Conyers introduces PATRIOT compromise

05-14-2011 • ArabAmericanNews.com

House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) has introduced the "USA PATRIOT Act Sunset Extension Act of 2011," the House counterpart to a bipartisan bill that recently passed the Senate Judiciary Committee. The proposal makes meaningful improvements to the PATRIOT Act and related authorities, and has the support of the Obama administration and the intelligence community. The bill is co-sponsored by Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md). "In sixteen days, three provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act are set to expire," said Conyers. "It is clear that many members of both parties still have serious concerns about the PATRIOT Act, including these three provisions. But instead of discussing these concerns, the majority has introduced legislation that would make the Lone Wolf authority permanent and extend the business records and roving wiretaps for six years. Their bill would ma