House Resurrects Parts of Patriot Act

The Patriot Act was partially revived Monday night, as the GOP-led House voted to extend three surveillance provisions of the controversial post-9/11 law. The vote was split mainly on party lines; the bill would extend the government's ability to obtain certain wiretaps, track foreigners, and access some business records. A similar measure's defeat last week caused Republican leaders to scramble to try again lest the entire act expire. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith warned that if the expiring provisions are not extended by the end of the month, the act will expire and “it will be on our shoulders if the intelligence needed to stop the next act is not collected.” The bill now heads to the Senate, where Democrats in control of the chamber have voiced support of the law's extension.