ACLU Commends Congressional Steps to Restore Essential Checks in Patriot Act

American Civil Liberties Union

WASHINGTON -The U.S. House voted [this week] to reject the Bush Administration’s demand that Congress limit its role in overseeing Patriot Act powers and called for legislation that would help fix some of the secret search powers expanded by the act in 2001. The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded the bipartisan push by lawmakers, which specifically calls on Congress to revisit some of the more controversial powers again in four years.

 "Today, the House stood firmly in its convictions and said that America can, and must, be both safe and free," said Caroline Fredrickson, Director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office. "Four years after its passage, we know that the Patriot Act went too far, too fast. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are uncomfortable with the secret search powers expanded by the Patriot Act and have signaled that this law must be reformed to protect our fundamental freedoms and privacy."Both chambers of Congress have passed different bills to reauthorize the Patriot Act.

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