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National
Key Vote
PATRIOT Act Reauthorization
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to pass a bill that reauthorizes and extends certain provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 and adds new provisions to the act.
NOTE: THIS IS A SUBSTITUTED BILL, MEANING THE LANGUAGE OF THE ORIGINAL BILL HAS BEEN REPLACED.
Official Title of Legislation:
HR 3199: To extend and modify authorities needed to combat terrorism, and for other purposes.
Highlights:
-Repeals the expiration date of Dec. 31, 2005, for all other provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 set to expire on that date (Sec. 102).
-Extends until Dec. 31, 2015, the government's power to obtain records, papers, documents, and other items during investigations of terrorism or foreign intelligence activities, and requires that the FBI Director personally approve requests for library or bookstore records (Sec. 107).
-Extends until Dec. 31, 2015, the government's power to conduct "roving" wiretaps that monitor all or multiple lines of an individual's electronic or phone communication rather than only one specific line (Sec. 109).
-Prohibits surveillance, photographing, or videotaping of mass transportation systems with the intent to plan a terrorist attack (Sec. 110).
-Expands the definition of the federal crime of terrorism to include military-type training from a foreign terrorist organization and threats concerning nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction (Sec. 112).
-Repeals the First Responder Grant Program and implements a "Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders" program whereby grants will be distributed to states, regions, and eligible Indian tribes with approved "terrorism preparedness" plans (Sec. 128).
-Raises the maximum punishment from life in prison to a sentence of death for various terrorism-related offenses, including any terrorist offense that results in the death of a person or a grave risk thereof (Sec. 211).
-Makes a variety of terrorism-related acts involving maritime navigation illegal under federal law, including transportation of biological, chemical, or radioactive or nuclear materials, and transportation of terrorists; increases the penalties for various other acts of violence against maritime navigation (Sec. 305).
-Raises the maximum punishment for terrorist attacks on mass transportation vehicles to the death penalty for attacks resulting in the death of a person or at least 30 years in prison for attacks on vehicles carrying high-level radioactive waste or spent nuclear fuel (Sec. 307).
-Increases the maximum penalty to a fine of $50,000 or up to twenty years in prison for financing terrorist operations in contravention of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (Sec. 402).
Link to Legislation: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:hr3199:
House Motion Vote: 07/21/2005 : Motion Rejected: 209 - 218 (Roll no. 413)
NOTE: THIS IS A MOTION TO RECOMMIT THIS LEGISLATION TO A COMMITTEE WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR AMENDMENTS. IF THE AMENDMENTS ARE ADOPTED, THE LEGISLATION GOES BACK TO THE FLOOR FOR A VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE. House Passage: 07/21/2005 : Bill Passed 257 - 171 (Roll no. 414)
NOTE: THIS IS A SUBSTITUTED BILL, MEANING THE LANGUAGE OF THE ORIGINAL BILL HAS BEEN REPLACED. Senate Passage With Amendment: 07/29/2005 : Bill Passed
NOTE: THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION PASSED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT, MEANING NO MEMBER OBJECTED TO THE PASSAGE OF THE LEGISLATION. THIS DOES NOT NECESSARILY INDICATE THAT ALL MEMBERS FAVORED THE LEGISLATION. House Conference Report Vote: 12/14/2005 : Conference Report Adopted: 251 - 174 (Roll no. 627) Senate Cloture Vote: 12/16/2005 : Cloture Not Invoked: 52 - 47 (Record Vote Number 358)
NOTE: INVOKING CLOTURE REQUIRES A THREE-FIFTHS MAJORITY OF THE SENATE. IT IS NOT A VOTE ON THE PASSAGE OF THE PIECE OF LEGISLATION, BUT RATHER LIMITS FURTHER DEBATE TO 30 HOURS. CLOTURE IS TYPICALLY USED TO END A FILIBUSTER. A FAILED CLOTURE VOTE OFTEN PREVENTS THE LEGISLATION FROM EVER COMING TO A VOTE. Senate Conference Report Vote: 03/02/2006 : Conference Report Adopted: 89 - 10 (Record Vote Number 29) President Passage: 03/09/2006 : Signed Became Public Law Number 109-177
Sponsor: Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James Jr. (R-WI)
PVS provides summaries for each version of the bill selected as a key vote. The summary does not necessarily reflect the final version of the bill. For further status information, call the Voter's Research Hotline at 1-888-VOTE-SMART (1-888-868-3762).
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