American LibrariesSearch American Libraries  |
||
Site Navigation
Left Sidebar Items |
||
House Votes to Restrict Patriot Act Searches, But Blocks Library MeasureIn a solidly bipartisan voice vote, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 309–118 July 23 to prohibit “sneak and peek” searches authorized by the USA Patriot Act. However, an effort by Rep. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to block searches of libraries and bookstores under the law was blocked on procedural grounds.The measure that passed—attached as an amendment to an appropriations bill—would prevent the Justice Department from using federal dollars to implement warrants that delay notification that a covert search is being conducted, the Associated Press reported July 23. Since the Patriot Act was passed in 2001, the department has obtained these warrants—intended to allow agents to search private property without the owner’s knowledge—47 times for searches and 14 times for property seizures. Rep. Sanders’ proposal—also an amendment to the appropriations bill—would have halted the use of Justice Department funds to search a library or bookstore under the Patriot Act. It was blocked when Republican leaders barred additional amendments to the bill, the Lowell (Mass.) Sun reported July 23. Sanders previously introduced legislation to rescind the provisions of the Patriot Act that allow the government to secretly view library and bookstore records without obtaining a probable-cause search warrant. Posted July 28, 2003. |
Right Sidebar
|
|
