U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) has prepared a proposal that would repeal the “sunset” provisions of the U.S. Patriot Act, which expanded Washington’s power to conduct surveillance on suspected terrorists, and make the legislation permanent, officials said yesterday (see GSN, July 9, 2002).

The Patriot Act allows the United States to use eavesdropping, surveillance, access to personal records and other measures to track suspected terrorists, according to the New York Times.  When the act was passed by Congress in late 2001, many agreed to support it only if the provisions were made temporary.  The act’s provisions are to expire in 2005 unless Congress reauthorizes them, the Times reported.

Senate Republicans, however, have recently discussed repealing the sunset provisions and making the law permanent, officials said.  Republicans could attempt to act on the proposal this week by attaching it to another antiterrorism measure, sponsored by Senators Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), that would eliminate the need for U.S. agents seeking secret surveillance warrants to show that a suspect is linked to a foreign country or agent.

Justice Department officials have praised the Patriot Act for helping the FBI to move quickly to disrupt terrorist activities and have said they want to see the law made permanent.

“The Patriot Act has been an extremely useful tool, a demonstrated success, and we don’t want that to expire on us,” a senior Justice official said.

Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) said that, without extensive review, he “would be very strongly opposed to any repeal” of the 2005 limit.  Daschle added that he believed there would not be enough votes for the proposal to pass (Eric Lichtblau, New York Times, April 9).

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