citizen who may not be part of a recognized terrorist group. Several of the changes adopted Thursday govern use of National Security Letters, which are FBI demands for information without a court order. These letters can be subject to a court order prohibiting the recipient from disclosing the letter. One change would require the government to notify recipients when the non-disclosure order is no longer required. This is aimed at recipients of letters who challenged the order. If the government meets a legal test for an order not to disclose a national security letter, a judge would have to issue the order. The attorney general would be given six months to establish procedures to acquire, destroy, and prevent dissemination by the FBI of records received in response to a National Security Letter. Other changes would: _Clarify the types of library records entitled to a higher level of review. _Require the FBI to include specific facts in its written statement supporting the issuance of the National Security Letter. The government would have to demonstrate the information requested is relevant to an authorized investigation...read more