I found this on the Senator's web site and thought you might enjoy reading what Senator Leahy said about supporting the extension of the USA PATRIOT Act Improvement and Reauthorization Act (yes, two acts in one!)
"Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy
(D-Vt., Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee)
On Senate Passage
Of The USA PATRIOT Act Improvement And Reauthorization Act
Friday, July 29, 2005
[The Senate passed its version of the USA PATRIOT Act reauthorization bill on Friday night at about 8:10 p.m. Leahy, a co-author of the bill, supported the bill.]
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, last week, the Committee on the Judiciary did something that the Administration has been urging us to do all year – we reported a bill that reauthorizes every expiring provision of the USA PATRIOT Act. This achievement was particularly notable for its bipartisanship. Following months of intense negotiations involving members from both sides of the aisle, we produced a consensus bill that won the support of every member of the Committee. I commend Chairman Specter and all Members of the Committee for their work on this important legislation. We made possible something that many of us would have thought impossible just a few weeks ago: A PATRIOT Act improvement and reauthorization package approved by every member of the United States Senate.
The bill we pass today -- S.1389, as reported -- has three key elements.
First, the bill protects the privacy interests of Americans. It requires the government to convince a judge that a person is connected to terrorism or espionage before obtaining their library records, medical records or other sensitive personal information. It also requires the government to notify the target of a “sneak and peek” search within seven days, instead of the undefined delay that is currently permitted by the PATRIOT Act.
Second, the bill enhances judicial oversight and protects free speech rights. It gives the recipient of an order for sensitive personal information the right to challenge the order in court on the same grounds as they could challenge a grand jury subpoena. It also provides a right to challenge the gag order that currently prevents people who receive a request for records from speaking out even if they feel the government is violating their rights.
Third, the bill increases transparency and ensures accountability. One of my principal objectives in this reauthorization process has been to introduce more sunshine into the PATRIOT Act. The reported bill requires increased reporting by the Department of Justice on its use of several PATRIOT Act powers, including roving wiretaps, business record orders, and “sneak and peak” search warrants. It also sets a 4-year “sunset” on three domestic surveillance powers with great potential to affect civil liberties.
Like the PATRIOT Act itself, S.1389 is not the bill that I, or any Member, would have written if compromise were unnecessary. I would have liked the bill to include additional checks and balances on certain government surveillance powers granted or expanded by the PATRIOT Act. I would have liked the bill to include more sunshine provisions, as well as additional sunsets. I regret that the bill repeals a sunset provision that Congress enacted just last year and that is not due to expire until the end of 2006.
While far from perfect, S.1389 is a good bill, which moves the law in what I believe is the right direction. The bill is also substantially better, from a civil liberties perspective, than either the House bill. H.R.3199, or the bill reported by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, S.1266. And as the product of true bipartisanship -- an 18 to 0 vote is something you do not see every day in the Senate Judiciary Committee – it is a bill in which the American people can and should have confidence. I hope that the bipartisan effort that got us to this point will carry over to the conference and speed this bill to final passage."