American Congress Extends Patriot Act Until 2015

The American Congress voted “in extremis,” Thursday, May 26, the renewal of the Patriot Act until 2015. This “security” law was initiated by the Bush administration and adopted by legislators after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks perpetrated by al-Qaida.

Already renewed twice, this law largely expands opportunities for eavesdropping and recording of emails by security services, their access to private information held by businesses and civil services on American citizens and those who live in the United States — libraries, for example can be forced to provide information on books borrowed by their readers — or even the surveillance of foreigners suspected of having connections to terrorist activities.

The Patriot Act has long been the object of lively opposition by organizations defending civil rights. Its repeal is demanded by a (small) majority of Democrats, who judge the security arsenal as sufficient to protect the country without encroaching on individual freedoms, and by certain Republicans, either for the same reasons or for that of “Libertarian” Paul Rand, who challenges every intrusion on private life and property rights.

“Law Critical for the Security of the United States”

Judged by the White House as absolutely “critical for the security of the United States,” the coordinator of American intelligence, James Clapper, and FBI Director Robert Mueller wrote Wednesday to elected representatives, pressing them to renew the Patriot Act without modification. This “temporary” law, already renewed on two occasions, must be again renewed before midnight on May 26, the date of its expiry.

In the Senate (72 for, 34 against), both parties combined their majorities to that effect: 30 Democrats (against 18) and 41 Republicans (against 4) voted in favor. But the vote in the House was divided (250 for, 180 against): 196 Republicans renewed the law, (54 voted against), but only 31 Democrats accompanied them, with 122 members of Barack Obama’s party voting against.

At the end of the vote, two Democratic Senators, Ron Wyden (Oregon) and Mark Udall (Colorado) accused the Obama administration of abusing the provisions of the Patriot Act. “When the American people find out how their government has secretly interpreted the Patriot Act, they will be stunned and they will be angry,” declared the former [Wyden]. Both are members of the Senate Intelligence Committee. [http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/27/us/27patriot.html?scp=3&sq=patriot%20act&st=cse]